UN ARCHIVES

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Transcript of UN ARCHIVES

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UN ARCHIVES

SERIES BOX FILE ACC.

\MME.O\~\E. 'uNITED NATIONS

UNPR.OFOR.

1V.t1 t:l!S

HATION~ES /l.-1~,

~---raqc o~~ ~ ,

/-- _ . ROQTI~~/~,!!IOR.ITY,. • ~~~UYJIA~ /MOST IMKKDIATB ONLY .f1 ~UNCT~~STVT~f»~~TRX~~~VfiriDBHTIAL/cnYrTO/BYEa

OUTGOING FAX NO: --\ ~ \~. DATE: 25 \2-'bo SBP 1993 \\....

TO: UHPROFOR HQ. FROM: SECTOR WEST HQ. ZAGREB DARUVAR

FAX: FAX: + 38 - 46 - 31704

ATTN: FC FILE RE.F. HO : 1000 DRAF"rm : COL. C. B. BASHYAT

TITLX : SCOS * c IU!LEASIHG OYII': BG~-tt: • SIGXATURE : ~~"-'~I .£

INFO: ...- /'

FAX NO:

SUBJECT: BI-MONTHLY ~EFING MOTES

MESSAGE I (

REF: HQ. UNPROFOR FC FAX C539 23/09/93 ~

• ¥ i. GENERAL SITUATION - IT IS QUITE BUT MORE TENSE WITH NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT MORE FROM THE CROATIAN SIDE THAN THE SERBS. EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PUT ON MAINTAINING THE LIPIK-PAKRAC AND DRAGOVIC LINE AS INCIDENT-FREE AS POSSIBLE.

2. POLITICAL ANALYSIS - DIALOGUE WITH THE SERB POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IS ~F.T'l'TNr. MO'RF. 1>.'Nn Mf.\Rli! ~·~MPI.lCATED J;..'UtCELY BEChUSB or TIID CA!:JE OF AME.3T~D UNOV SERBIAN INTERPRETER SIMO. THEY HAVE ALSO HAD ORDERS FROM KNIN NOT TO HAVE DIRECT FACE TO FACE TALKS WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS. THE CROATIAN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP DO A LOT OF LISTENING BUT NOTHING CONCRET£ IS REALLY ACHIEVED. ON THE POLITICAL AND CIVILIAN FRONT VERY LITTLE CAN BE GAINED BECAUSE OF THE UNCOOPERATIVE ATTITUDE OF BOTH THE SIDES. MOVEMENT FORWARD ON THIS FRONT IS CLOSELY LINKED W!TH SECURITY CONSIDERATION AND VICE VERSA.

3. MILITARY AHALXSIS -THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTH HAS HAD ITS EFFECT ON UNPA WEST. WHILE THE SERBS SEEM TO BE GETTING MORE ALERT AND CARRYING OUT THEIR PREPARATIONS QUIETLY ,/ THE SUCCESS OF THE CROATIAN ARMY IN THE S00tta SEEMS TO HAVE EMBOLDENED THEM. THIS CAN BE SPECIALLY GLARINGLY SEEN~\ THE EFFORT '1'0 V.\STLY INCREASE THE NVHBER OF CROATI.l\.N POLICE roSTS IN THE· · UNPA AND THE NV'MBER OF CROATIAN POLICEMEN MANNING THEM. THE SERB MILITARY LEADERSHIP IS STILL OPEN TO IDEAS BUT SOME INTRANSIGENCE AND HARDENING OF ATTITUDE HAS BEEN NOTICED IN THE CROATIAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP. ~Fe. ~t:c KCA Co~ Aw~ o:..I_

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4. ADHIU PROBLEMS -

a. ACCOHMOPATION - THERE IS STILL A SHORTAGE OF CONTAINERS, RENTAL HIKE DEMANDS FOR UNPROFOR PERSONNEL OCCUPIED HOWEVER HAVE BECOME EXORBITANT1

b. MAINT~NANCE - NEPBAT IS FACING A LOT OF .MAINTENANCE PROBLEM WITH ITS RUSSIAN FLEET OF VEHICLES . SPECIALLY IN TERMS OF LACK OF SPARE PARTS. MOREVER NO NEW VEHICLES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO REPLACE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OFF;

c. MEDICAL COYER - NO REPLACEMENT IS YET IN SIGHT FOR THE MEDICAL COVER THAT WAS BEING PROVIDED BY OET BRIT.MEDBAT; AND

~. L•:11:' r;.rF RI!:PI,A'l'l{R - rnmrwr: A ~nTrr.ur.T.ll: PT.AC:J: TO T.Ol.ATli: A

REPEATER HAS BECOME A PROBLEM.

s·. BEST REGARDS.

:.

fo I f9o . . COG \.\ ~ ~

· UNPROFORco~ ~--~ . - . ,-. •" I,..... . _I f 'J ;::) ED\ATE ... --

~Tif. ~hsf:i~~q~~ ROUTINE PRIORITY

UNCLASSIFIED ~RESTRIC~ UN CONFIDENTIAL

Page4/ ~ UN SECRET ONLY

OUTGOING FAX NO: DFC 276 DATE/TIME: 25 SEP 93

TO: V.KOTLL\R,SECRETARY FROM: DEPUTY F(e~E COMMANDER COMMISSION OF EXPERTS UNP!mlr 'ffi~ "Z~GREB . .·.

,, .w - ' .·

FAX NO: 41-22-917 00 87 FAX NO: 3~/_l/7~-388

ATTN: I FILE NO: 4000-3 (DFC)

INTERNAL: FC,HCA,COS,COO,FE /)Fe_

SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY SURVEY - ALLEGED NUCLEAR WASTE

MESSAGE

Ref: Your FAx 612, 24 Sep 93

1. The reference requested UNPROFOR approval of a preliminary survey of alleged

nuclear waste dumping in Sector West. This survey would be conducted by two Dutch

ABC specialists attached to the excavation operation.

2. UNPROFOR has no objectives to this survey provided it is carried out concurrent with

and under the same arrangements as the excavation operation itself.

3. Regards.

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· - ~ .-- 19 p~1r ·c3 T- ~/ P-9j ~c. ,- •..J • UNITED NATIONS PROTECTION FORCE

UN PRO FOR.

ROUTINE

UNCLASSIFIED ONLY

PRIORITY

UN RESTRICTED

OUTGOING FAX NO:

Page 1 of 3

IMMEDIATE MOST IMMEDIATE

UN CONFIDENTIAL UN SECRET

DATE: 19 September 1993

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TO: Sector West Daruvar FROM: Cedric Thornberry~~~ V~·; Head of Civil Aff~irs ~ UNPROFOR Zagreb

FAX NO: FAX NO: 38-41-170 199

ATTN: Hugo Anson, CAC FILE REF NO: DRAFTER: CT/PLH

INFO: FAX NO:

SUBJECT: FC's Visit to Sector West and DSOO in SW

I INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION:

Please find attached documents for your information.

RETOUREXE..,1PLAAR

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Co tv1V' 1··.•· .- ·'TIONS I • 1~1.1-~~

"93 SEP 18 r 13 :36

IMMEDIATE

~0 (;~ C .. r ;·, J· /J . ... ,·.

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UNPROFOR

RESTRICTED - I~~EDIATE T-:;;;J-- ;;_

UNPROFOR I

PAGE ·1 0? 1

OUTGOING F.;x NO.·: ./1/1/\ I o.;TE: 17 Septe.::lbeV199 3 . \. J.-..::;?"

TO: SECTOR WEST FROM: ~~£~THE FC

ZA ~ \

FAX NO: 1

FAX NO: \ ATTN: cm-!1-i.AJ."l'D ER FILE: NO. :

DR.;FTER: COL c CORBERA~<D Ki\ TO THE FC

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I INFO: FAX uo.:

SUBJECT:

FORC:! coMP...A.."'·rDER' s VISIT TO SECTOR Pi'EST, 21-23 s:::PT .1993

INTER.'\f.;L DISTRIBUTION:

FCfHCAfDFCjCOSjCMOjCAOfCMLOfCPIO/CMCCCfSMOVCONOfAIROPS.

Reference: Fax Zagreb 135, 5 September 1993, Office of the FC.

FC's visit to Sector West for period 21-23 September 1993

is cancelled until further notice.

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c_ c I-f . {(_4/7 ~ 'V\

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OUTGOING FACSIMILE T-:r;;:;_ /3~

' 4bl80/-; _ . . : '· : : ',_ 1u~ DATE~>~ SEPTEMBER 1993

. Tl¥ . STf?~1fENBERG I UNPROFOR, I FROM: BA.RI L FOR ANNAN, (}jJ ZAGREB - UNATIONS, NEW YORK FOR:COT

FAX NO: 38-41-170-199 FAX NO: (212) 963-1347 38-41-170-155

SUBJECT: DSOO IN SECTOR w"'EST

ATTN: Qo!PAO t-f.AJ A..~DERS HE OGREN ROOM: S-3063 EXT 8208

TOTAL NUMBERS OF TRANSMITTED PAGES INCLUDING THIS PAGE: 1

REF: UNNY STATUS REPORT DATED 13 SEPTEMBER 1993; STAFF POSITIONS SERIAL NO 182.

THE GOVER.~NT OF THE KINGDOM OF NEPAL HAS DESIGNATED LTCOL DAMAN NARSINGH RANA AS DSOO IN SECTOR WEST. HE WILL ARRIVE IN THE MISSION A.~A IN THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

BEST REGARDS.

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UN PRO FOR

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SNNI: SNPO: SNOA:

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OUTGOING F~X NO.; DATE/TIME:Og0030B ~et 93 ......... .. ... . ·-~-----1

TO: HQ S£CTO~ WE~T FROM: HQ A.~CBAT 1-----·-------- . .... . . . . .. . - ; .

FAX N0.:046-J1704 FAX NO.; 046-86193 - ····--------- - ·--+··- ·· ·-··- ·-- ... -·-·····- ..... -··--· .. ··. ··--·

ATTN: OUT~ OFF!C£~ sc

---·-··-----·· INFO TO : OSC

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FILE REF. OrV.F'l't!R TI'rLE RE:t.EASING S!GNATU

N'O • : : • •

. ----~~--· . .... ·--·. SP:ECIAJ. REPORT- INCIDENT WITH .AN EXPLOSIVE

M E S S A G E

TO ~ay at 09l5 hours ~he C Coy Command€r tn Pak~ae was-lnfo~­mea t:J';/ one croal:ian police o~ticer that .at 1000 Mours wrl! take place in rront of. house No 53 on Dragovlc road, ~t Ku5on je (WL 74-36}, a memor.ta1 cere:r.ony becau~e was the 2nd anni­versary ot the execution of 20 Croatian police. Me required security for that ocasslon.

Capt DANIEl., ~LDO RICO'I'Tr met with Deputy Chie{ o! Pakrac Cro­atian Police station, at the ptaee where would · be . perto~ed . . the ceremony and asked him if the Croatian Police 1\~..9..--~hecked .. . :. . _ . --· ... the place; the above mentio~ed police officer answered that

UI'IPP.OfOR

the job h~d been done and the place was cleared ot explosives

~RGB~T's personnel were deployed occupyin9 positions around the place.

During the ceremony exploded one bouncin9 AP mine type PROM-l

As result of the explosJ.on three CROARMY Offrs were killed.

Identity of dead people is the following

- Ma j PA!.IC ST.l.NKO ( 105th Brigade ColiUUander)

- capt NI~~o PF.~rs

- Capt S£GOVIC ZET.TKO

Nine people were injuried, one of theml lst Lieutenent DIEGO LOCAS !-f.AGALT..ON belongs to )J~GBAT with minors injuries in his face.

A~GBAT co arrived with one reserve platoon to that pla9~ few tninu't;~S ~ftf\r that tho at.-.~ll\pt \,1\,"'"u·red, and after deployed more men for increasing security and begun the investigation.

Capt CASTIGLIONE, fro~ SW HQ and Capt n~L S~STRE from ARG!AT perform~J the investiqation as engineers o!ticers.

Their conclusions coincided with the opinion o! croatian Po­lice experts about the type of mine.

I want to inform that croarmy officers were in civilian clothes in according with the expressions of Pakrac Police Station Commander they were there in an unofficial manner.

Inform~tion that we recived from Croatian Police in a first moment was unclear an~ durinq the afternoon they provide us proper inCarNation.

At 1800 hs ARCSAT co held a meating with Pakrac Croatian Po­lice station commander and his Deputy, in that meeting they expresed that they do not have complains against ARGBAT, they are very grateful for helping received in that ocassion and expressed that do not exist responsability for ARCBATr they accepted that they intormed about the ceremony at last moMent and did not provide us the proper information •

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' . ' SHQ_!W 09-09-93 10=54 r ps1 t:4

-v~ tf-~4-- . BOOBY IRA£ INCIDENT REPORT

TO SOO/HQ SW DATE 08 1700 Sep 93

THROUGH

.fROM Eng OpS/HQ SW

r~. LOCATION I MAP NAME/NO. AND GRID REFERENCE

Map: Nova Gradlska - Es~ale: 1:100.000 Village: Kusonje XL 741-366 '

B- TIME / DATE OF INCIDJ::lf.l'

C. PERSONNEL INJUIUES OR FATALITIES AND / OR VEHICULAR OAMAGES 1 etc.

08 Sep 93 approx 1000 hrs

so far reported 4 dead ;· 7 seriously in­~oured ; and several more with minor in­Jours, including an ARGBAT 1st Lt. No important material damages

11-~---··----------t----------------~-----~1

D. TYPE OF BOOBY TRAP

E. STRUCTURE I MAT:ERIAL OR ARTICLE BOOtH 'l'~~.aru

e F. PURPOSE OF MOVEMENT SETTING OFF BOOBY TRAP

I

As a result of the investigation it could be stated ~ith some certainty that it was an antipersonal fragmentation mine (boun- · ding)called PROM-l.Technical characteris­tics of which is attached to this report.

See attached. The device was buried in a huh~ 30 ~.,;w Jt::~~ and aeeu'l! 15 em di::tmotor. As the hole is almost intact I conclude that the mine was launched up(was a boun­ding type) 1 and was activated by pressure. That explains why there were so many in­jured people without roajor damages. Thls hypothesis 1.s nacK.ed by the !'act th~L Lh..: fragments found in the site coincide with the reported A/Pers mine (prom-1). One of those fragments, picked up by UNPROFOR,is identical to the fuse's neck(See fotocpy)

Apparently, it was set for the purpose of Killing peoplt:!, lu ~.,;vi.w.::idence wi-eh -ehc croatian conmerooration at that place of 2nd anniversary of another war incident.

l~-----------------------------~-------------------------------------··--------~1 ' G. IS THE LOCATION OR AREA

REGULARLY VISITED ? Is a destroyed empty village.It was crow­ded today due to the indicated conmemorat

1~-----------------------------+----------------------- =-------------~---· ·-H- WAS TRE LOCATION/AREA

Pll.EVIOUL Y Cili:CX.Ii:O FOR BOOBY ~S?

Not recently.

~~-------- -----------------~~----------~------------------ .. ---------------~1 I- REMARKS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The mine was buried Qbout one meter

away of the front wall of the house where the celebration was going to be held:exactly under the place where the flowers were later set

Other fragments or the mine are held uy the croatian inve3tigator£ and also coincide with the description of the prom-1 A/Pers mine. It cannot be easily stated when that trap was set; however, the

fragments do not present remainings of oxid or other evidences as to say it was very old. Probably no more than a few days at most.

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ROUTINE/PRIORITY/IMMEDIATE/MOST IMijEQIOTE UNCLASSIFIED/RESTRICTED/CONFIDENTIAL/CRYP·~EYES ONLY

OUTGOING FAX NO:~~ DATE: 8 September 1993 16<t-08 TO: Mr. c. Thornberry, DCM FROM: H. Anson, CAC

UNPROFOR HQ, Zagreb Sector West

FAX NO: FAX:

AT'IN: 1. Ms. ':{. Auger, DHCA FILE REF. NO: 2. Mr. M. .Abdul-Aziz, DRAFTER . H. Anson .

Desk Officer for TITLE . CAC . UNPAs RELEASING OFF:

~ SIGNATURE . . INFO: DSC, soo FAX NO:

SUBJECT: Incident in Sector West

MESSAGE

1. Further to my telcons today with Shannon Boyd and Richard Calver, please see preliminary report attached.

2. I have requested soo to ensure that you are flmong addressees for any follow-up reports.

t '\ 3. This appears to be one more case of the Croatian police not

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following UNPROFOR's advice. You may recall that on 5 August, four Croatian policemen were killed in an ambush in the same area 1 after CANBAT (which was then responsible for that area) advised them not to go to the scene of soma shooting and explosions; by qoing to the scene, the Croatian police did exactly what the so-far unidentified killers wanted them to do.

Best reqards.

~ ~"-!,rv

8 Septcmha 1993

Prdiminary R~pvrt fron~ Sector We'lt SOO

• At 09:45 hrs toJay an incid~nt occum:d n~ar village: Kusonjc , east of Pakra.;f:hen £!

group of Croats wa~ conHncml)fating the killing of 20 Croat r'->ficcm~n hy Serb~ exactly 2 year-;

a_go. Arghat was requesl~d to Pruvi<.k some security around the area . Arghat arriv('d M th,.. ,.it ...

at 09:15 hrs. Croat police did a very superficial inspcctil1n in looking for mines and buohy

traps. Arghat suggested thal th~ poli~e shlmld have dor.~ a bdtl..:r joh .

Shortly after the group of Cmals laid a wrdth . Whc·n the. commem~.o)raton; wen~ entering

e;(plosion four Croats w~rc kill~d and seven injured. One Arghat soldic:r was also slightly

injured. Immedi<itdy, Arghat provid~d medical a~:)btan\.:e to the injured and incrc =:l~cd sccurily

in the area.

Al this tirne there is a joint investigation going on by th~ Croatian polk~ and

UNPROF .. OR, including investigation of the area where the explosion happcn.:d. Up to now \V~

do not havt~ ci.ear information as to whether it was a mint: or as to who caused the explosion.

More will foltow when we gel more detaih .

/ .. ..

L

TOT

Pa.ge 1 of 6

ROUTINE/PRIORITY/~EDIATE/MOST IMMEDIATE UNCLASSIFIED/RESTRICTED/CONFIDENTIAL/CRYPTOjEYES ONLY -

OUTGOING FAX NO:

TO: Mr. c. Thornberry, DCM UNPROFOR HQ, Zagreb

FAX NO:

ATTN: 1. Ms. Y. Auger, OHCA 2. Mr. M. Abdul-Aziz,

Desk Officer tor UNPAs

DATE: 7 September 1993 I~DO~

FROM: H. Anson, CAC Sector West HQ

FAX:

FILE :aEF. NO: DRAFTER : TITLE : RELEASING OFF:

I SIGNATURE :

H .. Anson CAC

~ INFO: SC, DSC, Chief CivPol, SAO, UNHCR, ECMM.

(All Sector West HQ) FAX NO:

SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENTS IN SECTOR WEST

MESSAGE

1. Further to our T-120 message yesterday, please see attached report (Annex I) on our meeting this morning at SW HQ with the Croatian authorities.

2. Taken together with the latest warning by the Serbs in Sector West (see Annex II), it appears possible that the Croatian authorities are deliberately aiming to destabilise the situation, and UNPROFOR's work, in Sector West, with the turther possible aims of (a) bringing the army into the sector and/or (b) securing a change in UNPROFOR's mandate.

3. We would of course appreciate knowing your views.

Best regards.

s.Ha.-WEST Daruvar TEL: 04631940 7.Sep.93 19:20 No.002 P.C

Annex I

MHETING BETWEEN UNPROFOR AND THE CROATIAN AUTHORITIES

Dm!var, 7 September 1993

On 7 Sf})tcmhcr at 10:30 a.m. a meeting between UNPROI:o~ and Croatian authorities was held at Headquarters, Sector West, Daruvar, at the request of UNPROFOR. Present were: Messrs. V. Dclac, Mayor ofPakrac, Croatian Coordinator for UNPROFOR in Sector W~1; M. Sicaja, Ministry of Interior Liaison Officer with UNPROFOR; D. Kovacevic and Z. Brig]jevic, both from Croatian Am1y Liaison Office with UNPROFOR; and M. Ivaoovic, Pakrac Municipality Liaison Officer with UNPROFOR.

Representing UNPROFOR were: Mr. Anson, CAC; Col. Hague, DSC; Mr. Vorobicv, CvAO; and Mr. Michael, SAO.

The following two issues were covered:

1. Contradictory statements made by Croatian official on ·the disappearance or two Serbs

Mr. Anson expressed UNPROFOR 's deep concern over developments sy.rrounding discussions with Croatian authorities concerning two Serhs who disappeared on 6 August 1993 on Serb-controlJed territory. He referred to a fax message sent on 31 August to Col. Hague, DSC, by Miss Zaklan, Senior Adviser in the Croatian Government Liaison Office with UNPROFOR, denying that she had told Col. Hague on 24 August that the Croatian authorities were holding the two Serhs and intended to exchange them. UNPROFOR had based its efforts to defuse tension on Miss ZakJan's assurances. Her subsequent denial had led immediately to a worsening of tension in this Sector, at a time when the Croatian authorities were insisting that an improvement in the security situation was their paramount concern.

Col. Hague noted that UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb and UNHQ in New York were aware of this issue. He said that UNPROFOR ~ctorWe~1 HQ would not participate in any meetings with Croatian authoritie.~ attended by Ms. Zaklan until she makes an official apology to UNPRO!-"OR.

Mr. Delac said that if it was found that Ms. Zaklan had made a mistake, she would apologize. Mr. Sicaja said that he still had no information that the two Serbs were · ·

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Sr!Q-WEST Daruvar TEL: 04631940 7.Sep.93 19:20 No.002 P. 1

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in Croatia. Mr. Dclac emphasized thal the Cmatian authorities remained very keel\ to exchange kidnapped people.

Mr. Anson em1,hasized that the dangers over this issue went tar beyond individudaJ personafilies or mistakes. He urged the Croatian authorities to provid~ clear information rapidly on whether they were holding the two Serbs, and to. exchange them.

2. Arrest of Mr. Simo 7Jalic, UNOV Serb interpreter, by Croatian Police. .

Mr. Anson said that the arrest of United Nations employee Mr. Simo Zjalic on the Croatian side of Pakrac on l September 1993 was unaccepsabte to the United Nations and was already having dangerous consequences. Before giving a contract to Mr. Zjalic, UNPROFOR had cleared his candidature with the Croatian police authorities in Pakrac. The Serb side was extremely angry about this arrest and had already threatened to arrest an UNPROFOR Croatian interpreter. UNPROFOR had ye~1en1ay received a threatening tetter from Okucani which warned of "very unpleasant consequences" jn case Mr. Zjalic would not be released tOday. 7 September.

UNPROPOR noted that it was now unwilling to risk its Croatian interpreters' safety on the Serb side, whkb would severely hamper our operations, and our ahility to assist both the Croats and Serbs in this Sector. We urged that Mr. ZjaJic be released immediately.

Col. Hague and Mr. Michael emphasized that if the Croatian or Serb authorities had problems or charges against UNPROFOR or other UN locat staff, then they should raise these first with UNPROFOR, instead of uni1atcral1y arresting United Nations staff and then informing UNPROFOR.

Mr. Sicaja insisted on the sovereign right of Croatian authorities to prosecute criminals on its territory. He added that Mr. Zjalic is being held at a military prison in Zagreb where investigators are determining whether to charge him with violating Article 236J ·· of the Penal Code for participation in armed rebellion against Croatia in the area of Nova Gradiska; his c1carancc by the Pakrac police h~fore employment wiU1 UN might have been a mist<dce. Mr. Sicaja maintained that the arrest had been made in slrkt conformity with Ctoatian law and regulations. He suggested tha\ the clash between Croatian Jaw and the immunity of UN employees could only be resolved by UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb and the Croatian Government Commission headed by Vice-President Scks.

Col. Hague said it was intolerable for UNPROFOR to be .manoeuvred by the two signatories of the UN Peace Plan for Croatia into a situation where we could not employ our UN interpretcl's in safety and confidence. He also referred to an incident on 6 September in which an UNMO team had been detained at Bjclovar by the Croatian authoritie.1i' harassment of the team's UNPROFOR interpreter. ·

', S-HQ-WEST Dar u var TEL: 04631940 7.Sep.93 19:20 No.002 P.C

- 3 -

Mr. Anson said Lhal he could not believe that these incidents were all mistakes. They appeared to be part ~)fa deliberate plan by the Croatian authorities to make things worse and, if so, the ~irategy was succeeding. Both he and Col. Hague urged Mr. Delac and Mr. Sicaja to do what they could to tlersuade their higher authorities to take positive actiun rapidly on these two matters. They warned that unless this is done, there could be no realistic prospect of successful negotiations between the Croats, Serbs and UNPROI,.9R on the "step-by-step" approach to restoring security and economic cooper~Uon in Sector West.

( ~SHG-WEST TEL:

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REPUBLIC OF SERBIAN KRAJtNA SERBIAN DISTRICT WESTBRN SLAVONlA DISTRICT COUNCIL Number: 020-398/93-II-01 Okucani September 6, 1993

(/~·'-A·,.A ~4 ~ r.~ ( ~:;,.~ ~c.L~)

7.Sep.93 19:20 No.002 p

To: 1. Sector Commander Brigadier General K.R. Shabsough

2. Civilian Affairs Chief

. 0~

S~derick Thornbery 4~-----

delivers unconditioned

REQUEST for deliberating and coming back to our area of Mr Simo ZjatJc

From the upper title we are unconditionally and immediat~ly, and latest in the period of 24 hours , counting today 6th September 1993, at 12:00 hrs requesting to do the following:

1. to answer in a written way to our protest sent on September 4' 1993

2. to deliberate and return to our area Mr Simo Zjajic, and to present to us true proofs about the circumstances, reasons, manner and people involved in the kidnapping, and also about the treatmertt of Simo Zjaiic from the moment that he was arrested till the time he will be returned to our area.

We are warning the upper title that if the· asked requests ~ill not be fulfilled till tomorrow ~ptembex_7, 1993 at la:oo hca, we will not be able to take responsibility in the view of the reaction of our citizens, and from our side we will take all the measures and means available to us in order to rush the implementing of our request.

We are al$o warning you, that in the case of not fulfilling of our requests, you have to take in consideration, very unpleasant consequences that will follow,

Regards.,

.President of the District , County ~ Dusko Vi tez

TEL: 04631940

REHJBLIKA STIPSKA KRAJINA SRP:~l<A OBLAST ZAP A 'DNA SLAVONIJ A 0 BJ,A SNO VI.T E6S BROJ: o2o • 398/93 - Il • olo Okucani, 6. septemb}~a 1993. godineo

upucuj e be::>.uolov.cli

Z,~ A H

7.Sep.93 19:20 No.002 P.06

1"' Komadant s.ek.tora. Zapad X. R. ffi~abso1;gh Brigadier General Scktor Com~"!ll=\nciArt·

za oslobadjanj e i pov:r>a.tak na na?-:l pros tor gospodina Si.me Zja1i6

Od gornjeg na.H)ova bezuslovno .1 odmA.h 1 a na.jkasz;ije · U roku Od 24,; CA.Sa t'9.CU.!lA.juc1 od dan11.s . tj. 6. S8l.ltembra 199 3o godine od l2,oo ~aso~nt da so i::>.vr§i slijade6e!

1. odgovori, i to llisrr.enim nn.~inom, na nas :prote·:?t upu6en 4. soptemhr~ 1993. eodjne,

2. da se oslobodl i vrati na na~ pro~tor goapodin Sima Zja1i6, te da se prcdoco vjerodostojni doka~i o okolnostim:-i, ra::>.lozima; n1-1c inu i uc esnicdm11. kic~nftlJOVfillja iHtoga lica, te o tretm.=Jnu Sjmc Zjali6 od can a o ~udce pa do c .=u:m oslo ba.dj anj a odnor.-mo po-vr~a.tka !ll=.l. llA.B :prootO.!' .

UIJ07iorc:;.v::imo gornj i neHlov, u koJ iko ne iopu.ni tr::~ze.ne

zahtjcve- ponn.vljamo - ~o sutra, 1..:... septem1:~ra 1993. godine do 12 200 c:·lflOV8., da necemo moci :preuzirnrt ti na sebe odgOVOl"'l10Gt U

poeledu re;."JkCije nas1.h gradjFJll.1. 7 a Sfl llHS8 atrtiil6 b).t ce pred\1-zete sve mjere i Sl'edt~tv;.-t ·, koja n~:-).m stoje na r•asl'olozenju, da. ubrzarr•o i~vrsen.je tr~-.~.zeni. h zahtjeva.

UpoY.Ol'HVF.WIO va:; takod j e:r>' da u shlcaju net~ vrsonj a nasce zn.htj eva, morate sigu r•no . :ra.cun:~ti na vr16 ~-1}-9£~ ija 1;ne konsekve-

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s postovanj em, -~~><;p:fi.}.)n:~{~. li~ OHJ;.ASNOG · ·:t;d \ .\ ;· ~V. ,A(~ .

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MOST iMMEDIATE UNPROFOR,.: ·

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RESIRICTED _.te-e, · · -PRIORITY IMMEDIATE '9~s~ I~1)1ATE~·

' ------ ··-- -- ··- ---~· UNCLASSIFIED- . UN RESTRICTED./ UN CONFIDENTIAL UN SECRET 01\11. Y

OUTGOING FAX NO: DFC 280 DATE/TIME: 060901B SEP 93

TO: SECRETARY, aJ: ~c:-rJ~A FRO~~,.O~ ZAGREB COMMISSION OF EXPERTS r; t;- '--

1 FAX No: FAX NO:

/I-

ATTN: Mr V.S. Kotliar FILE REF No: DRAFTER: TITLE:

INFO: SECTOR EAST/Comd SECTOR WEST/Comd

SUBJECT: MASS GRAVE EXCAVATIONS

INTER~AL DISTRIBUTION: FC,HCA,CAO,DFC,COS,COO,FEj F

MESSAGE

1. I am v.Titing in reply to your FAX of 1 October 1993 with respect to the

security situation and the commencement of the excavation project.

2. Based on an assessment of the current situation and on a forecast of likely

events, it is felt that the security situation is rather bleak~however a.S it is unlikely to

improve, the Commission may wish to take the decision to begin its work on 18 October

1993 as forecast. As I trust you understand, the situation here can deteriorate rapidly and

may yet lead to a last-minute postponement of the project. Should any significant changes

in the security situation occur prior to the group's arrival we will notify you in a timely

manner.

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.). Please accept my assurances that UNPROFOR will provide whatever

assistance it can, l!iven our limited resources. I believe that it is in ever.· body's interest to ~ . . n

have the project completed as soon as possible. 8 9 ..-....-- ~·. -:"::) (C, ~ - -.::--:~ ' -> ---!

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ROUTINE/PRIORITY/IHM~ibTE/MOST IMMEDIATE UNCLASSIFIED/RESTRICTED/CONFIDENTIAL/CRYPTO/EYES ONLY

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I OUTGOING FAX NO: /7cvc;6 - DATE: 5 September 1993 '

'1'0: Mr. cedric Thornberry, FROM: Yusuf Khalaf, ore, Civil UCM/HCA, UNPROFOR HQ, Affairs, Sector West, Zagreb Daruvar

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FAX NO; FAX: '

ATTN: Mr. Mohamed Abdul-Aziz, FILE REF. NO: Desk Officer for UNPAs, DRAFTER : Y. Khalaf DCM Office TITLE : ore, CA

SIGNATURE ;

INFO; f'AX NO:

SUBJECT: Notes of meetings held in Sector West, Friday 3 and! Saturday 4 September 1993.

MESSAGE

.·Please find attached self explanatory notes about the subject mentioned above.

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1 Sr:pt~mher 1993

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05-09-93 17=26

Meeting between Ambassalf~,r Volleback and the Croatian Authorities at SW HQ on 3 September 1993

-.Present were Messrs. TumaS ,..,fthe Government Office for UNPROFOR in Zagrr.h, V. Dclac, Mayor of Pakrac, Civilian Croatian Coordinator for UNPROfOR in Sector Wc~t. M. Sicaja, Minhtry of Interior Liaison Officer for UNPROFOR, Z: Brigljevic, Croatian Army Liaison Officer for UNPROrOR in the Sct.1or.

~ Present from UNPROFOR were Amhassador Vollebaek, BGen. Shabsough, Sector Commander, Mr. Y. Khalaf, OIC, Civil Affairs, Mr. CbarJe.'\ McLad, Assistant to Amb. Volleback, CoL C. B. Basoyat, Chief of Staff, Major M. Kelley, Deputy Operations Ofticer.

-After the formal introductions, Amb. Vollebaek asked the Croatian members tO give a sense of the ~ituation in the Sector as they sec it and the developments and trends in the Sector. He asked them if a ccasefirc agreement is reached how do they think that can be tmplemcntoo. · The Arub~dor told the Croats that he thinks that Se(::tor West is diff~rent from the others and asked them why is it different. He, also, asked them to give him their assessment of how UNPROFOR is doing.

- The Ambassador, then, talked about the latest development'\. He told th~ Croats that he was in Knin the day before and discussed the Geneva draft with the authorities there. He said although there arc some gaps to be bridged we are not too far from reaching a cea'\Cfire agreement. The Ambassador added that io his view the Serbs changed their attitude considcrdbly. He said they (the Serbs) showed intcr~t in the cea~fire agreement. He added both sides will benefit from a ceasefir Ambassador Vollcbaek said both sides hclieve that UNPROrOR cannot deliver Hlld that is the problem.

- Ambassador Vollehaek told the Croat'\ that UNPROFOR had 2000 men ready to move to 302. aJ(:41. TlJc r\1~.~. .. "' ComMO!ldor mJlde it clc:u- UNPROFOR will defend 802 6\T~ if the Serhs try to move into the area4i where the Croats will withraw frqm, he added. The Ambassador said any kind of move has to be ~iep hy ~tep and what we are looking for is the fint to build on. '

- Ambassador Vollebaek, then, talked about the French/German initiative and that the nuropean Community may be ready to help economically if there is a ceascfire and a peaceful atmosphere.

- Mr. Vladimir' Delac, the Civilicu~ Coordinator for UNPROFOR in Sector W!'J\t responc.led by saying lac;t night in Pakrac. we could not sleep because or the shootings. He . said, Yes, Sector West is different from other Sectors. 20 % of Sector West is under Serb control. Few Croats live there and I don't know how long they will be spared. He said 4000

• ..Der19l retarned to Croatian controlled area ot" the Sector. 3000 Serbs never Jeft the Sector. · 7000 Serbs live in our area and are not discriminated again~1.

-Mr. Delac then talked about terrorism_ which in his view ha'i i.nl."Teased recently. He ·· said Jcidnappmgs, 'flftings and destruction of property take place these days. Mr. Delac said ~ . all the i~orht acts take place on our side. . ·_ . t

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.j - Mr. Delac told Au1baSsador Vollcback that the feeling on the Croatian ~ide for J UNPROFOR is not good at all.

• Mr. Delac said on the other side we have people with long arms which UNPROFOR cannot do any thing about; that is why we have all the terrorism e~-pecially directed against our policemen. Mr. Delac said that the ccasefire line is 100 metres from his office and 200 metres from his hcdroum. ·

- Ambassador Vollebaek told Mr. Delac and his colleagues that he talked with the Set.1or Commander today and the Force Commander yesterday about this same issue and that UNPROFOR is very much conccmed.

• The Ambassador asked the Croats how is the relationship between the Serbs in the sector and Knin and about Mr. DzakuJa. ·'

- Mr. Dclac replied that Mr. Ot.akula and his colleagu~ who signed the Daruvar agreement lost favor with Knin and were declared traitors. He added thal Daruvar agreement wns the nnt we had. Mr. Delac added that ev~ry®y he has to deal with different people on the other side.

- The Croatian Army Liaison Officer said an men on the other side are armed to the teeth. 1200 armed soldiers are in trenches all the time. We are also concerned about soldiers from Mount Jgman employed on the other side of Sava River (Bosnia). We know some of tnese nave aln:ady c.;IV:)MAl iuw CavaliA. IDH'IlOPOn muut ounll·ol thQ Croilti"an arra-. Hlnng Sava River.

- 'fhe Secwr CuUWJanuca ~d lha.t when. he talks to tho TDF Com1lWlder about thf.' Serb mobilization and carrying of long arms inside the UNPA, he tells me that they have received threats from the other side to open the ZagrebfBelgrcuie by force, disrupt our referendum and we aJso have our orders from Knin. The SC added that the Croats violate the Vance Plan also by concentrating their forces close to UNPA buniers;planting new mines and committing lcidnappings.

- Tlat:; ~tv•· Co~dcr infonnod ths meeting th~t he proJX~ to hoth !'iiCkn., tn withdraw their forces and long arms 5 km from their present positions in order to lower the tension in the Sector and the situation to go back to the beginning of June. He added ·tbat UNPROFOR controls the areas along the Sava River and so far we did not see any movement of troops or arms acros.'i the river into Croatia.

-Mr. Toma.~ said that lbe Croatian side is for signing a ceasefire agreement but at the _same time· thought that UNPROFOR is putting a lot of effort in Zagreb and Knin. He said

~ ....... IISiiPif'm"'· PROJ;'OR is knockfug the wrong door. He said Mr. Miloscvic is the Commander of the war or the situation . .

. :. Mr .~TgWfS said lJNPROfOR HQ arc going the wrung way. They are not using the . SectorHQsa~ mey should . . Sector HQs arc only reporting but doing nothing .else.

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S SeytemM 1993

Meeting between Ambassador Vollebaek and the Serb Authorities at the Ot:acani Villa on 3 Septembet' 1993

On 3 September 1993, Ambassador Vollebaek met with local Serb authorities in Olmr.ani as pan of his familiarinttion tour of ~tor Wrst

Pre~t from UNPROFOR wen~ Ambassador Vollebaek; BGen. Shabsough, Sector CoDUJlaJl(ier; Mr, Y, Khalaf, A/CAC, Civil Affairs; J. Mhtr\0, Civil A.ffairs Assistant; Ms. G. Posse, Civil Affair$ Officer; Mr. Charles McLad, Assistant to Amb. Vollebaek; Mr. D. Shields, UNCivPol; J. Soussa, Deputy Chief Operations, UNCivPol; Col. C.B. Basnyat, Chief of Staff; Major M. Kelley, Deputy Operations Officer.

Local Serb authorities in attendance were Mr. Vitez, President of Regiooal Council for Western Slavonia; Mr. Damjanovic, President of the Regional Assembly of Western Slavonia; Mr. V. Ostrolucanin, Chief of Local Police in Okncani; A. Dragicevic, President of the Executive Council of Municipality of Okucani; D. Mrdenovic, Secretary for Information and Regional Cooperation; B. Pevic, Journalist of Serbian Radio, Okucani; and z. Mandie, 1o\J1lUlli9t of the Press Center of the l8th Militnry COrps.

In his introductory remarks, Amb. Vollebaek explained to those present that be was on a familiarization tour of Sector West and bad hoped to achieve peaceful settlements so that social and economic development could begin. He expressed the opinion that there is an urge for an agreement but that there is a clear danger of military invention. He said that both sides would gain from an agreement but that progress was smmded due to the lack of a cc:-as.c:firc.

Amb. Vollebaek expressed his interest to have an assessment of the situation in Sector West as well as the issues that the Serb authorities felt were most important in the peace-building process. · ·

Mr. Vitez, President of RegionaJ Council for Western Slavonia, responded by stating that Sector West was the only Sector where UNPROFOR took over some re~nsibility, having a cenain advantage when compared to other sectors. Mr. Vitez stated tbat in his upi.uiuu, big MqD luw~\b a ~\:cful Mlwtliuu t...J Lam -.:lur;vc:;d iu ~lua Wc)l. He ill:w stated that this peaceful situation was not u~ properly because UNPROFOR did not use all the possibilities that were offered to make more than what was achieved. He stated that the

' main problem a~ be saw it i~ that the Repub~c of Serbska Krajina should not be treated as pcul uf lLc Cw.atUw ~lc ua D .a VU'-lcl uf 1cbcl Sab). He ~~- tl~c~l hU d.I.CA )huuld l.~e treated in a different way either as the other side or as anotber state. He stated that if this

.. ..... ""'J'Ji_._ .. appmacb had been ~dopted from the very beginning more peace in Sector West could have been achieved. ·

·- Mr. Vitez stated that be felt that UNPROFOR had done its best in Sector West but beca~se _gf ~ti<:al attirudes were still far from a solution. .,_:. . .

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Amb. Vollebaek: stated that UNPROFOR was often criticized by the Croatian authorities for treating the RSK a~ a separate state but that the inren:st for a peaceful political solution varied on both sides, stating that both sides are very afraid of an agreement. Both sides feel tricked or scared and therefore: '-Tt2ll: Kli(}{j1ec situation. Realizing the lack of confidence and mistruSt, one of the main tasks will be to help create some confidence building measures. Jn this regard, UNPROFOR has economic, poli~cal and social experts willing to undertake these measures but a ceasefire and/or peaceful environment is needed in order to do this work.

Amb. Vollebaek stated that the mistrust was equal on both ~ides; on the: Serb side the mistrust relates to the 22 January attack on Sector South and on the Croatian side regarding the withdrawal of military forces because the Croat~ fear th(\t the moment they withdraw, the &arbs wm take over. UN.FROFOR lw tried to negotiate on both ~ict"' aTV1 is mt,r.h ht.nr.r prepared.

UNPROFOR had hoped the Erdut agreement could be implemented. At that 1time 2000 troops were deployed on cea.~ftre line and ready to take c.ontrol. We nnw a.<iik that hoth of you give UNPKOFOR another cbance in the interest of both sides so that together we could do some constructive work.

Mr. Vitez responded that the failure of the Erdut agreement was the best opportunity to see bow UNPROFOR could not perform its tasks. He further stated that the world accuses Serbs to be the aggressor but that the Serbs have tried to keep former. Yugoslavia as an entity. In his opinion, if the world bas made a mistake by recognizing Croatia as a separate state, they could have corrected that mistake by not recognizing Bosnia. The Serbs formed the Republic of serbska Krajina in spite of this situation and will never accept to become part of the Croatian state in spite ot" wbat the rest of the world is trying to do. Until Croatia accepts

J this possibility, any solution is far away.

In his response, Amb. Vollebaek stated that to blame the world community for what Is happening Jn the form~ Yugt.mKvia W\lay wM much too easy. The world community has not reacted wisely in its treatment of the former Yugoslavia but all parties have to look to themselves to change the situation. UNPROFOR is not willing to take up force to force a solution for life in this area. If there are no agreements, rw responsible government can take the risk to have their troops attacked by all three parties and that is why UNPROF9R needs ynur cooperation .

• Amb. Vollebaek stated that he was not cerWri a solution had· been found fur Bo~-nia

after what happened in Geneva recently, but that UNPROFOR was hoping to negotiate a . .............. _.. seJtlemeot betwec:n Croat.~ and Serbs before having a settlement in Bosnia~

Mr. Vitez asked Amb. Vollebaek bow he saw a solution for the problem in .Sector West.

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In response, Amb. Vollebaek stated that if the parties involved started with a ceasefire, some element~ from the Erdut agreement would need to be added. Success depended on the withdrawal of Croatian forces from the 802 areas; the right to police in some villages for the Serbs; storage of heavy Seib weapons in other sectors. Onty on that basis could discussions begin on econoinic and political issues.

Maslenica bridge should be open for use by both sides. Work should begin on ~uiu~ U&c Dulupul ~ J'clllr~ .u well 83 op.cftiftg the pipeline and roinstnlling clootricity lines. AU these measures would give economic development that would be of in~t to both Serbs and Croats. Amb. VoUebaek stAted tl1at UNPROFOR would look at paragraph 12 of Security Resolution 820 which deals with embargo of UNPAs arnJ that he thought the possibj}ity to change that would open up a new situation fbr the Serbs. Furthermore, a lot could be dona 3bout the politicil mtni of Serbs, if you are willin,e tn rliV'JI~~ annmnmy Hr. cited a number of examples in Europe today where there is quite a Jot of confrontation but where authorities could get together and live together. ·

Amb. Vollebaek said that the Serbs were not being blamed for everything. The signing of the Erdut agreement and the lack of adherence to it by the Croat> has been heavily criticized by the world community. The Security Council has sai~ that they expect the Croats to sign. The governments of France and Germany to support the peace agreement and urge both sides to sign. The Security Council has made it quite clear to the Croatian side that it expects them to fulfill their part and that sanctions are the reality if they do not cooperate.

Mr. Vitez questioned Amb. VoUebaek's comment about treating the RSK as autonomous asking why the world is afraid of the borders they intend to ~1ablish with Croatia. He stated that the Serbs were in agreement with communications but wished to be treated as part of another state but not Croatia, under the control of UNPROFOR and under Serb control jn the Serb tenitory until a political solution is found. Mr. Vitez stated that they were considering opening the autoput with bonier crossings for the international community but all talks regarding borden; fail.

Amb. Vollebaek said that the international community is in fc1vor of opening the autoput. The opening of the highway and pipeline is of great inter~1 to Mr. Milosovic and that Messrs. Stoltenberg and OWen agree that this is something that should be aimed at but that it was not very helpful to start way with ultimatums. UNPROFOR ba.4i no preconditions for a peaceful settlement but would like to offer you, through our experts, a range of options l.u look. ~ c1.ml wuulu l.ik.c w ~~t. JOU and the Croats tu fiad one of the options which you could both Hve with. This is something that would take time and has to do with confidence ~tween Serbs and Croats.

Mr. Vit~1 ~irl thift the': Se:rhs r~t the Erdut a&reement bvt ~if they wanted to establish border crossings on their tmitnry, wby do all talks end when they begin to talk about border. control?

: ~""' .. -Amb. Vollebaek explained that it is because the Serbs have a counterpart who is ·

against ~ and who is itt a position to take miliary action. · · · ·

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When asked by Mr. Yitez if he thought the Serbs were afraid that the Croats could hurt them in a military way, Amb. Vollehaek responded that he thought they should be afraid and that perhaps one of the problems is that neither side is afraid and therefore the civilian population suffers. UNPROFOR wants tO safeguard the human population. Political leaders are not afraid of war but the civil population bas suffered much too much.

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.In his response Mr. Vitez pointed out that the· Serbs have only been defending their homes and will not let any one take away a part of their land and should UNPROFOR withdraw they will defend themselves again. He stated that the Serbs were in all the talks and that the Erdut agreement shows that clearly. He stated that the Serbs are not to · blame for all the failure. On a local level there are on·going talk.~ on water and electricity and that they wilJ try to find a solution to give water to Pakrac.

Before the close of the meeting, Mr. Vitez raised the issne of the recent arre~1 of an UNPROFOR employed Serb interpreter by the Croatian authorities stating that this incident il.lustrates the Croatian's unwillingness for peace talks. Stating that the Serb authorities could have done the same, Mr. Vitez asked Amb. VoUebaek to use all his influence for that person to be released or the:y would comiw it an act which would break all contacts.

In his response, Amb. Vollebaek assured Mr. Vitez that both UNPROFOR's military and civilian sides were very much concerned with the issue and were doing their best. Headquarten in Zagreb was informed and are taking action in Zagreb and that he him.~lf would follow it up upon his return to Zagreb later that day. Amb. Vollebaek agreed that this incident was another example of the way connaence could be dhnini:thcU.

Dwiag tllo oouroo _of the meeting, Amh Vnllr.hack was &iYeJl ~copy of a document concerning death camps and atrocities in Pakraca Poljana for which he confirmed receipt stating that he would refer the document to two commissions looking into human rights violations and to a special tribunal established for that pul])OSC.

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04.09.93. • G. 1-' •

NOTE FOR THE FILE.

Subject: Meeting with "RSK" Prime Minister G. Bjegoric.

A meeting was held with "RSK Prime Minister" G. Bjegoric on 4 September 1993 at 14.00 hrs in the Okucani Vill-a. Present from the Serb side were Messrs. R. Kuzet, Minister of Justice; D. Damjanovic, President of the Regional Assembly of Western slavonia; D. Vitez, President or the Regional Council of Western Slavonia; A. Dragicevic, President of the Executive Council of Okucani Municipality; M. Prodanovic, President of the Executive Council of Pakrac; Lt.Col. Gajic, TDF.

Reprc!:cnting UNPROFOR W~l:.'t:! B. Gen. K. k. !:iha.bsough, Sector Commander; Col. K. Hague, Deputy Sector Commander; Lt. Col. Adel, SLO; Lt.Col. Touch; Maj. Kelly; Y. Khalaf, Actin CAC; M. Platzer, UNOV; Sgt~ D. Shields, Station Commander UNCIVPOL Okucani; Ms. G. Fosse, CVAO.

The meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, lasted for almost two hours and the main items on the agenda were the Bukovcani Road, Water supply for Pakrac, and withdrawal of Serb

· and Croatian forces 5 km from .the CFL.

The meeting was opened by Prime Minister Bjegoric, who said he was pleased to meet with UNPROFOR representatives in Sector West. He said he had asked for this meeting as he had not had the opportunity of meeting with UNPROFOR personnel from this Sector bcfe!.le, al'l~ W.!. .. L vu Lv Lhauk l'S.r • .t"~az"':er ror the hospitality he had shown to the Kraiin~ military rlP1Pcr~tion during their a~ay in Vienna. '

I>ri mP. Mini r=;tPr Bjegoric drow ~ttcP\tie!'l -t.o th'== m~~Llng between the Serb local authorities in Western Slavoriia and Ambassador Vollebaek on J september 1993, and saia he hoped that an end of this war was near, and that they were, step by step,

· clos6~ Lu P~au~. He underlined tnat the Serbs always wanted to be very co-operative with the Croats, but 11when they were coming towart;Is the end of the tunnel, and finally could see some light, the dialog stopped" due to the tragedy of 22 January 1993. He said that he is trying his best in co-operation with his team of

~--==~ exp~rts to re-establish peace as soon as possible, to establish a legal government and create a legal judiciary system, and to revitalize industry in the "RSK".

He.said further that the "RSK authorities" will try their best -tallllchieve a peaceful solution which · wi11 ·· allow: their soldiers to return to the factories. He said that . the "RSK Government" is trying two things simultaneously: to defend our territ9ry and to produce goods, and mentioned the lack of energy . - . 1. .. - .

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resources and of spare parts. The agricultural output would have been much bigger had fertilizers, pesticides etc. been available, he said. •

He mentioned the efforts of "the F.SK Government" in trying to convince the Security council to change SC Res. 802, or more precisely to have a new SC Resolution issued, and underlined once more that the Serbs wanted Peace and to produce industrial as well as agricultural goods.

He.concluded his introduction by stating that Croatia did not want to live with the Serbs, and . after the third big genocide, the Serbs chose not to live in Croatia and only wanted to take care about their own problems ·in "RSK 11 •

2. ~ithdrawal 5 km from CFL:

Brig-Gen. Shabsough subsequently took the floor and welcomed Prime Minister Bjegoric. He said the UN came here to assist both sides, and said "we hope we can assist you, but in doing so, we need your advice." He continued by saying "as I am only military man, I 111n11lli likP. tc a~e\l:K to you about the military Rit.untion" and added that there was a lot of CFL violations, which are making the Croatian side nervous.

Brig-Gen. Shabsough continued by saying that the Serbs carry long arm close to the CFL, and that there is shooting in the Pakrac- Lipik area at times. He further mentioned his intention to meet with Col. Celeketic to suggest that both sides withdraw 5 km from the CFL in order to lower the tension in the area, which in turn would help in implementing peace building projects. Civil Affairs have done a lot to bring the two sides together, but no results have been achieved so far. With your help, we will do our best, Brig~Gen. Shabsough said and added that is the reason why UNPROFOR is here.

Prime Minister Bjegoric replied he hoped that Mr. M. Martie had visited Sector West and met with UNPROFOR personnel. He said the situation in this sector was a little different from other Sectors, and said-thai~NPROFOR in Sector west had had problems with long arms last year as well, and referred to a meeting last year where the Serbs had complied with Sector West's request. However, the military prognosis Prime Minister Bjegoric had heard

. from his military colleagues had been wrong, and the 22 January l99J attack~had ocurred .

. He said the Serbs are aware of that the Croats need Maslenica bridge, and said "the RSK authoiities" had asked for a port on the Adriatic coast to export bauxite in return. He

-' ~ -. • ...,..--.. a<med that they had proposals for opening nf· the highway, the gas pipeline, etc, but underlined that both sides would have to chose Peace. Prime Minister Bjegoric concluded by saying that "our choice is peace and I believe Peace will come soon".

. . · :....M.i1Pt'ster of Justice R. Kuzet subsequent!~ took the floor and said that in the 22 January 199~ Croatian attack in Sector South

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SHO-W :·· , 05-09-93 17=36 C76J t:H

• there had been 400 casualties, of which 300 were civilians. Following the Erdut agreement, the Croats started to rebuild th~ Maslenica bridge, and the Croatian Army was to withdraw from the surrounding areas by 11 .Tul y 1 qq:l. When the Croats were asl\ect to comply with the agreement, they refused. Today the Croats ask us not to ~hell the Haslenica bridge,· he said.

With regard to withdrawal 5 km from the CFL, Minister Kuzet underlined that Sector West is an integral part of the RSK, and emphasized that this is a problem with Croatia, which cannot be solved partially. He said the Serbs are· offering Peace, not only to a part of the territory.

Mr. Y. Khalaf eaid ha would like to point out that in orner to bring down the tension in the Sector, it was necessary to resume checkpoint meetings; to restart the village visitation programs, to see peace-building projects start and implemented aml movE::! rct'WcU"d; to open the highway, the r~ilwayJ and.havc freedom of movement in the sector. Unless we have co-operation form both sides, UNPROFOR cannot achieve much.

Col. Hague subsequently took the floor and said .that the main Croatian concern is the Lipik - Pakrac ~ Dragovic road where the Serbs have deployed long arms overlooking this very area. He referred to Minister Kuze-c' s remark, saying that all Sectors should be the sa~e, and emphasized that a statement of this kind makes it very difficult for UNPROFOR to negotiate with the Croatian side the security situation that exists on the other side. Col. Hague drew attention to croatian c.r·L violations on the eastern and the western flank of the UNPA, and said the Plan that Brig-Gen. Shabsough would like to propose is the first phase of demilitarization of the Sector. The Plan is to have the line of troops moved 2- 5 km away from the CFL, and UNPROFOR feel that by taking this kind of measures, the number of Croatian policemen deployed in the area could drastically be reduced. Col. Hague added that without changes in the security situation, it would be difficult to implement peace building projects.

Prime Minister Bjegoric intormed about a meeting between General cot and General Novakovic, scheduled for next week, and underlined that it was another example of the Serbs showing good will. He also mentioned a meeting with Deputies of the Co­chairman for the Conference on Former Yugoslavia and said he hoped the Croatian side would make their statement as to whether the Croats want war or peace. He added that the Croats must be aware of that a war would·cause disaster on both sides, and that it would be war along the entire CFL throughout Croatia.

He further stated that the Croats consider "RSK 11 a part of Croatia, but that the Croats have to realize that it was the

· decision of the Serbs not to live in Croatia. The politicians will pave to solve this basic . problem in the future.

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05-09-93 [76] ~2 .. •.

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3. Moving of UNPROFOR checkpoint, forner WC§, now WA 6,

Brig-Gen. Shabsough subsequently asked the Prime Minister Bjegoric how UNPROFOR can assist in solving their problems.

Prime Minister Bjegoric replied that the main problem for the whole of "RSK" is more than 125,000 refugees. In each of the project that are discussed on the highest level, we are talking about capital projects in need of substantial financial support, he said and raised in this context the question as to whether it was smart to spend money on paving a secondary road from Okucani to Pakrac, when a UN checkpoint could be moved to the lNA station and the Serbs could be allowed to use a road.that already is paved.

4. Water supply for Pakrac.

Prime Minister Bjegoric subsequently mentioned that whole water pump systems were , under Croatian control and said there were projects throughout "RSK" to re-establish water supply to the population in Pakrac, in Plasko and in Tesingrad.

He also drew attention to the numerous maintenance workers repairing the electric! ty 1 ines, pavinCJ the roanR, and re­establishing the PTT system. He underlined that "everything" is in their projects and that the Serbs will implement technical, financial and economical projects.

5. Serb/Croat face to face meetings;

Mr. Khalaf said civil Affairs have tried to facilitate meetings between Mr. Vi tez and his Croatian counterpart, and till present there have been two race to face meetings. He added that civil Affairs is assisting in organizing two other face to face meetings; one between Mr. De lac and Mr. Vi tez, and another between Mr. Oelac and Mr. Prodanovic, to keep the dialog open between the two slue~, and said he hoped that·these meetings would continue and give some results.

6. Return of Displaced Persons:

Mr. Prod~novic caid that in tha D~krac Municipality thoro were more refugees than local citizens and these persons look at their houses on the other side every day. These displaced persons would l .ike to return to their homes, he said and added that there · was a negligence with regard to the implementation of the Vance

'·· .,.=~··--..l::'laJ) in this regard. The Pakrac Municipality is one of the most unhappy and unfortunate areas and is the center for culture and spirit of this whole area. He said he was not against water for the :people,· but he would rather see · these displaced pers-ons having water in their own houses across the ~FL. ENDALL

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Gudrun Fosse -Civil~ - A!_f_airs O!ticer

i.

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COMMU . . UNPR.C>FOR.

• '93 SE~11.: ~4 ii{l IJOST rMMED\AT_E __ _

ROUTINE PRIORITY IMMEDIATE MOST IMMEDIA~·

UNCLASSIFIED UN RESTRICTED UN CONFIDENTIAL UN SECRET

OUTGOING FAX NO: DATE: 4 September 1993

TO: Milivoj Tomas FROM: I

Yolanda Auger, DHCA JJt Government Commission UNPROFOR HQ, Zagreb '-{;"'-l

for UNPROFOR -_~ . ,f

FAX NO: i5"2 -262 FAX NO: INMARSAT 873 151 1~07 Or (38){41) 450 948

170 199

ATTN: FILE REF NO: DRAFTER: YA:EC

INFO: '

FAX NO:

SUBJECT: Simo Zjalic

INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION:

On 2 September, I spoke with Ms. Zaklan of your office, to whom

I provided the particulars concerning the case of Mr. Simo Zjalic, a

United Nations consult~nt working with a UNOV/UNDP Social

Reconstruction Programme in Sector West, who was arrested on 1

September in Pakrac. I conveyed our concern because of his status as

a United Nations consultant and the fact that he had been taken out

of the Sector where UNCIVPOL could monitor the situation, a practice

which had been used in the past and which we have strongly protested.

Ms. Zaklan indicated that she knew nothing of the matter but could

inquire and get back to us.

We were advised yesterday that Mr. Zjalic had been transported

from Nova Gradiska prison to Zagreb and appeared before a military

tribunal and is presently detained in a prison in Zagreb. We have,

s l: oz v- d:s c6. f)HCR-

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however, received no official conf\rmation of this.

We should appreciate your intervention so that we are provided,

most urgently, with information as to Mr. Simo Zjalic's whereabouts

and condition, and UNCIVPOL is allowed to visit him at the place

where he is being detained .

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