CGYOOL: BANJA LUKA -- SERBIAN HARASSMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 ZAGREB 02862

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USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE

US MISSION GENEVA FOR RMA, DON PRESSELY AND USDEL ICFY
VAIHINGEN FOR ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/POLAD
RAMSTEIN FOR DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD

STATE FOR IO, D/EEA, EUR/EE, EARP, PM/ISO AND RP

STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME, FHA/FFP AND
FHA/OFDA/DRD

SECDEF ALSO FOR ISA/GLOBAL AFFAIRS DR. WOLTHIUS AND
ISP/L.JULIAN

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MASS HR BK
SUBJECT: CGYOOL: BANJA LUKA -- SERBIAN HARASSMENT
- GROWS; THREATS TO USE CROATS AND MUSLIMS AS
- "HUMAN SHIELDS" AGAINST AIR ATTACKS
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1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

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SUMMARY
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2. AN EXPATRIATE STAFFER FROM UNHCR'S BANJA LUKA
OFFICE (STRICTLY PROTECT) DESCRIBED FOR US THE
WORSENING SITUATION IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA DEC. 30.
THE UNHCR STAFFER SAID THE LOCAL SERBIAN FORCES HAD
INTENSIFIED THEIR HARASSMENT OF BOTH BOSNIAN MUSLIMS
AND CROATS SINCE EARLY DECEMBER. IN BANJA LUKA,
UNHCR AND ICRC STAFFERS SEEING AND HEARING NUMEROUS
ARMED SERBIAN GROUPS SHOOTING UP HOUSES, APARTMENT
BUILDINGS, AND STORES AT RANDOM, KILLING AND WOUNDING
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES EVERYDAY. THE SERBS ALSO WERE
LOOTING HOMES AND STORES AND DESTROYING MOST
ABANDONED MUSLIM AND CROAT BUILDINGS. THE VIOLENCE
AND DESTRUCTION IS MUCH WORSE IN THE SURROUNDING
COUNTRYSIDE. UNHCR-ZAGREB RECALLED ITS EXPAT STAFF
FROM BANJA LUKA A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS FOR A
TEMPORARY, BUT INDEFINITE, PERIOD. ALTHOUGH NO RPT
NO CREDIBLE, SPECIFIC DEATH THREATS HAD BEEN MADE
AGAINST THE EXPAT STAFF, INDIVIDUAL ARMED SERBS HAVE
BEEN MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH SINCE MID-DECEMBER,
ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN. A SERB COLONEL
RECENTLY JOKED THAT IF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
DECIDED WESTERN FORCES SHOULD ENFORCE THE NO FLY
RESOLUTION AND ATTACKED THE AIRFIELD NEAR BANJA LUKA
OR OTHER MILITARY TARGETS, THE SERBS HAD 60,000
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MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN AND AROUND THE TOWN TO USE A
"HUMAN SHIELD." UNHCR STAFFER BELIEVES HE WAS DEADLY
SERIOUS. END SUMMARY.

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FOUR MONTHS IN BANJA LUKA SEEMS LIKE FOUR YEARS


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ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 ACDA-17 AID-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 PFIP-01 C-01
OASY-00 CISA-02 DS-00 EB-01 FDRE-01 HA-09 HHS-04
H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00
MFLO-03 M-01 NSAE-00 OCS-06 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PC-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-00
SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-17
TRSE-00 T-01 ASDS-01 DTC-01 RPE-00 /120W
-------------- 8C0B2E 311834Z /38
P 311830Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3229
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02862 02 OF 05 311834Z
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2673
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CJCS WASHDC
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1278

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 05 ZAGREB 02862

SIPDIS


USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE

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3. ON DEC. 30, 1992, AN EXPATRIATE STAFFER FROM
UNHCR'S BANJA LUKA OFFICE (STRICTLY PROTECT) MET AT
UNHCR ZAGREB HEADQUARTERS WITH TDY POLOFF AND HEAD OF
OFDA DART TEAM . THE EXPAT HAS PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR
AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND
AN AMERICAN PVO IN CENTRAL AMERICA. THE STAFFER SAID
THE FOUR MONTHS SHE WORKED IN BANJA LUKA (SEPTEMBER -
DECEMBER) SEEMED LIKE FOUR YEARS. "IT WAS MUCH WORSE
THAN THE WAR IN EL SALVADOR." ACKNOWLEDGING
DISAGREEMENT WITH USG POLICIES IN EL SALVADOR, THE
UNHCR STAFFER SAID THE SERB FORCES' KILLING, RANDOM
VIOLENCE AND VICIOUS TREATMENT OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND
CROATS IN THE SO-CALLED SERBIAN REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA
WAS "EVEN WORSE THAN THE ATROCITIES OF THE SALVADORAN
DEATH SQUADS."
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02862 02 OF 05 311834Z
-
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SERB HARASSMENT INTENSIFIES
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4. THE UNHCR STAFFER SAID THE SERBIAN FORCES SEEMED
TO HAVE REDUCED THEIR KILLING AND MISTREATMENT OF
MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN SEPTEMBER FOR SOME UNKNOWN
REASON. SHE SPECULATED THAT THEY HAD TEMPORARILY
BACKED OFF AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY AT SERBIAN
MASSACRES AND DEATH CAMPS DURING THE SUMMER AND EARLY
AUTUMN. HOWEVER, IN EARLY NOVEMBER THE SERBS RESUMED
THEIR PREVIOUS SEVERE HARASSMENT OF BOTH ETHNIC
GROUPS. THE KILLING, VIOLENCE, AND DESTRUCTION
INCREASED FURTHER IN EARLY DECEMBER. THE NON-SERBIAN
POPULATION IS THOROUGHLY TERRORIZED, AS ARE SOME LONG
RESIDENT SERBS WHO HAVE REFUSED TO BE "MOBILIZED"
AGAINST THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS. WHILE THE STAFFER
HAD NOT RPT NOT HEARD OF ANY NEW LARGE SCALE
MASSACRES SINCE SEPTEMBER, THE VARIOUS ARMED SERBIAN
GROUPS KILLED OR WOUNDED PEOPLE SINGLY OR IN SMALL
NUMBERS EVERY DAY, OFTEN SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. THE
VIOLENCE WAS MUCH WORSE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AROUND
BANJA LUKA, ESPECIALLY WEST AND NORTH OF TOWN. UNHCR
HAD ONLY THREE EXPAT AND NINE LOCAL EMPLOYEES IN
BANJA LUKA WITH ONLY A FEW VEHICLES, SO THEY COULD
NOT ACCURATELY ESTIMATE CASUALTIES THROUGHOUT THE
REGION. THE STAFFER SAID ICRC HAD NINE EXPATS AND 15
LOCAL EMPLOYEES AND A NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN BANJA
LUKA, BUT SHE DOUBTED ICRC HAD SUFFICIENT FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT TO ESTIMATE CASUALTIES EITHER.
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02862 02 OF 05 311834Z

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UNHCR LEAVES BANJA LUKA BECAUSE OF DANGER
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5. SENIOR UNHCR ZAGREB OFFICERS HAD CALLED ALL THREE


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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02862 03 OF 05 311835Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 ACDA-17 AID-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 PFIP-01 C-01
OASY-00 CISA-02 DS-00 EB-01 FDRE-01 HA-09 HHS-04
H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00
MFLO-03 M-01 NSAE-00 OCS-06 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PC-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-00
SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-17
TRSE-00 T-01 ASDS-01 DTC-01 RPE-00 /120W
-------------- 8C0B49 311835Z /38
P 311830Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3230
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02862 03 OF 05 311835Z
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2674
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CJCS WASHDC
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1279

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 05 ZAGREB 02862

SIPDIS


USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE

UNHCR EXPATS BACK FROM BANJA LUKA A FEW DAYS BEFORE
CHRISTMAS FOR A "TEMPORARY PERIOD." THE BANJA LUKA
OFFICE REMAINS OFFICIALLY OPEN AND LOCAL STAFF
CONTINUE TRYING TO WORK. THE EXPAT STAFF HAS HAD
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULTY WORKING OVER THE LAST
TWO MONTHS. FOR EXAMPLE, SERBIAN "COLONELS" IN BANJA
LUKA TOLD THE UNHCR STAFF THAT THEY DID NOT NEED
PERMISSION TO LEAVE TOWN TO OBSERVE HOW UNHCR-
PROVIDED FOOD WAS BEING DISTRIBUTED OR MISUSED. BUT
JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN, SERBIAN GUARDS AT A CHECKPOINT
WOULD REFUSE THEM PERMISSION TO PROCEED AT ALL OR
ONLY AFTER LONG, NASTY ARGUMENTS AND INCREASINGLY
FREQUENT WAVING AROUND OF RIFLES AND PISTOLS. THE
STAFFER SAID THAT THE THREE EXPATS BECAME VERY
FRUSTRATED AS IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO
MEANINGFUL WORK, EVEN ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, SERBIAN "HASSLING" OF UNHCR STAFFERS WAS
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GROWING UGLIER WITH MORE PUSHING AND SWEARING.
SERBIAN "SOLDIERS" DID NOT SEEM TO BE FOLLOWING THE
STAFFERS AROUND, BUT ARMED SERBS WERE ALWAYS AROUND.
NO SPECIFIC DEATH THREATS HAD BEEN MADE AGAINST THEM,
BUT IT WAS CLEARLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN IN EARLY
DECEMBER. THE UNHCR ZAGREB CHIEF WILL DECIDE IN
JANUARY WHETHER TO SEND THE EXPATS BACK TO BANJA
LUKA. MEANWHILE, THEY ARE TAKING WELL-EARNED LEAVE
AND GETTING MEDICA ATTENTION FOR INTESTINAL
PROBLEMS. THE STAFFER EXPECTS ICRC TO TRY TO REMAIN
IN BANJA LUKA.

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SERBS READY FOR MORE WAR CRIMES
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6. A SERBIAN "OFFICER" AT BANJA LUKA TOLD THE UNHCR
STAFFER THAT THEY WOULD COUNTER THREATS OF U.S. OR
OTHER AIR STRIKES ON THE AIRFIELD NEAR BANJA LUKA OR
OTHER MILITARY TARGETS BY DEPLOYING SOME OF THE
60,000 MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN AND AROUND BANJA LUKA AS
A HUMAN SHIELD. THE STAFFER IS CONVINCED THE OFFICER
WAS DEADLY SERIOUS.
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ARREST OF MODERATE SERBS GOES ON
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7. THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAD BECOME MUCH TOUGHER
IN THE LAST MONTH WITH LOCALLY RESIDENT SERBS WHO
REFUSED MOBILIZATION FOR THE WAR EFFORT. THE POLICE
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TOOK AWAY IDENTITY DOCUMENTS FROM MILITARY-AGE MEN IN
BANJA LUKA WHO WERE NOT IN SOME KIND OF UNIFORM. IN
DECEMBER, THEY BEGAN ARRESTING AND IMPRISONING THE
RECALCITRANT IN BANJA LUKA PRISON. RUMOR HAS IT THAT
THE MEN WILL BE FORCED TO MARCH TO THE FRONT AT
SARAJEVO AND ELSEWHERE. THE STAFFER BELIEVES THE


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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02862 04 OF 05 311836Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 ACDA-17 AID-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 PFIP-01 C-01
OASY-00 CISA-02 DS-00 EB-01 FDRE-01 HA-09 HHS-04
H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00
MFLO-03 M-01 NSAE-00 OCS-06 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PC-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-00
SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-17
TRSE-00 T-01 ASDS-01 DTC-01 RPE-00 /120W
-------------- 8C0B65 311837Z /38
P 311830Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3231
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02862 04 OF 05 311836Z
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2675
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CJCS WASHDC
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1280

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 05 ZAGREB 02862

SIPDIS


USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE

PROCESS IS GOING ON THROUGHOUT SERB-HELD BOSNIA.

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MORE FORCES BUT POORER DISCIPLINE
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8. THE STAFFER SAID THAT IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS
THERE HAS BEEN A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
SERBIAN MILITARY AND PARA-MILITARY PERSONNEL IN BANJA
LUKA. THE NEWLY ARRIVED "SOLDIERS" OFTEN SEEM TO
OPERATE AT CROSS-PURPOSES, AND SOME HEADQUARTERS AND
UNITS ARE FEUDING WITH OTHERS. THE MEN WEAR A
VARIETY OF UNIFORMS. GUESSING FROM SHOULDER PATCHES
(WHICH MANY DO NOT WEAR),NEW MEN ARE FROM ABOUT 12
MAJOR UNITS OR ORGANIZATIONS, APPARENTLY INCLUDING
MANY WITH ADMIN OR SUPPORT-TYPE ACTIVITIES.
DISCIPLINE IN MANY GROUPS IS POOR AND GETTING WORSE.
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THE PARA-MILITARY GROUPS ARE THE WORST AND ARE
GETTING MORE NUMEROUS AS SOME "ARMY" UNITS MOVE OUT
OF TOWN NEARER THE AIRFIELD OR TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN
AND WESTERN FRONTS. MANY OF THE NEW GROUPS
APPARENTLY ARE FROM SERBIA. IT IS DANGEROUS JUST TO
WALK DOWN THE STREET OR EVEN BE IN A BUILDING. THE
SERBS ALSO ARE DRAFTING BOSNIAN SERB POLICEMEN OUT OF
THE TOWN AND SURROUNDING AREAS, SO CRIME RATES ARE
RISING. THE POLICEMEN AT LEAST PROTECTED SOME OF THE
SERBIAN CIVILIANS, NOW THEY TOO ARE BEING VICTIMIZED
BY THEIR "PROTECTORS."

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MUSLIM RESISTANCE LIMITED TO HIT AND RUN
--------------


9. THERE WAS NO LARGE-SCALE ORGANIZED MILITARY
OPPOSITION TO THE SERBIAN FORCES AS FAR AS THE UNHCR
KNEW. THERE ARE NUMEROUS SMALL SKIRMISHES AND
FIREFIGHTS OUTSIDE OF BANJA LUKA, ESPECIALLY IN THE
WEST, THAT ADD TO THE TOLL OF DEAD AND WOUNDED AND
DISPLACED. LOCAL SERBIAN FORCES CLAIMED "MUSLIM
FUNDAMENTALISTS AND MERCENARIES" ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ATROCITIES . SERBIAN OFFICERS ARE STILL SHOWING
VISITING FOREIGN OFFICIALS AND JOURNALISTS GRUESOME
PICTURES OF BUCKETS OF CHOPPED OFF HEADS AND PILES OF
HEADS AND OTHER GORY SCENES WHICH THEY CLAIM ARE THE
RESULT OF MUSLIM ATTACKS ON SERBS.

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WHEAT, VEGETABLES AVAILABLE BUT DEARER
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10. WHEAT FLOUR, BREAD, LOCAL VEGETABLES,
WOOD/TIMBER, AND COAL WERE IN RELATIVELY GOOD SUPPLY
IN THE MARKET, THOUGH PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE. MEAT,
SOME FISH AND OTHER COMMODITIES FROM LOCAL SOURCES


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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02862 05 OF 05 311837Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 ACDA-17 AID-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 PFIP-01 C-01
OASY-00 CISA-02 DS-00 EB-01 FDRE-01 HA-09 HHS-04
H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00
MFLO-03 M-01 NSAE-00 OCS-06 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PC-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-00
SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-17
TRSE-00 T-01 ASDS-01 DTC-01 RPE-00 /120W
-------------- 8C0B7A 311837Z /38
P 311830Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3232
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
CONFIDENTIAL


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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02862 05 OF 05 311837Z
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2676
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CJCS WASHDC
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1281

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 05 ZAGREB 02862

SIPDIS


USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE

AND OUTSIDE THE AREA WERE IN SHORTER SUPPLY. IN
NORTHWEST BOSNIA, STAFFER BELIEVES THE FOOD SUPPLY IN
GENERAL IS PROBABLY STILL ADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN
MINIMUM NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS IF RPT IF PEOPLE HAVE
ACCESS TO THE MARKET. PEOPLE IN BANJA LUKA WHO WERE
NOT UNDER SOME KIND OF HOUSE ARREST OR IN PRISON AND
WHO HAD MONEY OR VALUABLES WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHO HAVE STOCKED UP FOR
WINTER AS THEY TRADITIONALLY DO AND WHOSE LARDERS AND
CUPBOARDS HAVE NOT BEEN LOOTED WOULD ALSO BE OK.
HOWEVER, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POOR PEOPLE, THE
HOMELESS, AND THE ELDERLY WERE ALREADY HAVING A ROUGH
TIME SURVIVING AND THINGS WOULD WORSEN AS WINTER
CONTINUED. THE SITUATION, HOWEVER, IS SIGNIFICANTLY
LESS BAD THAN IN SARAJEVO OR THE OTHER BESIEGED
CITIES AND MORE ACTIVE WAR ZONES.

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NEITZKE


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