GRANIC SAYS CROATIAN ARMY OUT OF SECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001869

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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WITHDRAWN COMPLETELY FROM THE POSITIONS IN THE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.

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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

















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