DEPUTY PM TELLS A/S SHATTUCK GOC PLANS TO REPATRIATE ABDIC MUSLIMS, WILL CUT OFF ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIAN REFUGEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 003839

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WARSAW ALSO FOR A/S SHATTUCK
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU
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E.O. 12356: 9/30/00
TAGS:
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PM TELLS A/S SHATTUCK GOC PLANS TO
REPATRIATE ABDIC MUSLIMS, WILL CUT OFF
ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIAN REFUGEES



1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

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SUMMARY
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2. DEPUTY PM KOSTOVIC TOLD VISITING DRL A/S SHATTUCK THAT
THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO REPATRIATE THE
20,000 ABDIC REBEL MUSLIMS IN THE KUPLJENSKO CAMP NEAR
VOJNIC AFTER 10-15 DAYS IF NO AGREEMENT IS REACHED IN THE
INTERIM FOR THEIR RETURN. CROATIA, BOSNIA, AND TURKEY
WOULD PROVIDE AN INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE TO PROVIDE FOR
THEIR SAFETY. KOSTOVIC REQUESTED USG ASSISTANCE TO
PRESSURE THE GOBH TO PROVIDE GUARANTEES FOR THEIR SAFE
RETURN. HE CLAIMED THAT THE REVOCATION OF REFUGEE STATUS
DECREE FOR BOSNIANS FROM THE FEDERATION AND THE NEWLY
LIBERATED TERRITORIES WOULD NOT FORCIBLY REPATRIATE THEM,
BUT "ONLY" CUT OFF THEIR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER,
HE ADDED THAT WHILE ETHNIC CROAT DUAL NATIONALS WOULD BE
LEGALLY ALLOWED TO STAY, OTHERS (MUSLIMS FROM B-H) WOULD
NOT BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN. KOSTOVIC AGREED TO WORK WITH
GRANIC TO SET UP A NEW PROCEDURE IN THE BELGRADE MISSION
OF THE GOC FOR SERBS TO APPLY TO RETURN. END SUMMARY.
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ABDIC REFUGEES
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3. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DR. IVICA KOSTOVIC, WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REINTEGRATED TERRITORIES, TOLD DRL A/S
JOHN SHATTUCK ON SEPTEMBER 30 THAT, AT A NATIONAL SECURITY
COUNCIL MEETING EARLIER THAT MORNING, THE GOC HAD MADE THE
POLITICAL DECISION TO REPATRIATE THE 20,000 ABDIC MUSLIMS
AT THE KUPLJENSKO CAMP WITHIN THE NEXT 10-15 DAYS. (NOTE:
THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN REFUGEE STATUS BY THE GOC
BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THAT VELIKA KLADUSA IS A SAFE PLACE TO
RETURN. END NOTE.) WINTERIZING THE CAMP WAS NOT AN
OPTION THE GOC WOULD CONSIDER. THE GOC HAD AGREED TO A
TRIPARTITE TURKISH, BOSNIAN, AND CROATIAN POLICE FORCE AND
A TURKISH OMBUDSMAN TO MONITOR THE SECURITY OF THE TOWN.
THE GOC ALREADY HAD THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REMOVE THE
ARMED MEN IN THE CAMP AND WOULD SOON DO SO. KOSTOVIC
CLAIMED THAT ALL BUT 400-1200 OF THE REFUGEES WOULD
RETURN IF THE GOBH WERE TO ISSUE AN AMNESTY AND PROVIDE
FOR THEIR RETURN. (COMMENT: THIS VIEW WAS SHARED BY
SOME, BUT NOT ALL, UNHCR OFFICIALS AT KUPLJENSKO, DURING
A/S SHATTUCK'S VISIT THERE SEPTEMBER 29. THE REFUGEES
THEMSELVES, HOWEVER, CONTENDED AN AMNESTY ALONE WOULD BE
INSUFFICIENT, UNTIL THE WAR IN BOSNIA WAS OVER.)


4. A/S SHATTUCK EMPHASIZED THAT THIS DECISION POSED
SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR THE USG AND COULD DEVELOP INTO AN
EXPLOSIVE SITUATION. HE URGED THE GOC TO RECONSIDER ANY
FORCED REPATRIATION AND TO WORK WITH THE GOBH TO PROVIDE
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GUARANTEES FOR THEIR RETURN. KOSTOVIC RESPONDED THAT
CROATIA HAD A STRATEGIC INTEREST IN ENSURING THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A NON-FUNDAMENTALIST, PEACEFUL ENTITY AT
ITS BORDER. THE GOC HAD ACCEPTED REQUESTS FROM SOME OF
THE SOLDIERS TO JOIN THE HVO AS A WAY TO PROMOTE THEIR
REINTEGRATION.


5. KOSTOVIC TOOK THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S POINT AND WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT AVOIDING A HUMAN CATASTROPHE. "I WAS
AGAINST USING FORCE. OTHER MINISTERS FELT DIFFERENTLY."
KOSTOVIC PROMISED TO RAISE THE ISSUE WITH PRESIDENT
TUDJMAN AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MISETIC AND WARN THEM OF
ITS POTENTIAL DANGERS. "WE HAVEN'T HAD GOOD COOPERATION
WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT" ON THIS ISSUE. HE REQUESTED
USG ASSISTANCE TO PRESSURE THE GOBH TO SOON PROVIDE NEW,
WRITTEN GUARANTEES FOR THE SAFE RE
TURN OF THESE PEOPLE.

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REVOCATION OF STATUS DECREE
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6. THE GOC'S SEPTEMBER 22 DIRECTIVE TO REVOKE REFUGEE








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ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 OASY-00 ANHR-01
SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01 FBIE-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-02 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01
PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-10 PRME-01
PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /036W
-------------- F28562 022002Z /38
O 022002Z OCT 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7458
INFO AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY
USLO SKOPJE
DIA WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21//
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
USMISSION GENEVA
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 003839

SIPDIS


WARSAW ALSO FOR A/S SHATTUCK
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 03839 02 OF 03 022002Z
USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: 9/30/00
TAGS:
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PM TELLS A/S SHATTUCK GOC PLANS TO
REPATRIATE ABDIC MUSLIMS, WILL CUT OFF
ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIAN REFUGEES

STATUS FOR PEOPLE FROM THE FEDERATION AND NEWLY LIBERATED
TERRITORIES WILL AFFECT ONLY THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF
THESE REFUGEES, KOSTOVIC SAID. NO ONE WOULD BE FORCIBLY
REPATRIATED, HE INSISTED. THE DIRECTIVE WOULD STOP ALL
REFUGEE SUPPORT PAYMENTS (DM 7/DAY/PERSON FOR
ACCOMMODATION),AND PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO
RETURN HOME. THE GOC WOULD NOT STOP UNHCR AND OTHER
AGENCIES FROM PROVIDING CONTINUING SUPPORT. HE SAID
"MOST" MOST OF THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN CROATIA WERE ETHNIC
CROATS, AND HAD EVERY RIGHT TO MOVE ACROSS THE BORDER
FREELY. (COMMENT: IN FACT, ONLY ABOUT 55 PERCENT ARE.)
THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT FORCE THEM TO MOVE ANYWHERE. AS
CITIZENS, THIS GROUP WOULD LOSE NEITHER ITS HEALTH
INSURANCE NOR ITS EDUCATION BENEFITS. HOWEVER, OF THE
40,000 MUSLIM REFUGEES IN CROATIA, THOSE FROM FEDERATION
AND LIBERATED TERRITORIES WOULD INDEED LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO
STAY.


7. OPERATION MAESTRAL (LIBERATION OF WESTERN BOSNIA) WAS
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE "LIVING ROOM" FOR MUSLIMS AND SPACE
FOR THE FEDERATION, KOSTOVIC SAID. THE GOC HAD CONCLUDED
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOBH FOR THE RETURN OF PEOPLE, AND
THE GOBH DID NOT OBJECT TO ACCEPTING ITS PEOPLE. GERMANY
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WAS RETURNING REFUGEES TO CROATIA UNDER A SIMILAR
BILATERAL AGREEMENT. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD RECONSIDER THE LIST OF PLACES MARKED SAFE
FOR RETURN AND WOULD CARRY OUT THE DIRECTIVE ON A "STEP-
BY-STEP" BASIS. KOSTOVIC ASSERTED THAT CROATIA UNDERSTOOD
ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW AND WOULD ADHERE
TO THEM. HE OPINED THAT JAJCE AND GLAMOC WERE PROBABLY
SAFE ENOUGH TO RETURN TO UNDER THIS DECREE. HOWEVER,
GRAHOVO WAS DESTROYED AND HAD NO INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT
RETURNING REFUGEES.


8. A/S SHATTUCK UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
OPEN THE OPTION OF THIRD COUNTRY RESETTLEMENT, AND OF
BUILDING MORE FACILITIES WITH INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
TO HOUSE REFUGEES RATHER THAN RETURN PEOPLE TO FRONT-LINE
AREAS. KOSTOVIC ANSWERED THAT NO THIRD COUNTRY HAD
OFFERED TO ACCEPT PERMANENT REFUGEES FROM CROATIA OR
SERBIA, ONLY BOSNIA. BOTH SWEDEN AND DENMARK WERE
RETURNING CROAT REFUGEES, AND THE SHEER NUMBERS OF THOSE
RETURNING FROM GERMANY HAD PLACED SEVERE FINANCIAL AND
OTHER DIFFICULTIES ON CROATIA. JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES
HAD OFFERED TO BUILD MORE SHELTERS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAD
DECIDED TO INTEGRATE DPS AND REFUGEES INTO SOCIETY AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE AND WOULD BUILD NO MORE BARRACKS OR TENT
CITIES. "WE DON'T NEED SHELTERS, WE NEED CASH," KOSTOVIC
DECLARED. HE CLAIMED THAT CROATIA HAD RECEIVED NO
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL HELP FOR THIS PURPOSE SINCE 1992.

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RIGHT OF RETURN AND CITIZENSHIP ISSUES
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9. SHATTUCK INSISTED THAT CROATIA MUST ALLOW FOR THE
RETURN OF ITS SERBIAN RESIDENTS. INTERNATIONAL
PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE COMMITMENT OF CROATIA TO A MULTI-
ETHNIC SOCIETY WOULD TURN ON THE RETURN OF CROATIAN SERBS.
SUCH A RETURN HAD TWO IMPEDIMENTS: THE GENERAL ATMOSPHERE
OF HOSTILITY IN THE KRAJINA AND THE CONFISCATION OF SERB
PROPERTY WITHOUT COMPENSATION.


10. KOSTOVIC ACKNOWLEDGED THESE IMPEDIMENTS, BUT SAID THE
SECOND COULD NOT BE CHANGED. UNTIL THE PARLIAMENT WAS
ELECTED AT THE END OF THE MONTH, IT WAS LEGALLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO CHANGE THE PROPERTY LAW. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO WISH
AMONG THE SERBS TO RETURN. MANY HAD LEFT WESTERN SLAVONIA
LONG AFTER THE MILITARY ACTION HAD ENDED. SINCE THEN, "I
SIGNED THE RETURN ORDER FOR 120 WEST SLAVONIAN SERBS, AND
NONE ARRIVED. THIS WAS JUST A TEST CASE." ODPR HAD
APPROVED DOCUMENTATION FOR 600 SERBS TO RETURN AND NONE
HAD DONE SO EITHER. MAYBE SERBS DID NOT WANT TO RETURN
BECAUSE THE GOC AMNESTY TERMINATED ON MAY 10, 1995, HE
SUGGESTED. MEN WHO RETURNED FROM THE KRAJINA WERE SUBJECT
TO ARREST FOR ARMED REBELLION AND PARAMILITARY ACTIVITIES.
ACCORDING TO GOC LAW, MEMBERSHIP IN THE "ARSK" AFTER THE








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INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 OASY-00 ANHR-01
SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01 FBIE-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-02 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01
PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-10 PRME-01
PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /036W
-------------- F2856A 022003Z /38
O 022002Z OCT 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7459
INFO AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY
USLO SKOPJE
DIA WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21//
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
USMISSION GENEVA
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 003839

SIPDIS


WARSAW ALSO FOR A/S SHATTUCK
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 03839 03 OF 03 022003Z
USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: 9/30/00
TAGS:
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PM TELLS A/S SHATTUCK GOC PLANS TO
REPATRIATE ABDIC MUSLIMS, WILL CUT OFF
ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIAN REFUGEES

AMNESTY WAS ENOUGH TO BE ARRESTED. SHATTUCK EMPHASIZED
THE IMPORTANCE OF REVISITING THESE LAWS, AND EXTENDING THE
AMNESTY.


11. KOSTOVIC EXPLAINED THAT THE SERBS WHO FLED WERE A
POPULATION OF POTENTIAL CROATIAN CITIZENS, BUT WERE NOT
LEGAL CITIZENS UNTIL THEY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED
CITIZENSHIP PAPERS, AS HAD ALL OTHER CROATIANS SINCE 1991.
HE ADMITTED THAT THE CURRENT CATCH-22 APPLICATION PROCESS
IN BELGRADE WAS INADEQUATE AND PRECLUDED A MASS RETURN.
ANOTHER PROCEDURE NEEDED TO BE IMPLEMENTED. HOWEVER,
SERBIA WOULD NOT ALLOW THESE PEOPLE OUT, DESPITE ITS VOCAL
CLAIMS TO THE CONTRARY. KOSTOVIC SAID HE WOULD ASK FOR
ANOTHER COORDINATION MEETING WITH GRANIC TO SET UP A
PROCEDURE IN THE BELGRADE GOC OFFICE FOR SERBS TO APPLY TO
RETURN.


12. KOSTOVIC SAID HE COOPERATED WELL WITH THE ICRC AND
OTHER AGENCIES ON THE ISSUE OF DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND
VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST SERBS. "WE MUST PROSECUTE THE
PERPETRATORS OF THESE CRIMES," HE INSISTED. HE RECOGNIZED
THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOC CONDEMNED THESE ACTIONS, IT NEEDED
TO DO MORE IN THE FIELD TO REPUDIATE ANY INSINUATION THAT
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IT CONDONED THEM.

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MISSING PERSONS
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13. KOSTOVIC ASKED FOR USG HELP TO FIND A GLOBAL SOLUTION
FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN ALL PARTIES
CONCERNING THE MISSING AND THE DEAD. THE JNA HAS NEVER
PRODUCED ANY DOCUMENTS. SUCH AN ACT WOULD HAVE ENORMOUS
IMPACT FOR ALL SIDES, HE STATED.


14. THIS MESSAGE WAS NOT CLEARED BY A/S SHATTUCK BEFORE
HIS DEPARTURE.


15. SARAJEVO MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.

GALBRAITH













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