AMBASSADOR RAISES WAR CRIMES, REFUGEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 002371 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA; USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: DECL OADR TAGS: PHUM PREF HR BK SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES WAR CRIMES, REFUGEE PROBLEMS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT, DEFMIN REF: ZAGREB 2348 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02371 201602Z ¶1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT. ¶2. DURING A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN, DEFMIN SUSAK, AND DEPUTY FM SANADER, ON OTHER SUBJECTS (SEPTEL),AMB. GALBRAITH MADE TWO OTHER POINTS: -------------- CRIMINAL ACTS OF CROATIAN OCCUPYING TROOPS -------------- ¶3. AMB. GALBRAITH SAID THAT THE DESECRATION OF GRAVES HE HAD WITNESSED IN KASIC (REFTEL),EVIDENTLY COMMITTED BY CROATIAN TROOPS WHO OCCUPIED THE VILLAGE FOR 14 MONTHS, WAS HORRENDOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. BOTH CROATIAN OFFICIALS SOUGHT TO DENY CROATIAN RESPONSIBILITY, THEN TO ARGUE THAT SERBS HAD DONE MUCH WORSE THINGS AND ON A LARGER SCALE, TO CROATS. THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT THIS SORT OF DEFENSE WAS LIKE COMPARING THE ACTIONS OF A LEGITIMATE POLICE FORCE TO THE MAFIA; AS A WESTERN DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, CROATIA MUST EXPECT TO BE HELD TO A HIGH STANDARD. MOREOVER, SUCH ACTIONS, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, CREATED ILL WILL THAT WOULD MAKE REINTEGRATION MORE DIFFICULT WHEN THE TIME CAME. GALBRAITH SUGGESTED THAT SUSAK CONSIDER GIVING SPECIAL TRAINING TO CROATIAN TROOPS TO SENSITIZE THEM ON THESE ISSUES. -------------- HANDLING OF REFUGEES -------------- CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02371 201602Z ¶4. AMB. GALBRAITH ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT REPORTS THAT SOME 450 REFUGEES FROM THE BANJA LUKA AREA OF BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA HAD BEEN HELD AT THE CONFRONTATION LINE (IN UNPA SECTOR WEST),REFUSED CROATIAN PERMISSION TO ENTER. NONE OF THE CROATIAN OFFICIALS PRESENT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE. PRES. TUDJMAN MADE A PHONE CALL AND REPORTED THAT THOSE REFUGEES FROM THE GROUP WHO HAD MEDICAL PROBLEMS HAD BEEN ADMITTED IMMEDIATELY. THE OTHERS WERE BEING HELD TEMPORARILY, PENDING FINDING PLACES FOR THEM TO GO. THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE CONTINUING HEAVY FLOW OF REFUGEES HAD STRAINED CROATIA'S CAPACITY TO ABSORB THEM. NEVERTHELESS, TUDJMAN ASSURED THE AMBASSADOR THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAD NO INTENTION OF NOT ADMITTING THESE PEOPLE. "HELP US END THIS WAR," HE SAID, SO THAT SUCH PROBLEMS WOULD NOT OCCUR. GALBRAITH CONFIDENTIAL NNNN