Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
94ZAGREB1155
1994-03-22 17:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- INTERVIEWING
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 001155
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR L O'BRIEN/NIX, USUN/W BOWMAN, AND EUR/EE
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PHUM BK PHUM BK HR
SUBJECT: WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- INTERVIEWING
REFUGEES IN CROATIA
REF: (A) STATE 54617 (NOTAL); (B) STATE 73420
(NOTAL)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 001155
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR L O'BRIEN/NIX, USUN/W BOWMAN, AND EUR/EE
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PHUM BK PHUM BK HR
SUBJECT: WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- INTERVIEWING
REFUGEES IN CROATIA
REF: (A) STATE 54617 (NOTAL); (B) STATE 73420
(NOTAL)
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. WE WELCOME THE REFUGEE-INTERVIEWING TEAM'S PROPOSED
VISIT TO CROATIA. CONTROL OFFICER FOR THE VISIT WILL BE
REFCOORD ERIC WHITAKER -- (0) 385-41-444-800, EXT. 63;
(H) 385-41-337-736.
3. THE DATES SCHEDULED FOR THE TEAM'S BRIEF STOP IN
CROATIA INCLUDE EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 3, AND EASTER
MONDAY, APRIL 4, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. IF IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE TEAM'S ITINERARY, WE
WILL TRY TO WORK AROUND THIS POTENTIALLY
SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLE. WE NOTE THAT THE CROATIAN
AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARED TO COOPERATE IN ANY WAY
THEY CAN. THEY HAVE AGREED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
PROVIDE AN INTERPRETER.
4. WE HAVE SOUGHT TO LOCATE THE WITNESS "V.G."
WHOSE ACCOUNT OF ATROCITIES AT LUKA WE RECORDED
IN 93 ZAGREB 731. WE ARE INFORMED BY A LOCAL
CONTACT OF HIS THAT HE IS NOW IN SWEDEN. HIS
NAME (STRICTLY PROTECT - HE IS THOUGHT TO STILL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
HAVE RELATIVES IN BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY) IS
RAGIB CERIMEGIC (CHAIR-I-MEG-ICH),NICKNAMED
"BELI." THE LOCAL CONTACT IS SEEKING TO GET US
AN ADDRESS OR MEANS OF CONTACT. WE WILL ALSO
CONTACT THE SWEDISH EMBASSY HERE TO SEE IF THEY
HAVE ANY RECORD WHICH CAN HELP TO LOCATE HIM.
EMBASSY STOCKHOLM MAY ALSO WISH TO SEEK SUCH
INFORMATION AS WELL, IF IT CAN BE DONE WITH THE
UTMOST DISCRETION. WE NOTE THAT THE WITNESS
SHOULD NOT BE APPROACHED EXCEPT IN THE MOST
DISCREET MANNER AND WITH DUE REGARD TO HIS
REPORTED ANGER THAT THE RISKS HE TOOK IN SHARING
HIS STORY WITH US (AND, WE ARE TOLD, WITH UN
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR MAZOWIECKI) HAVE NOT YET
BROUGHT ANY TANGIBLE RESULT.
5. FYI: THE "NURSE" FROM LUKA (REFERRED TO IN
93 ZAGREB 731),WHO REPORTEDLY UNDER COERCION
HELPED "PREPARE" YOUNG WOMEN FOR MASS RAPE
SESSIONS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE LEFT CROATIA
ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO. OUR CONTACTS DID NOT KNOW
WHERE SHE WAS NOW.
6. OUR INITIAL REQUEST TO THE GOC OFFICE OF
DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES ELICITED A
RESPONSE THAT THERE ARE THOUGHT TO BE SOME 8,000
REFUGEES IN GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED PARTS OF
CROATIA WHO CAME ORIGINALLY FROM THE BRCKO AREA.
THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES HERE WHO WOULD HAVE COME
FROM (AND CONTINUE TO COME FROM) THE PRIJEDOR
AREA WOULD, WE SUSPECT, BE FAR LARGER.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
7. WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER CONTACTS IN HOPES
OF IDENTIFYING A SMALL NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL
CREDIBLE WITNESSES WHO EXPERIENCED LUKA OR THE
PRIJEDOR CAMPS FIRST-HAND WITH WHOM THE TEAM
MIGHT MEET. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL "BRCKO CLUB" IN ZAGREB, WHO
INFORMED US THAT A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES
FROM BRCKO ARE IN GUNJA, CROATIA, JUST ACROSS
THE SAVA RIVER FROM BRCKO, (A FOUR TO SIX-HOUR
DRIVE FROM ZAGREB).
8. WE PRESUME THE TEAM IS AWARE OF THE NEW
SERIES OF REPORTS OF SPRING-EARLY SUMMER 1992
EVENTS IN THE BRCKO AREA THAT WE HAVE BEEN
SENDING IN. THESE INCLUDE: ZAGREB 945, 941,
930, 919, 872, AND 827. OTHER REPORTS IN THIS
SERIES ARE FORTHCOMING. THESE REPORTS WERE
COMPILED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH EYE-WITNESSES
CONDUCTED IN MAOCA, B-H (NORTH OF TUZLA) IN LATE
1993. WE NOTE IN REFTEL B THAT THE TEAM IS NOW
CONSIDERING A FOLLOW-ON TRIP TO THE TUZLA AREA.
WE STRONGLY ENDORSE THIS EFFORT AND ARE READY TO
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01155 02 OF 02 221808Z
ACTION EUR-01
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00
ANHR-01 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-16
L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 RPCS-01 SCT-03 SNP-00 SP-00
SR-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 RPE-01
PMB-00 /045W
-------------- 32FAED 221809Z /38
O 221753Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1297
INFO AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
USOFFICE BERLIN
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
AMCONSUL FRANKFURT
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ZAGREB 001155
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR L O'BRIEN/NIX, USUN/W BOWMAN, AND EUR/EE
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01155 02 OF 02 221808Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PHUM BK PHUM BK HR
SUBJECT: WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- INTERVIEWING
REFUGEES IN CROATIA
OFFER ANY SUPPORT WE CAN.
GALBRAITH
CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR L O'BRIEN/NIX, USUN/W BOWMAN, AND EUR/EE
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PHUM BK PHUM BK HR
SUBJECT: WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- INTERVIEWING
REFUGEES IN CROATIA
REF: (A) STATE 54617 (NOTAL); (B) STATE 73420
(NOTAL)
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. WE WELCOME THE REFUGEE-INTERVIEWING TEAM'S PROPOSED
VISIT TO CROATIA. CONTROL OFFICER FOR THE VISIT WILL BE
REFCOORD ERIC WHITAKER -- (0) 385-41-444-800, EXT. 63;
(H) 385-41-337-736.
3. THE DATES SCHEDULED FOR THE TEAM'S BRIEF STOP IN
CROATIA INCLUDE EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 3, AND EASTER
MONDAY, APRIL 4, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. IF IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE TEAM'S ITINERARY, WE
WILL TRY TO WORK AROUND THIS POTENTIALLY
SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLE. WE NOTE THAT THE CROATIAN
AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARED TO COOPERATE IN ANY WAY
THEY CAN. THEY HAVE AGREED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
PROVIDE AN INTERPRETER.
4. WE HAVE SOUGHT TO LOCATE THE WITNESS "V.G."
WHOSE ACCOUNT OF ATROCITIES AT LUKA WE RECORDED
IN 93 ZAGREB 731. WE ARE INFORMED BY A LOCAL
CONTACT OF HIS THAT HE IS NOW IN SWEDEN. HIS
NAME (STRICTLY PROTECT - HE IS THOUGHT TO STILL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
HAVE RELATIVES IN BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY) IS
RAGIB CERIMEGIC (CHAIR-I-MEG-ICH),NICKNAMED
"BELI." THE LOCAL CONTACT IS SEEKING TO GET US
AN ADDRESS OR MEANS OF CONTACT. WE WILL ALSO
CONTACT THE SWEDISH EMBASSY HERE TO SEE IF THEY
HAVE ANY RECORD WHICH CAN HELP TO LOCATE HIM.
EMBASSY STOCKHOLM MAY ALSO WISH TO SEEK SUCH
INFORMATION AS WELL, IF IT CAN BE DONE WITH THE
UTMOST DISCRETION. WE NOTE THAT THE WITNESS
SHOULD NOT BE APPROACHED EXCEPT IN THE MOST
DISCREET MANNER AND WITH DUE REGARD TO HIS
REPORTED ANGER THAT THE RISKS HE TOOK IN SHARING
HIS STORY WITH US (AND, WE ARE TOLD, WITH UN
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR MAZOWIECKI) HAVE NOT YET
BROUGHT ANY TANGIBLE RESULT.
5. FYI: THE "NURSE" FROM LUKA (REFERRED TO IN
93 ZAGREB 731),WHO REPORTEDLY UNDER COERCION
HELPED "PREPARE" YOUNG WOMEN FOR MASS RAPE
SESSIONS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE LEFT CROATIA
ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO. OUR CONTACTS DID NOT KNOW
WHERE SHE WAS NOW.
6. OUR INITIAL REQUEST TO THE GOC OFFICE OF
DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES ELICITED A
RESPONSE THAT THERE ARE THOUGHT TO BE SOME 8,000
REFUGEES IN GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED PARTS OF
CROATIA WHO CAME ORIGINALLY FROM THE BRCKO AREA.
THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES HERE WHO WOULD HAVE COME
FROM (AND CONTINUE TO COME FROM) THE PRIJEDOR
AREA WOULD, WE SUSPECT, BE FAR LARGER.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01155 01 OF 02 221808Z
7. WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER CONTACTS IN HOPES
OF IDENTIFYING A SMALL NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL
CREDIBLE WITNESSES WHO EXPERIENCED LUKA OR THE
PRIJEDOR CAMPS FIRST-HAND WITH WHOM THE TEAM
MIGHT MEET. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL "BRCKO CLUB" IN ZAGREB, WHO
INFORMED US THAT A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES
FROM BRCKO ARE IN GUNJA, CROATIA, JUST ACROSS
THE SAVA RIVER FROM BRCKO, (A FOUR TO SIX-HOUR
DRIVE FROM ZAGREB).
8. WE PRESUME THE TEAM IS AWARE OF THE NEW
SERIES OF REPORTS OF SPRING-EARLY SUMMER 1992
EVENTS IN THE BRCKO AREA THAT WE HAVE BEEN
SENDING IN. THESE INCLUDE: ZAGREB 945, 941,
930, 919, 872, AND 827. OTHER REPORTS IN THIS
SERIES ARE FORTHCOMING. THESE REPORTS WERE
COMPILED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH EYE-WITNESSES
CONDUCTED IN MAOCA, B-H (NORTH OF TUZLA) IN LATE
1993. WE NOTE IN REFTEL B THAT THE TEAM IS NOW
CONSIDERING A FOLLOW-ON TRIP TO THE TUZLA AREA.
WE STRONGLY ENDORSE THIS EFFORT AND ARE READY TO
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01155 02 OF 02 221808Z
ACTION EUR-01
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00
ANHR-01 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-16
L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 RPCS-01 SCT-03 SNP-00 SP-00
SR-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 RPE-01
PMB-00 /045W
-------------- 32FAED 221809Z /38
O 221753Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1297
INFO AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
USOFFICE BERLIN
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
AMCONSUL FRANKFURT
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ZAGREB 001155
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR L O'BRIEN/NIX, USUN/W BOWMAN, AND EUR/EE
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01155 02 OF 02 221808Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PHUM BK PHUM BK HR
SUBJECT: WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- INTERVIEWING
REFUGEES IN CROATIA
OFFER ANY SUPPORT WE CAN.
GALBRAITH
CONFIDENTIAL