SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS ¶1. CONFIDENTIAL -- ENTIRE TEXT. SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. A CONSULATE VISIT TO TWO DISTRICTS OF THE MIXED CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 01 OF 08 111236Z CROAT/SERB GORSKI KOTAR REGION PROVIDED BOTH A HOPEFUL AND NEGATIVE PICTURE OF FUTURE RELATIONS BETWEEN SERBS AND CROATS IN CROATIA. DIFFERING WARTIME EXPERIENCES IN VRBOVSKO AND OGULIN, ONLY 30 KM APART, HAVE COLORED SERB/CROAT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE TWO DISTRICTS FOR YEARS TO COME. IN VRBOVSKO, WHILE TENSIONS WERE HIGH, ACTUAL FIGHTING NEVER TOOK PLACE, AND WITH THE OVERALL CONFLICT ENDING IN CROATIA, INTERETHNIC RELATIONS SEEM TO BE TAKING A TURN FOR THE BETTER. IN OGULIN, WHERE SERBS FLED AND WHERE THE FRONT LINE IS ONLY 15 KM AWAY, SITTING DOWN AT THE SAME TABLE TOGETHER IS STILL A MAJOR TASK FOR THE AREA'S CROATS AND SERBS. THE VILLAGE OF JASENAK, A PREDOMINANTLY SERB VILLAGE IN THE OGULIN DISTRICT, IS THE SITE OF A CONTROVERSIAL DISPLACED PERSON CENTER. BOTH THE EC AND THE UNHCR ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED THERE TO SEE THAT THE SENSITIVITIES OF ALL SIDES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THE EC AND UNHCR WILL NOT BE HERE FOREVER, HOWEVER, AND THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION WILL BE DIFFICULT AT BEST. IN SOME SITUATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY, RECONCILIATION SEEMS A DISTANT DREAM IF NOT AN IMPOSSIBILITY. END SUMMARY. ¶3. IN RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF SERBS IN THE GORSKI KOTAR REGION OF CROATIA, WE VISITED TWO DISTRICTS (VRBOVSKO AND OGULIN) IN THE AREA ON JUNE 3. DISCUSSIONS WITH SERBS AND CROATS REVEALED A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE IN INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS. VRBOVSKO AND OGULIN ARE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINOUS GORSKI KOTAR REGION, CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 01 OF 08 111236Z APPROXIMATELY 50 - 60 KM SOUTHWEST OF KARLOVAC. IN VRBOVSKO, WE MET TOGETHER WITH DISTRICT OFFICIALS AS WELL AS THE POLICE (ALL CROATS) AND WITH SERBS CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 02 OF 08 111236Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7A33 111245Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1123 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 02 OF 08 111236Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1622 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0515 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS REPRESENTING THE PREDOMINANTLY SERB VILLAGES OF GOMIRJE AND SRPSKE MORAVICE. IN OGULIN, 14 REPRESENTATIVES OF SERBS AND CROATS IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING TWO SERB MEMBERS OF THE CROATIAN ASSEMBLY, OGULIN CITY FATHERS, SERBS FROM THE VILLAGE OF JASENAK AND CROATS FROM THE VILLAGE OF SABORSKO. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 02 OF 08 111236Z VRBOVSKO: A MODUS VIVENDI -------------- ¶4. SITTING DOWN WITH SERB AND CROAT REPRESENTATIVES IN VRBOVSKO PROVIDED SOME HOPE THAT ALL WAS NOT LOST. AS WE DISCUSSED ISSUE AFTER THORNY ISSUE THAT HAVE PLAGUED SERB/CROAT RELATIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, IT APPEARED TO US THAT THE TWO SERBS AND THREE CROATS MEETING WITH US HAD BEEN OVER THIS GROUND BEFORE. THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE IN THE VRBOVSKO AREA WAS, WHILE NOT WITHOUT TENSION, LARGELY DEVOID OF ANY CONFLICT. THERE WAS NEVER A JNA BASE IN THE DISTRICT, OFTEN THE FOCUS OF INITIAL FIGHTING IN OTHER PARTS OF CROATIA, SERB VILLAGERS NEVER SET UP BARRICADES, AND THE FRONT LINE WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO KEEP THE DISTRICT FROM RECEIVING ANY SHELLING. THIS COMBINATION OF FACTORS CONSPIRED TO ALLOW REASONABLE SERBS AND CROATS TO PREVAIL IN VRBOVSKO. - ¶5. TWO OTHER FACTORS WORKED TO HOLD THE AREA TOGETHER. ONE WAS POLITICAL AFFILIATION. OF THE FOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WE MET WITH (2 SERBS AND 2 CROATS),TWO (ONE EACH) WERE MEMBERS OF THE PARTY FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGES (SDP - FORMER COMMUNISTS),ONE SERB JOINED THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDS) FOLLOWING THE APRIL 1990 ELECTIONS, AND THE OTHER CROAT WAS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY PARTY. PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION (HDZ) WAS NOT REPRESENTED IN THIS GROUP. IN ADDITION, THOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THIS WAS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 02 OF 08 111236Z ACCOMPLISHED, LOCAL POLITICAL MOVEMENTS HAD CEASED PARTY ACTIVITIES DURING THE WAR IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PEACE AROUND VRBOVSKO. CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 03 OF 08 111237Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7A3D 111245Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1124 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 03 OF 08 111237Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1623 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0516 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS ¶6. THE SECOND REASON IS THAT SERBS AND CROATS DID NOT FLEE THE VRBOVSKO DISTRICT AS THEY DID IN OTHERS. BOTH GROUPS STUCK IT OUT THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES AND NOW BOTH SIDES ASSERT THAT A CERTAIN NORMALIZATION IS RETURNING TO THE SERB-CROAT CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 03 OF 08 111237Z RELATIONSHIP THERE. IN THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE, THE POPULATION BREAKDOWN IS ABOUT 65 PERCENT CROAT, 35 PERCENT SERB. NATURALLY, SOME VILLAGES ARE 100 PERCENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AS IS THE CASE FOR GOMIRJE AND SRPSKE MORAVICE (BOTH NEARLY 100 PERCENT SERB). VRBOVSKO: NOT WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS -------------- ¶7. BOTH SIDES ADMITTED TO SERIOUS STRAINS IN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY BLAMED ON SMALL GROUPS OF CROATIAN AND SERBIAN "EXTREMISTS". "EVERYONE IS ARMED," SAID LEADERS OF BOTH COMMUNITIES, LEADING TO THE PROMISE OF MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION IN CASE OF ANY BREAKDOWN IN THE CURRENT PEACE. SOME OF THE CAUSES OF INSTABILITY IN THE DISTRICT OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - -- IN VRBOVSKO, PRIOR TO THE WAR, THERE WERE 18 POLICEMEN, HALF OF WHOM WERE SERBS. SINCE THE WAR, THE TOTAL NUMBER HAS INCREASED TO 62, TEN PERCENT OF WHOM ARE SERBS. WHILE SERBS HAVE NOT BEEN FIRED FROM THE POLICE FORCE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED EITHER, CONTRARY TO A NATIONAL REGULATION WHICH REQUIRES DISTRICTS TO HIRE BASED ON THE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION WHICH IDENTIFIES ITSELF WITH DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS. -- SERB LEADERS IN VRBOVSKO CONFIRMED THAT SERBS EMPLOYED BY THE CROATIAN RAILROAD FROM THAT AREA HAD CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 03 OF 08 111237Z LOST JOBS RECENTLY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR NATIONALITY. THE CROATIAN OFFICIALS FROM VRBOVSKO DID NOT ARGUE WITH THIS ASSESSMENT. LOCAL SERBS CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 04 OF 08 111238Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7A49 111246Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1125 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 04 OF 08 111238Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1624 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0517 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS BLAMED RAILROAD AUTHORITIES IN RIJEKA AND ZAGREB FOR THE FIRINGS. WHILE THE SERBS WE SPOKE WITH DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS OFFICIAL CROATIAN GOVERNMENT POLICY, THEY FELT THAT ON SUCH ISSUES, STATED POLICY AND ACTUAL PRACTICE WERE QUITE DIFFERENT. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 04 OF 08 111238Z -- SERBS IN THE AREA WERE ARMED BEFORE THE WAR. CROATS ONLY GOT WEAPONS AFTER THE UNCONTROLLED DISBURSAL OF ARMS FROM THE FORMER JNA BASE IN OGULIN. -- PRE-WAR AND INITIAL ADDITIONAL POLICE HIRES WERE NOT WELL-QUALIFIED OR TRAINED FOR POLICE WORK. CONSEQUENTLY, TRUST IN THE POLICE, PARTICULARLY AMONG SERBS EBBED TO A VERY LOW LEVEL. -- FOUR HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE CROATIAN ARMY ARE BASED IN VRBOVSKO. AT THE OUTSET OF THE WAR, THE ARMY WAS NOT PARTICULARLY DISCIPLINED AND INCIDENTS INVOLVING DRUNKEN, ARMED CROATIAN SOLDIERS PROVOKING PEOPLE IN SERB VILLAGES WERE FREQUENT. -- SERBS AND CROATS IN VRBOVSKO BLAMED THE MEDIA FOR INCITING HATRED. - TURNING THINGS AROUND -------------- ¶8. HAVING MADE IT THROUGH THE BULK OF THE WAR WITHOUT CONFLICT, BOTH SIDES SAID THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE SITUATION. SERB LEADERS SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROVOCATIVE INCIDENTS OVER THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF. THE ATMOSPHERE IS MORE AND MORE POSITIVE. THE POLICE CHIEF SAID THAT HIS ORGANIZATION WAS STRIVING TO INCREASE ITS PROFESSIONALISM AND THAT THE POLICE HAD "SOLVED" MOST CASES OF PROVOCATION. ALL FIVE LEADERS FROM VRBOVSKO DISTRICT COMPLAINED ABOUT "EXTREMISTS" (SERBS AND CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 04 OF 08 111238Z CROATS) WHO ESSENTIALLY STIRRED UP TROUBLE, WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS, AND DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS. CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 05 OF 08 111239Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7A5E 111247Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1126 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 05 OF 08 111239Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1625 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0518 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS OGULIN: STILL IN A STATE OF WAR -------------- ¶9. WHATEVER HOPE WE BROUGHT WITH US FROM VRBOVSKO WAS DASHED UPON ENTRY INTO OGULIN (LIKE VRBOVSKO CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 05 OF 08 111239Z DISTRICT ABOUT 65 PERCENT CROAT AND 35 PERCENT SERB), A CITY UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINES THAT HAS HAD AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAR EXPERIENCE. IN A SPACE OF LESS THAN 30 KILOMETERS, WE HAD GONE FROM A POTENTIAL MODEL OF POST-WAR SERB/CROAT RELATIONS TO AN AREA THAT EXHIBITS ALL THE REASONS WHY SERBS AND CROATS IN THESE REGIONS MAY NEVER AGAIN TURN THEIR BACKS ON ONE ANOTHER. THE MEETING, A TIGHTLY WOUND AFFAIR, INCLUDED DISPLACED PERSONS FROM A DESTROYED, KRAJINA-CONTROLLED, ONCE PREDOMINANTLY CROAT TOWN, OGULIN DISTRICT OFFICIALS, AND "LOYAL" SERB CITIZENS. THE TENSION BETWEEN SERBS AND CROATS IN THIS MEETING (14 PARTICIPANTS) IN THE OGULIN DISTRICT HALL WAS PALPABLE. - ¶10. A LOT OF THE TENSION COMES FROM OGULIN'S WAR-TIME EXPERIENCE. A JNA BARRACKS WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY OF OGULIN, NEXT DOOR TO THE DISTRICT HALL. CONSIDERABLE FIGHTING TOOK PLACE IN THE CITY BEFORE THE JNA ABANDONED THE SITE. IN ADDITION, THE CITY IS LOCATED ONLY 15 KM FROM THE FRONT LINE AND SOME OF THE OGULIN DISTRICT REMAINS UNDER THE CONTROL OF KRAJINA FORCES (BUT OUTSIDE THE UNPAS, AS LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT). ADDITIONALLY, THOUGH THERE ARE NO CONCRETE FIGURES, MANY SERBS LEFT OGULIN BEFORE AND DURING THE WAR, LEAVING A BAD TASTE AMONG MANY CROATS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY ALL LEFT TO FIGHT FOR THE "CHETNIKS" AGAINST THEIR OLD NEIGHBORS. SABORSKO (THE CROATIAN TOWN REFERRED TO IN PARA 9) RESIDENTS, EMBITTERED BY THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR VILLAGE, IN WHICH THEY CLAIM CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 05 OF 08 111239Z 55 OF THE 1,600 PRE-WAR POPULATION WERE KILLED, ARGUED THAT JUSTICE MUST BE DONE TO THOSE SERBS RESPONSIBLE. AND THEY SAY THEY PERSONALLY KNOW THE CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 06 OF 08 111240Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7A76 111248Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1127 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 06 OF 08 111240Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1626 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0519 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE. STILL, ONE FORMER SABORSKO RESIDENT SAID HE HAD NOTHING AGAINST THE SERBS AS A PEOPLE, HE JUST WANTED THOSE RESPONSIBLE TO BE PUNISHED ¶11. SUCH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE OFTEN DOES NOT MANIFEST CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 06 OF 08 111240Z ITSELF IN PRACTICE. SOME EXAMPLES: -- BEFORE THE WAR, IN OGULIN, ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT PRESIDENT (A MEMBER OF THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, CDU),75 PERCENT OF THE POLICE FORCE WAS MADE UP OF SERBS. NOW THAT FIGURE HAS BEEN REVERSED IN FAVOR OF CROATS. WERE SERBS FIRED? NO, SAY CROATS. SERBS IN THE POLICE LEFT OGULIN; THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POLICE WAS INCREASED; ALL FIVE POLICE INSPECTORS ARE SERBS WHO HAVE BEEN KEPT ON IN ORDER TO "USE" THEIR KNOWLEDGE. (COMMENT: WE ARE NOT IMPRESSED BY CLAIMS THAT NOONE WAS FIRED IN OGULIN BASED ON NATIONALITY. THE REPORTS FROM VRBOVSKO AND ELSEWHERE SAY OTHERWISE. END COMMENT.) -- ACCORDING TO A SERB MEMBER OF THE CROATIAN ASSEMBLY, EMPTY HOUSES, KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED BY SERBS HAVE BEEN THE TARGETS OF BOMB ATTACKS. NOONE PRESENT DENIED THE CLAIM. HOWEVER, SYMBOLIC OF THE DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE THAT SERBS IN THE ROOM FELT COMPELLED TO USE, THE SERB ASSEMBLYMAN SAID THAT THESE WERE "CONSEQUENCES OF A PROCESS I UNDERSTAND." HE WAS REFERRING, AS DID OTHER SERBS, TO THE EGREGIOUS ACTS OF FELLOW SERBS AROUND OGULIN, THE KRAJINA AND IN THE REST OF CROATIA. -- THE SAME ASSEMBLY MEMBER NOTED THE KILLING OF 10 PEOPLE (PRESUMABLY SERBS) IN THE OGULIN PRISON. (COMMENT: IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ACT IS CURRENTLY BEING PROSECUTED BY CROATIAN AUTHORITIES. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 06 OF 08 111240Z END COMMENT.) JASENAK CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 07 OF 08 111240Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7A80 111248Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1128 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 07 OF 08 111240Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1627 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0520 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 07 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS -------------- ¶12. JASENAK IS A PREDOMINANTLY SERB VILLAGE IN THE OGULIN DISTRICT WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SOME CONTROVERSY WITH ALLEGATIONS BY SERBS REGARDING THE TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT OF NON-SERB DISPLACED THERE. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 07 OF 08 111240Z ACCORDING TO THE OGULIN DISTRICT CHIEF, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 200 DISPLACED PEOPLE HOUSED NEAR JASENAK (A VILLAGE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE) IN AN UNUSED RESORT THAT HAS 1600 AVAILABLE BEDS. THE SERB MEMBER OF THE CROATIAN ASSEMBLY TOLD US THAT THERE HAD BEEN LENGTHY PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE DISPLACED PERSONS HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO JASENAK. DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN HELD WITH THE DISPLACED AND THE VILLAGERS SEPARATELY IN ORDER TO PREPARE THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE DISPLACED. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE EC MONITORING MISSION, WITH REPS HOUSED IN THE AREA, AND THE UNHCR ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MAKING THE JASENAK SITUATION WORK. FRESH FROM A JUNE 5 VISIT TO JASENAK, UNHCR CROATIA HEAD JEAN-CLAUDE CONCOLATO TOLD US JUNE 9 THAT THERE WERE ONLY 38 DISPLACED STAYING NEAR JASENAK. ALL OF THEM WERE OF RUTHENIAN NATIONALITY. FOR NOW, THE SITUATION IS UNDER NEW CONTROL AND NO NEW, IMMEDIATE INFLOWS OF DISPLACED ARE PLANNED. COMMENT -------------- ¶13. THE EXPERIENCE OF VRBOVSKO SUGGESTS THAT IN THESE AREAS OF CROATIA WHERE FIGHTING OR EXPULSIONS DID NOT TAKE PLACE, THERE IS SOME HOPE OF RECONCILIATION. UNFORTUNATELY, A FAVORABLE LOCAL CLIMATE CAN BE SPOILED BY OUTSIDE ACTIONS (E.G. DISMISSALS MADE BY ORGANIZATIONS BASED OUTSIDE THE AREA OR MEDIA HYPE FROM ZAGREB THAT INACCURATELY DESCRIBES A PARTICULAR SITUATION). ELSEWHERE, WHERE LARGE NUMBERS OF SERBS OR CROATS FLED, AND FIGHTING CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00954 07 OF 08 111240Z ENSUED, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE. ALL SERBS RETURNING TO THEIR VILLAGES WILL BE VIEWED SUSPICIOUSLY (WITNESS THE LENGTHY WAR CRIMES LISTS ALREADY BEING CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00954 08 OF 08 111303Z ACTION AID-01 INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-20 TRSE-00 T-01 /089W -------------- 3D7C06 111312Z /38 P 111005Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1129 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY HELSINKI AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00954 08 OF 08 111303Z AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 1628 USEC BRUSSELS COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0521 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 08 OF 08 ZAGREB 00954 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - HELSINKI FOR USDEL CSCE - STATE PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR PREL PREF PHUM MOPS HR SUBJECT: SERBS AND CROATS IN GORSKI KOTAR: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICTS PRINTED IN CROATIAN NEWSPAPERS). EVERYONE FEELS VIOLATED OR BETRAYED, AND IN MANY CASES BY FORMER FRIENDS, RELATIVES OR NEIGHBORS. FOR SERBS WHO STAYED THROUGHOUT, IT WILL BE REQUIRED, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THAT THEY ESTABLISH THEIR LOYALTY AND ATONE IN SOME WAY FOR THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF THEIR BRETHREN. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00954 08 OF 08 111303Z - ¶14. IT IS OUR VIEW THAT EVEN IN AREAS WHERE SOME EFFORTS TOWARD RECONCILIATION ARE UNDER WAY, ANY REAL SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THE OVERALL CLIMATE AS DEFINED BY ZAGREB. PROGRESS IN INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS HAS BEEN TENUOUS AT BEST IN A FEW AREAS, WHILE IN MOST AREAS NO SUCH EFFORTS HAVE GOTTEN UNDER WAY, NOR WILL THEY UNTIL THE WAR IS OVER AND THE UNPROFOR HAS DONE ITS JOB. SUCCESS IN REINTEGRATING SERBS INTO CROATIA WILL COME ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLIC LEADERSHIP. WE BELIEVE LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT CLEAR SIGNALS FROM ZAGREB. END COMMENT. EINIK CONFIDENTIAL NNNN