CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 002326

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SUBJECT: CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
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SUMMARY
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2. IN AN APRIL 12 MEETING, CROATIA'S CARDINAL KUHARIC
APPEALED TO THE AMBASSADOR FOR HELP FOR PERSECUTED
MINORITIES IN THE BANJA LUKA REGION. DISCUSSING THE
SITUATION IN CROATIA, THE CARDINAL ADVOCATED "EQUALITY"
FOR THE SERBIAN POPULATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO COMPREHEND
WHY SERBS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS FEEL THEY ARE TREATED "EQUALLY"
IN CROATIA. BIO NOTE: KUHARIC TURNED 75 ON APRIL 15,
1995 AND, ACCORDING TO CANON LAW, SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO
AUTOMATIC RETIREMENT. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THE POPE
WANTS HIM TO STAY ON, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. THERE
ARE NO CLEAR FAVORITES TO SUCCEED HIM. END SUMMARY.

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LAST CHANCE TO HALT ETHNIC CLEANSING IN NORTHERN BOSNIA
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3. ON APRIL 12 THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH FRANJO CARDINAL
KUHARIC WHO MADE AN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE LONG-SUFFERING
MINORITIES IN BANJA LUKA, NOW UNDER EVEN GREATER PRESSURE
AS A RESULT OF CROATIA HAVING RETAKEN SECTOR WEST AND
OTHER MILITARY REVERSES SUFFERED BY THE SERBS. THE
CARDINAL ESTIMATED THAT IN THE NORTHERN BOSNIA AREA THERE
ONLY REMAIN 30,000 MUSLIMS AND 20,000 CROATS "SLEEPING IN
THE WOODS" (FROM A PRE-WAR POPULATION OP 356,000 MUSLIMS
AND 181,000 CROATS). HE SOUGHT A CLEARLY WORDED STATEMENT
PROM THE WEST TO PUT THE SERBS ON NOTICE THAT ETHNIC
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CLEANSING MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY.


4. THE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED SYMPATHY POR THE CARDINAL'S
CONCERNS BUT QUESTIONED WHETHER MORE WORDS WOULD MAKE ANY
DIPFERENCE. HE NOTED THAT THE WORLD HAD ALREADY MADE
CLEAR TO THE SERB AUTHORITIES THAT THEY WOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN BANJA LUKA AND ELSEWHERE.
HE CITED THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
AND THE EFFORTS BY THE USG TO COLLECT EVIDENCE OP WAR
CRIMES AND ATROCITIES. YET IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE SERBS
ONLY UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF PORCE.


5. ASKED IP HE SAW ANY CHANCE THAT THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH MIGHT PLAY A ROLE IN BRINGING ABOUT A PEACE
SETTLEMENT, KUHARIC REPLIED THAT SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
WAS A NATIONAL CHURCH. ALTHOUGH THERE EXISTS MORE THAN
ONE CURRENT, AND SOME MODERATES ARE INCLINED TOWARD A JUST
SOLUTION, THE LEADERSHIP VIEWS THE WAR AS A "FIGHT AGAINST
ISLAM IN EUROPE AND CATHOLICISM IN THE BALKANS." THEY
EMBRACE THE RIGHT OF ALL SERRS TO LIVE IN ONE STATE AND AS
SUCH ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MORE RADICAL POLITICAL ELEMENTS
SUCH AS KARADZIC.

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CARDINAL STILL FIGHTING OLD BATTLES TO "CORRECT" HISTORY
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6. TURNING TO CROATIA, THE AMBASSADOR OPINED THAT A PEACE
PROCESS WAS POSSIBLE BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE CROATS TO
RETHINK HOW THEY VIEW SERBS. REPEATED REFERENCES TO SERBS
AS A "MINORITY" MAKE THEM FEEL UNWELCOME AND INFERIOR.
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7. KUHARIC REPLIED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE SERBS HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN A MINORITY IN CROATIA, THEY FORMERLY FUNCTIONED AS A
MAJORITY. AFTER RULING FOR 75 YEARS THEY DO NOT WANT TO
ACCEPT MERE "EQUALITY." FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SERBS ARE LAID
OFF FROM A JOB THEY CLAIM DISCRIMINATION, IGNORING THE
FACT THAT THOUSANDS OF CROATS ARE LAID OFF AS WELL.
KUHARIC THEN RECITED THE FAMILIAR LITANY OF SERB ABUSES
AGAINST THE CROATIAN PEOPLE BEGINNING IN 1918 WHEN A GROUP
OF CROATS PROTESTING THE CREATION OF YUGOSLAVIA WERE FIRED
UPON IN ZAGREB'S MAIN SQUARE AND ENDING WITH THE JNA
ARMING THE LOCAL MILITIAS IN 1991. HE ARGUED THAT "THOSE
WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FREE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGY
OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SLAVES."


8. THE AMBASSADOR COMMENTED THAT A SERB MIGHT RECITE A
SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT HISTORY OF YUGOSLAVIA, FOCUSSING MORE
ON THE WWII NDH GOVERNMENT AND THE JASENOVAC CONCENTRATION
CAMP.


9. THIS COMMENT LED THE CARDINAL TO DECLARE THAT, WHILE
"IT WOULD BE A CRIME IF JUST ONE MAN WAS KILLED AT
JASENOVAC," THE CHARGE THAT 700,000 WERE SLAUGHTERED COULD








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ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 OASY-00 DODE-00
SRPP-00 FBIE-00 INLB-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-08
LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-01 SP-00 SS-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 PRMC-01
DRL-09 G-00 /031W
-------------- D096C1 161621Z /38
R 161609Z JUN 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6155
INFO USLO SKOPJE
AMEMBASSY BAKU
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
NATO EU COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 002326

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E.O. 12356: DECL: 06/15/05
TAGS: PGOV PINR HR PINR HR PINR HR
SUBJECT: CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY

NOT BE TRUE OR THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY SERBS LEFT IN
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CROATIA. HE CITED NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF WWII ATROCITIES
COMMITTED AGAINST CROATS. HE EXPRESSED HIS WILLINGNESS TO
"PITY OVER EVERY TOMB" BUT REFUSED TO ACCEPT "HALF A
CENTURY OF UNJUST PROPAGANDA AND LIES." HE INSISTED THAT
ONE CANNOT CONDEMN AN ENTIRE NATION FOR CRIMES COMMITTED
BY ITS LEADERS.

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PRINCIPLES CLEAR BUT RECONCILIATION WILL BE LONG
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10. THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT WAS PRECISELY THE POINT.
IF PEOPLE INSIST ON FIGHTING THE BATTLES OF THE PAST THERE
CAN BE NO FUTURE. CROATIA, AS A NEW, INDEPENDENT STATE,
CAN AFFORD TO BE GENEROUS TO THE SERBS WHO LIVE HERE.
SUCH A POLICY IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT ALSO
MAKES SENSE IN THE QUEST FOR PEACE.


11. THE CARDINAL RESPONDED SAYING THE SERBS DO NOT WANT
PEACE AND THAT IS WHY THEY STARTED THE WAR. THE
AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT IN 1991 IT WAS NOT THE SERBIAN
PEOPLE BUT THE YUGOSLAV NATIONAL ARMY AND CERTAIN LEADERS
IN KNIN WHO CHOSE TO FIGHT AGAINST AN INDEPENDENT CROATIA.
THE MAJORITY OF SERBS CHOSE TO REMAIN IN CROATIA AND NOW
THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT MUST CONVINCE THESE PEOPLE TO
ACCEPT REALITY AND MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME.


12. THE CARDINAL EXPRESSED HIS AGREEMENT SAYING THAT THE
PRINCIPLES ARE CLEAR BUT THE PROCESS WILL BE LONG AND
HARD. ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE VICTIMS,
THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT A SERB AFTER HE HAS
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DESTROYED YOUR HOUSE AND MURDERED YOUR FAMILY. TO WHICH
THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT THE ANGER MUST BE DIRECTED
TOWARD THE CRIMINAL, NOT TOWARD ALL SERBS.

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COMMENT
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13. KUHARIC IS CLEARLY WELL-INTENTIONED AND HAS TRIED TO
PUT INTO PRACTICE THE TOLERANCE THAT HE PREACHES. ON
NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HE HAS REACHED OUT TO CROATIA'S OTHER
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES. DURING THE WAR IN 1991 HE VISITED
AN ORTHODOX CHURCH NEAR THE FRONTLINES AND SPOKE OUT
AGAINST ANY ATTEMPTS TO TAKE REVENGE ON CROATIA'S ORTHODOX
COMMUNITY. HE HAS STEADFASTLY SUPPORTED A UNITED BOSNIA
AND CAME UNDER STRONG CRITICISM IN OFFICIAL CIRCLES AND
EVEN AMONG HIS OWN CLERGY WHEN HE PROTESTED CRIMES
COMMITTED AGAINST MUSLIMS DURING THE CROAT-MUSLIM CONFLICT
IN B-H. FORMER "HERCEG-BOSNA PRESIDENT" MATE BOBAN WROTE
AN OPEN LETTER ACCUSING KUHARIC OF "BETRAYING THE
INTERESTS OF THE CROATIAN PEOPLE."


14. BUT, LIKE SO MANY CROATS (ESPECIALLY OF HIS
GENERATION),HE APPEARS UNABLE TO SHAKE THE DUST OF
HISTORY OFF HIS FEET AND GIVE UP THE OLD BATTLES OF WHO
DID WHAT TO WHOM AND WHEN. ALSO, LIKE MOST CROATS, HE IS
UNABLE TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE PLACE OF OTHERS AND SEE WHAT
DAILY LIFE AND ECONOMIC PROSPECTS MUST LOOK LIKE TO THE
AVERAGE SERB LIVING IN CROATIA. ISOLATED BECAUSE OF HIS
POSITION, HE FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SERBS ARE NOT
ALWAYS TREATED "EQUALLY" IN CROATIAN SOCIETY. SO, WHILE
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HE CAN PROBABLY BE COUNTED ON TO SPEAK UP IN THE FACE OF
BLATANT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, HE IS NOT LIKELY TO PLAY
A FORCEFUL LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF NATIONAL
RECONCILIATION.

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BIO NOTE
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15. FRANJO CARDINAL KUHARIC TURNED 75 ON APRIL 15, 1994
AND, ACCORDING TO CANON LAW, SHOULD BE FACING MANDATORY
RETIREMENT. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN THAT THE
CARDINAL IS ABOUT TO STEP DOWN NOR HAS A COADJUTOR BEEN
NAMED. GIVEN THAT NOTHING WAS SAID ON THE SUBJECT DURING
THE VISIT OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO ZAGREB LAST SEPTEMBER,
IT IS GENERALLY FELT THAT THE CARDINAL WILL BE ALLOWED TO
REMAIN ON FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE YEARS.
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16. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE OPEN SPECULATION OVER KUHARIC'S
POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS. THOSE MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ARE
HIS SECRETARY, STJEPAN KOZUL; ZAGREB'S ASSISTANT BISHOPS
MARKO CULEJ AND JURAJ JEZERINAC (RECENTLY RETURNED FROM








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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02326 03 OF 03 161532Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 OASY-00 DODE-00
SRPP-00 FBIE-00 INLB-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-08
LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-01 SP-00 SS-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 PRMC-01
DRL-09 G-00 /031W
-------------- D096CD 161621Z /38
R 161609Z JUN 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6156
INFO USLO SKOPJE
AMEMBASSY BAKU
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
NATO EU COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 002326

SIPDIS


ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN
BAKU FOR DCM FINN

E.O. 12356: DECL: 06/15/05
TAGS: PGOV PINR HR PINR HR PINR HR
SUBJECT: CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY

CANADA); THE BISHOP OF SIBENIK, SRECKO BADURINA; CARITAS
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DIRECTOR MONSIGNOR VLADIMIR STANKOVIC AND SARAJEVO
ARCHBISHOP VINKO PULJIC PRIOR TO HIS BEING MADE A CARDINAL
IN HIS OWN RIGHT IN NOVEMRER OF LAST YEAR. ALL ARE
RELATIVELY YOUNG (LATE 40'S EARLY 50'S) EXCEPT BADURINA
WHO IS ALSO SAID TO BE IN POOR HEALTH.


17. KUHARIC APPEARS TO ENJOY EXCELLENT HEALTH AND IS
THOUGHT BY MANY TO BE THE RIGHT PERSON TO GUIDE THE
REGION'S CATHOLIC POPULATION THROUGH THESE TROUBLED TIMES.
THE CARDINAL IS VALUED AS A MEDIATOR. HE HAS KEPT HIS
LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN WITH THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. IN
MAY OF 1994 KUHARIC MET IN SARAJEVO WITH SERBIAN ORTHODOX
PATRIARCH PAVLE AND RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH ALEKSEJ II.
TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN HE MET WITH JOVAN PAVLOVIC,
METROPOLITAN FOR CROATIA, SLOVENIA AND ITALY (RESIDENT IN
LJUBLJANA). WHEN THE AMBASSADOR LEFT HIS OFFICE, VELJKO
KNEZEVIC, THE HEAD OF THE FRY'S LIAISON OFFICE IN ZAGREB
WAS WAITING IN THE ANTEROOM.


18. AFTER THROWING THE CHURCH'S UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT
BEHIND THE HDZ DURING CROATIA'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE,
KUHARIC WAS QUICK TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM TUDJMAN AND THE
OFFICIAL PARTY AFTERWARDS. HE HAS OPENLY OPPOSED THE IDEA
OF CROATIAN STATE IN WHICH CROATS WOULD HAVE GREATER
RIGHTS THAN OTHER NATIONALITIES. IN AUGUST OF 1993, AFTER
THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION ON WHICH TUDJMAN DELIVERED A
POLITICAL ADDRESS IN A DALMATIAN CHURCH, THE CARDINAL
STRICTLY FORBID THAT ANY POLITICIAN BE PERMITTED SPEAK ON
CHURCH PREMISES. HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TUDJMAN HAS BEEN
COOL. A TUDJMAN AIDE REPORTEDLY ASKED ONCE, "WHY DOESN'T
THE CARDINAL INVITE THE PRESIDENT IN FOR A COFFEE WHEN HE
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COMES TO MASS IN THE CATHEDRAL?"


19. SARAJEVO MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.

GALBRAITH


























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