CROATIA SITREP NO. 9 - AUGUST 5, 2130 HRS LOCAL

CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 01 OF 05 ZAGREB 02986 SIPDIS AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST WHITE HOUSE WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 ZAGREB 002986 SIPDIS BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: DECL: 8/5/00 TAGS: SUBJECT: CROATIA SITREP NO. 9 - AUGUST 5, 2130 HRS LOCAL ¶1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. BENKOVAC FELL TO HV FORCES AT 17:55 LOCAL. PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF HRVOJE SARINIC EXPRESSED CONDITIONAL GOC INTEREST IN STOPPING ALL MILITARY OPERATIONS AND CONDUCTING POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH SERB INTERLOCUTORS, INCLUDING BABIC. HE SAID THAT THE GOC CONSIDERED SERBS ATTACKS ON DUBROVNIK AND EASTERN SLAVONIA TO BE ONLY PROVOCATIONS, AND THAT THE HV WOULD NOT BE DRAWN INTO OPENING ANOTHER FRONT WITH THE SERBS. SERB FORCES WERE PRESENTING MOST RESISTANCE IN SECTOR NORTH, AROUND SLUNJ, AND THE HV EXPECTS TO HAVE THIS TERRITORY CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02986 01 OF 05 052147Z UNDER CONTROL WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE MOD CLAIMS TO HAVE FINISHED OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF ITS OBJECTIVE BY 1800 LOCAL TIME. GENERAL CERMAK NAMED BY TUDJMAN TO BE THE CHIEF MILITARY COMMANDER IN THE NEWLY-LIBERATED TERRITORY. END SUMMARY. -------------- KNIN FALLS -------------- ¶3. SARINIC CONFIRMED TO THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE HV NOW HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OVER KNIN. HE CLAIMED THAT THE KNIN CIVIL AUTHORITIES HAD FLED THE CITY IN A PANIC AND HAD NO TIME TO CARRY WITH THEM OR DESTROY GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS, ALTHOUGH HE SAID IT WAS TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT REMAINED. SERB RESISTANCE WAS STILL HOLDING OUT IN THE TOWNS OF BENKOVAC AND OBROVAC IN WESTERN PART OF SECTOR SOUTH. HOWEVER, HE CONFIRMED THAT HV FORCES HAD PENETRATED TO THE CROATIAN INTERNATIONAL BORDER AND HAD LINKED UP WITH ABH FIFTH CORPS TROOPS AT KOSTAJNICA. (NOTE: THE HV COMMANDER IN OGULIN SAID THAT HIS FORCES PLANNED TO LINK UP WITH FIFTH CORPS NEAR RAKOVICA ON AUGUST 6.) EARLIER IN THE DAY, SARINIC SAID HE HAD PROMISED SRSG AKASHI AND UNPF COMMANDER JANVIER THAT UNCRO WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PATROL KNIN AND CONTINUE OPERATIONS THERE, BUT ONLY AFTER SAFETY CONDITIONS ALLOWED UNCRO TO RETURN. HE INSISTED THAT IT WOULD BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE REMAINING SERBS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN A PRESENCE IN THE TOWN. -------------- CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02986 01 OF 05 052147Z THE ABDIC FACTOR -------------- ¶4. SARINIC CLAIMED THAT OVER SIX HUNDRED TROOPS LOYAL TO RENEGADE MUSLIM LEADER FIKRET ABDIC HAD QUICKLY SHIFTED LOYALTIES TO THE HV AND THE ABH 5TH CORPS AS THESE TWO ARMIES CONSOLIDATED THEIR GAINS IN SECTOR NORTH AND THE BIHAC POCKET. ABDIC, SARINIC OPINED, WAS A "NORMAL GUY, NOT A FUNDAMENTALIST," DESPITE HIS OPPORTUNISTIC ASSOCIATION WITH MARTIC. HE POSED NO PROBLEMS FOR THE GOC, PER SE. YET THE GOC COULD NOT RISK ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH IZETBEGOVIC ON ABDIC'S ACCOUNT. HOWEVER, IN RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH TUDJMAN, SARINIC WAS SURPRISED THAT IZETBEGOVIC APPEARED TO BE FLEXIBLE CONCERNING ABDIC. -------------- UNCRO TROOP PRESENCE AND CASUALTIES -------------- ¶5. SARINIC COULD NOT CONFIRM THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATHS OF TWO CZECH UNMOS EARLIER TODAY. HE HAD HIMSELF ONLY LEARNED THE NEWS FROM AKASHI A FEW HOURS EARLIER. REGARDING THE DANISH UNMO KIA, SARINIC SAID HE HAD CREDIBLE, THOUGH UNCONFIRMED, INFORMATION THAT CONFIDENTIAL NNNNPTQ5451 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5451 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02986 02 OF 05 052148Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 A-00 CA-02 CCO-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 CTME-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-01 FBIE-00 FBO-01 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPR-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-01 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRME-01 PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /040W -------------- E0A550 052148Z /38 O 052234Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6761 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BELGRADE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// NSC WASHDC NATO EU COLLECTIVE SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// COMSIXTHFLT //N2// USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XOX/IN/POLAD// DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02986 02 OF 05 052148Z AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST WHITE HOUSE WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 05 ZAGREB 002986 SIPDIS BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: DECL: 8/5/00 TAGS: SUBJECT: CROATIA SITREP NO. 9 - AUGUST 5, 2130 HRS LOCAL THE DANE HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY THE SERBS AND THE HV HAD FOUND HIM WITH HIS HANDS TIED WITH WIRE. TH E "ARSK" HAD USED HIM AS A HUMAN SHIELD DURING THE HV ATTACK ON THEM. SARINIC SAID THE DANE HAD DIED DURING THE RESCUE FLIGHT BACK TO THE MASH AT PLESO AIRPORT IN ZAGREB. A POLISH UNMO (KOVALESKY - NFI) HAD DIED IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY, SARINIC SAID, BECAUSE THE SERBS HAD REFUSED TO ALLOW HIM ON A UN HELICOPTER TO PLESO THAT THE UN HAD ARRANGED AND CLEARED WITH THE CROATS. ¶6. AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH UNDERSCORED THAT THE SECURITY OF UN FORCES WAS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. HV FORCES MUST GO AROUND UN OBSERVATION POSTS (UNOPS),HE SAID, NOT THROUGH THEM. SARINIC RESPONDED THAT AKASHI AND JANVIER HAD ASKED THAT UN COMPOUNDS NOT BE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02986 02 OF 05 052148Z VIOLATED. THESE COMPOUNDS NOW HELD FOUR HUNDRED UN PERSONNEL AND THREE HUNDRED SERBS SEEKING REFUGE. THESE SERBS WOULD BE FREE TO REMAIN IN CROATIA OR LEAVE FOR SERB-HELD B-H IF THEY SO WISHED. THE CROATIAN AMNESTY LAW WOULD APPLY TO ALL WHO STAYED EXCEPT THOSE "SPECIAL CASES" GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES, HE ASSERTED. THE UN WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE ITS WORK IN KNIN, HE CONTINUED, AS SOON AS THE SECURITY RISK SITUATION ALLOWED THEM TO DO SO. KNIN WAS CURRENTLY UNDER A GENERAL AIR SIREN WARNING, HE SAID, BECAUSE SINCE 1430 LOCAL TIME, IT WAS BEING SHELLED FROM OBROVAC AND BENKOVAC. ¶7. SARINIC INSISTED THAT NOT A SINGLE HV SHELL HAD HIT THE KNIN UN COMPOUND. IT WAS LOCATED OUT OF TOWN, AND THE HV FORCES HAD STRICT INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO TOUCH IT. HE SAID ONE SHELL HAD FALLEN IN FRONT OF THE COMPOUND ENTRANCE. CONFLICTING INFORMATION CONTINUED TO ARRIVE CONCERNING THE SITUATION INSIDE KNIN. IN SARINIC'S TALKS WITH THE UNPF LEADERS, GENERAL JANVIER HAD SAID THAT BODIES HAD LINED THE STREETS OF KNIN, YET AKASHI HAD CLAIMED THAT THERE WERE ONLY A FEW CASUALTIES. -------------- CONTINUED MILITARY ACTIVITY -------------- ¶8. THE SERBS CONTINUED TO MOUNT THE STRONGEST RESISTANCE IN SECTOR NORTH, HE SAID, BETWEEN GLINA AND PETRINJA. HE EXPECTED OPERATIONS THERE TO CONTINUE ANOTHER 24-48 HOURS. ONE DOZEN TANKS STILL HELD OUT IN THE AREA. THEY WERE UNABLE TO MOVE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURES, YET THEIR CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02986 02 OF 05 052148Z CANNONS STILL FUNCTIONED WELL. TWO HV INFANTRY ATTACKS HAD BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT TAKING THEM OUT, SO THE ARMY HAD SURROUNDED THE TANKS AND WOULD NOT RISK FURTHER INFANTRY CASUALTIES. ¶9. AKASHI AND JANVIER HAD PROPOSED TO SARINIC A CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AND WOULD PRESENT A PAPER TO SARINIC LATER THIS EVENING AT 1800. SARINIC SAID THE GOC WOULD ONLY ACCEPT PROPOSALS THAT INCLUDED THE COMPLETE SURRENDER AND DISARMAMENT OF RSK FORCES IN BOTH THE SECTORS. SARINIC WAS PREPARED TO STOP ALL MILITARY ACTIVITY TONIGHT IF THE SERBS WOULD AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS. -------------- BABIC AND POSSIBLE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS -------------- ¶10. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE DAY, MINISTER OF DEFENSE SUSAK REQUESTED THAT THE AMBASSADOR PLAY A ROLE IN CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SERBS. AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH THEN OUTLINED TO SARINIC HIS TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH MILAN BABIC THE DAY BEFORE. SARINIC SAID THAT BABIC COULD HAVE A USEFUL ROLE IN APPEALING TO ALL REMAINING RSK FORCES IN THE TWO SECTORS CONFIDENTIAL NNNNPTQ5452 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5452 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02986 03 OF 05 052148Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 A-00 CA-02 CCO-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 CTME-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-01 FBIE-00 FBO-01 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPR-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-01 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRME-01 PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /040W -------------- E0A555 052148Z /38 O 052234Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6762 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BELGRADE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// NSC WASHDC NATO EU COLLECTIVE SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// COMSIXTHFLT //N2// USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XOX/IN/POLAD// DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02986 03 OF 05 052148Z AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST WHITE HOUSE WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 05 ZAGREB 002986 SIPDIS BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: DECL: 8/5/00 TAGS: SUBJECT: CROATIA SITREP NO. 9 - AUGUST 5, 2130 HRS LOCAL TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. HOWEVER, HE MAINTAINED THAT THE GOC WOULD ONLY AGREE TO NEGOTIATE WITH BABIC AS LONG AS FIGHTING STILL CONTINUED. SHOULD THE "ARSK" NOT SURRENDER AND THE HV TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE TERRITORY MILITARILY, NEGOTIATIONS WITH BABIC WOULD NO LONGER BE AN OPTION. THE GOC WOULD THEN SEEK OUT OTHER SERB LEADERS AND INTERLOCUTORS WHO STILL WISHED TO REMAIN IN THE SECTOR, SUCH AS VJEKOSLAV DJAKULA IN WESTERN SLAVONIA. ¶11. BABIC HAD TO BE CONTACTED THAT SAME EVENING ABOUT CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS, SARINIC INSISTED, FOR THIS IDEA TO BE AT ALL SUCCESSFUL. THE AMBASSADOR AGREED TO BE THE POINT OF INITIAL CONTACT WITH BABIC, AND WOULD PLAY AN ADDITIONAL ROLE AS REQUESTED BY THE PARTIES, SUBJECT TO WASHINGTON'S APPROVAL. HE INSISTE D THAT SUCH NEGOTIATIONS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02986 03 OF 05 052148Z INCLUDE A POSITIVE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR A WESTERN KRAJINA WITHIN CROATIA. SARINIC WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT BABIC'S ABILITY TO DELIVER ON THE MILITARY FRONT, BUT AGREED. THE AMBASSADOR EMPHASIZED THAT SUCH A SETTLEMENT MUST MAKE LOCAL SERBS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR CHOICE TO REMAIN IN KRAJINA. BABIC WAS AN IDEAL INTERLOCUTOR BECAUSE HE HAD POPULAR SUPPORT AMONG THE PEOPLE OF KRAJINA. THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WAS ESSENTIAL IN GAINING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE LOCAL SERBIAN POPULATION. A POSITIVE RESOLUTION IN THE KRAJINA ALSO HELD SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN SECTOR EAST. ¶12. SARINIC REPLIED THAT CROATIA WOULD BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF CIVILIAN AUTHORITY AND CULTURAL AUTONOMY, AS WELL AS COUNTY TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES. THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT DISCUSSIONS WITH BABIC BE HELD IN ZAGREB AT A LOCATION OF THE GOC'S CHOOSING, PREFERABLY NOT IN SECRET. HE SUGGESTED OTHER INTERLOCUTORS THE GOC MIGHT WISH TO CONSIDER MIGHT BE VOJNOVIC, AND RADOVAN JOVIC, A RECENT USIS IV RECIPIENT. SARINIC URGED THAT SUCH DISCUSSION START IMMEDIATELY. AS SOON AS MILITARY ACTION FINISHED, CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE KRAJINA WOULD CHANGE, AND HE WOULD NO LONGER BE AMENABLE TO HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH BABIC. -------------- KRAJINA MUST RETAIN A SERBIAN POPULATION -------------- ¶13. THE AMBASSADOR INSISTED TO SARINIC THAT THE GOC MAKE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02986 03 OF 05 052148Z EVERY EFFORT TO PROTECT THE LOCAL CIVILIAN POPULATION AND ENSURE THAT CONDITIONS ARE CREATED TO ENCOURAGE THE LOCAL POPULATION TO STAY. SARINIC REPLIED THAT THE GOC WAS CONSTRAINED BY PUBLIC OPINION, WHICH WAS CONVINCED "ONE HUNDRED PERCENT" THAT A MILITARY SOLUTION WAS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE KRAJINA PROBLEM. THE AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT THE GOC AND THE GOBH NOW HAD THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE FACTORS ON THE GROUND TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A VIABLE PEACE SETTLEMENT IN THE REGION LATER THIS YEAR. - -------------- BILDT OUT ON A LIMB -------------- ¶14. SARINIC EXPRESSED SHOCK AND DISMAY AT ICFY SPECIAL ENVOY CARL BILDT'S STATEMENT EQUATING PRESIDENT TUDJMAN AND RSK LEADER MARTIC, CHARACTERIZING IT AS "STUPID." ICFY MUST DEAL WITH CROATIA AND SUCH UNDIPLOMATIC AND UNPROFESSIONAL STATEMENTS WERE COMPLETELY UNPRODUCTIVE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOC WOULD REFUSE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH BILDT. -------------- CONFIDENTIAL NNNNPTQ5453 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5453 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02986 04 OF 05 052148Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 A-00 CA-02 CCO-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 CTME-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-01 FBIE-00 FBO-01 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPR-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-01 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRME-01 PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /040W -------------- E0A558 052149Z /38 O 052234Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6763 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BELGRADE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// NSC WASHDC NATO EU COLLECTIVE SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// COMSIXTHFLT //N2// USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XOX/IN/POLAD// DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02986 04 OF 05 052148Z AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST WHITE HOUSE WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 05 ZAGREB 002986 SIPDIS BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: DECL: 8/5/00 TAGS: SUBJECT: CROATIA SITREP NO. 9 - AUGUST 5, 2130 HRS LOCAL SECTOR EAST PROVOCATIONS -------------- ¶15. SARINIC REMAINED CONCERNED ABOUT "ARSK" SHELLING ON OSIJEK AND VINKOVCI. HE INSISTED THAT THE HV CONSIDERED THESE ATTACKS TO BE ONLY PROVOCATIONS, AND WOULD NOT RETALIATE. HE CLAIMED THAT OVER 600 SHELLS HAD FALLEN ON VINKOVCI AND 6 ON OSIJEK SINCE THE START OF THE HV'S ACTION. HE SHOWED US AN UNCONFIRMED AND UNRELIABLE MEDIA REPORT FROM BANJA LUKA AS OF 1300 LOCAL ON AUGUST 5 THAT THE "ARSK" HAD GAINED CONTROL OF NUSTAR, SIX KILOMETERS NORTH OF VINKOVCI. -------------- DUBROVNIK AND TREBINJE -------------- CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02986 04 OF 05 052148Z ¶16. CILIPI AND KONAVLJE CONTINUED TO BE SHELLED BY THE BSA, SARINIC CONTINUED. THE WATER PIPELINE TO HERCEG-NOVI IN MONTENEGRO HAD BEEN PARTIALLY DESTROYED IN THIS SHELLING AND THE GOC COULD NOT REPAIR IT UNTIL THE SHELLING STOPPED. SARINIC SAID THE GOC WOULD NOT "BLACKMAIL" THE SERBS WITH WATER. AS IN SECTOR EAST, THE HV WOULD NOT REACT TO SUCH PROVOCATIONS UNLESS THE SERBS MADE GOOD ON THEIR CLAIMS TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE HISTORICAL CENTER OF DUBROVNIK. IT WAS NOT IN CROATIAN INTERESTS TO OPEN ANOTHER FRONT, HE REITERATED. -------------- SET UP OF MILITARY AND CIVIL AUTHORITIES -------------- ¶17. MINISTER-AT-LARGE MAJDAK WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE GOC INTRA-GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATOR OF ACTIVITIES FOR WESTERN KRAJINA, JUST AS HE WAS FOR WESTERN SLAVONIA, SARINIC INFORMED US. AT 1430, HE SAID, PRESIDENT TUDJMAN HAD NAMED GENERAL CERMAK AS THE "KNIN COMMANDER" AND HAD ASKED HIM TO CONSOLIDATE POLITICAL-MILITARY CONTROL OF THE SECTORS. SARINIC SAID AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS POSITION WOULD BE FORTHCOMING LATER TODAY. (NOTE: IT WAS NOT ANNOUNCED AT THE MOD PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1800.) -------------- LATE DEVELOPMENTS -------------- CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02986 04 OF 05 052148Z ¶18. AT A TELEVISED MOD PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1800 LOCAL, THE SPOKESMAN, GENERAL IVAN TOLJ, CONFIRMED THAT BENKOVAC HAD FALLEN AT 17:55. HE SAID THE HV OPERATION WAS PROCEEDING TWICE AS FAST AS THEY HAD EXPECTED AND THAT EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE TASK HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE HV HAD CUT SEVERAL SERB COMMUNICATION LINES (DRNIS-KNIN, OBROVAC-GRACAC, GOSPIC-LJUBOVO, GOSPIC-GRACAC, AND DUBICA- KOSTAJNICA). THE HV HAD ENGAGED THE FORCES OF THE 7TH KNIN CORPS (10,000 TROOPS) AND 15TH ILJICKI CORPS (15,000 TROOPS) IN THE SOUTH, AND THE 21ST AND 39TH CORPS IN THE NORTH. TOLJ OPINED THAT "TODAY WAS AN HISTORICAL DAY FOR CROATIA, EUROPE AND THE WORLD." ¶19. REFUSING TO GIVE NUMBERS, TOLJ INSISTED THAT THE HV HAD SUFFERED MINIMAL CASUALTIES, AND DID NOT HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY SERB TROOPS HAD FLED TO BOSNIA. THE HV COMMANDER IN OGULIN TOLD POLOFF AND DATT THAT 40 PERCENT OF HIS CASUALTIES WERE CAUSED BY MINEFIELDS. HE CONFIRMED THAT SERB GUERRILLA ACTIONS CONTINUED IN THE SLUNJ AREA OF SECTOR NORTH, BUT INSISTED THAT THE HV WAS UNCONCERNED THAT THE "ARSK" AND THE BSA MIGHT LAUNCH A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE FROM BOSNIA IN THE COMING DAYS. HE REPEATED SARINIC'S ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF THE DANISH PEACEKEEPER. HV FORCES, HE MAINTAINED, WERE UNDER STRICT CONFIDENTIAL NNNNPTQ5454 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5454 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02986 05 OF 05 052149Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 A-00 CA-02 CCO-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 CTME-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-01 FBIE-00 FBO-01 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPR-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-01 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRME-01 PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /040W -------------- E0A55B 052149Z /38 O 052234Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6764 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BELGRADE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// NSC WASHDC NATO EU COLLECTIVE SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// COMSIXTHFLT //N2// USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XOX/IN/POLAD// DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02986 05 OF 05 052149Z AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST WHITE HOUSE WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 05 ZAGREB 002986 SIPDIS BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: DECL: 8/5/00 TAGS: SUBJECT: CROATIA SITREP NO. 9 - AUGUST 5, 2130 HRS LOCAL ORDERS NOT TO HARM OR TARGET UN PERSONNEL OR LOCAL CIVILIANS. (NOTE: THE HV COMMANDER IN OGULIN CONFIRMED THIS TO US. HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE HV SUFFERED CASUALTIES WHILE AVOIDING UN POSITIONS. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE "ARSK" WAS MIXING CIVILIANS WITH MILITARY UNITS AS THEY RETREATED AND BECAUSE OF THAT HIS UNITS WERE AVOIDING CUTTING MAIN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, FOR NOW). TOLJ WOULD NOT CONFIRM THAT ALL THE ROCKET LAUNCHERS IN SECTOR NORTH HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT, BUT SAID THAT IN THIS QUICKLY CHANGING SITUATION, THE "POSSIBILITIES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED" OF SUCH ROCKETS REACHING ZAGREB. SUCH TARGETING WOULD BE "CRAZY," MILITARILY INSIGNIFICANT, AND THEREFORE ONLY A WAR CRIME. ¶20. TOLJ CLAIMED THE HV HAD WANTED TO OPEN TODAY TO JOURNALISTS THE ROAD TO KOSTAVICA, WHERE THE HV AND 5TH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02986 05 OF 05 052149Z CORPS HAD LINKED UP, BUT DID NOT DO SO DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. HE HOPED THAT JOURNALISTS WOULD BE ALLOWED INTO THE SECTOR SOON. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LINK-UP, TOLJ SAID "NOTHING WOULD EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN." ANY DREAMS OF A GREATER SERBIA HAD "FALLEN INTO THE WATER." ¶21. SARAJEVO MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. GALBRAITH CONFIDENTIAL NNNN