GRANIC SAYS CROATIAN ARMY OUT OF SECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001869 SIPDIS DEPT FOR A/S HOLBROOKE USUN FOR AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT EMBASSY BAKU FOR DCM FINN CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01869 161157Z E.O. 12356: DECL: 05/16/96 TAGS: PREL PHUM HR SUBJECT: GRANIC SAYS CROATIAN ARMY OUT OF SECTOR SOUTH ZOS; COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL BY 5 PM REF: ZAGREB 001867 ¶1. FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC CALLED AT 12 NOON, MAY 16, TO SAY THAT CROATIAN ARMY FORCES HAD WITHDRAWN COMPLETELY FROM THE POSITIONS IN THE ZONE OF SEPARATION (ZOS) IN SECTOR SOUTH THAT HAD BEEN OCCUPIED SINCE MAY 1. GRANIC AGAIN ASSURED ME THAT ALL FORCES WOULD BE BACK TO THE PRE-MAY 1 POSITIONS IN THE SECTORS NORTH AND EAST ZOS BY 5:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME, MAY 16 (REFTEL). - ¶2. BOTH THE CROATIAN ARMY AND THE RSK HAD FORCES IN THE ZOS BEFORE MAY 1. THIS PRESENCE, WHICH RELATES TO DIFFERING INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MAPS FOR THE MARCH 29, 1994 CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS SOME PRE-EXISTING WILLFUL VIOLATIONS, IS NOT AFFECTED BY CROATIA'S WITHDRAWAL PROMISE. THUS THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIOLATIONS OF THE ZOS AFTER THE DEADLINE. THE PRE-EXISTING VIOLATIONS ARE LESS DANGEROUS THAN THOSE THAT OCCURRED THIS MONTH, AND UNCRO PRESUMABLY WILL BE REASONABLY SATISFIED IF IT CAN ACHIEVE THE PRE-MAY STATUS QUO IN THE ZOS. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01869 161157Z ¶3. UN REPORTING OFTEN RUNS EIGHT TO TWELVE HOURS BEHIND THE EVENT. THEREFORE THE UN MAY NOT BE IN A POSITION TO CONFIRM THE CROATIAN WITHDRAWAL (ASSUMING THERE IS A FULL WITHDRAWAL) UNTIL MAY 17. ¶4. GRANIC TOLD ME THAT 180 OF THE 1400 SERB DETAINEES FROM WESTERN SLAVONIA ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES. FORTY SEVEN WERE AMNESTIED YESTERDAY AND HE SAID THE GOC WOULD TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE FURTHER THE NUMBER BEING HELD FOR POSSIBLE TRIAL. GALBRAITH CONFIDENTIAL NNNN