This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

271307Z Nov 92

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 ZAGREB 02517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH 
 
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL: OADR 
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR BK MK
SUBJECT:  CGYOOL:  CODEL DECONCINI OPENS THE MASH; 
-         MEETS WITH DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS; DISCUSSES 
-         UNPROFOR, B-H, AND REFUGEES WITH TUDJMAN 
 
 
------------------------ 
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 
------------------------ 
 
¶1.  UNDER HELSINKI COMMISSION AUSPICES, SENATOR 
DECONCINI AND REP. MCCLOSKEY VISITED CROATIA NOV 15. 
THEY HELPED OFFICIALLY OPEN THE U.S. ARMY MASH UNIT 
AT ZAGREB AIRPORT AND INTERVIEWED SEVERAL MEN FROM 
THE LATEST GROUP OF SERBIAN DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS IN 
KARLOVAC.  PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TOLD THE CODEL THAT:  HE 
WANTED THE VANCE PLAN FULLY IMPLEMENTED; UNPROFOR'S 
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INABILITY TO DO SO WOULD RAISE THE QUESTION OF WHY 
UNPROFOR SHOULD BE EXTENDED; WITHOUT PEACE IN B-H, 
CROATIA COULD NEVER SECURE ITS BORDERS; THERE ARE NO 
CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN CROATIA AND THE THREE BOSNIAN 
CROAT DETENTION FACILITIES HAD BEEN ORDERED CLOSED BY 
BOBAN; CROATIA HAS NO TERRITORIAL DESIGNS ON B-H; IT 
SUPPORTS A SOVEREIGN, INDEPENDENT B-H COMPRISED OF 
THREE CONSTITUENT PEOPLES; THIS DID NOT MEAN DIVIDING 
B-H INTO THREE TERRITORIAL UNITS; CROATIA IS 
THREATENED WITH ECONOMIC DISASTER, IN PART OWING TO 
ITS REFUGEE BURDEN; CROATIA IS ACTIVELY SEEKING 
NORMALIZATION WITH THE SERBS OF CROATIA. 
 
END INTRODUCTION  AND SUMMARY. 
- 
-------------------------------- 
MASH 212 OPENED WITH A FLOURISH 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  CODEL DECONCINI ARRIVED AT PLESO AIRPORT JUST IN 
TIME TO LEAD THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE US ARMY 
MOBILE SURGICAL HOSPITAL, MASH 212.  THIS 300-PERSON 
HOSPITAL WILL SUPPORT UNPROFOR SOLDIERS FROM FIFTEEN 
NATIONS WORKING IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA. 
 
------------------------------------- 
MEETING WITH THE DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  THE CODEL ARRIVED AT THE KARLOVAC UNHCR-RUN 
TRANSIT CENTER TO FIND A PUBLIC SQUARE FILLED WITH 
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USMISSION GENEVA 
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AMEMBASSY MADRID 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 06 ZAGREB 02517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH 
 
MANY HUNDREDS OF SERBIAN DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS MILLING 
ABOUT.  THE MORE THAN 2,000 EX-DETAINEES IN KARLOVAC 
AT THE TIME OF THE CODEL'S VISIT INCLUDED OVER 700 
MEN JUST RELEASED FROM MANJACA.  THE CODEL TOURED THE 
MASSIVELY OVERCROWDED FACILITY, VIEWING SLEEPING ROOMS 
WITH WALL-TO-WALL AND FLOOR-TO-CEILING BEDS, SEVERELY 
TAXED SANITATION FACILITIES, HALLWAYS SO CRAMMED WITH 
STILL-TRAUMATIZED MEN THAT MOVEMENT WAS NEXT TO 
IMPOSSIBLE, AND UNDERSTAFFED ICRC AND UNHCR 
CONTINGENTS ENGAGED IN A VALIANT, SUPERMHUMAN EFFORT 
TO MEET THE EX-DETAINEES BASIC NEEDS.  AT A TABLE IN 
THE FEW SQUARE FEET OF SPACE NOT OCCUPIED BY BEDS OR 
BODIES, THE CODEL HEARD SEVERAL MOVING FIRSTHAND 
ACCOUNTS OF SAVAGE MURDERS, SADISTIC TORTURE AND 
ASSORTED MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DEPRAVITY WHICH 
CHARACTERIZED EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE CAMPS.  ON EXITING 
THE FACILITY, THE CODEL SPOKE FRANKLY TO THE PRESS 
ABOUT THEIR IMPRESSIONS. 
 
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------------------------------ 
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN 
------------------------------ 
- 
¶4.  SENATOR DECONCINI TOLD PRESIDENT TUDJMAN THAT THE 
U.S. CONGRESS REMAINED VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EVENTS IN 
THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.  HE NOTED HIS JUST-CONCLUDED 
VISIT TO THE EX-DETAINEE TRANSIT CAMP AND THE UGLY 
STORIES THAT HE HAD HEARD THERE. 
 
¶5.  TUDJMAN WELCOMED THE DELEGATION AND REITERATED 
CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. 
HE NOTED THAT HE HAD WON A MANDATE IN HIS RE-ELECTION 
AS PRESIDENT IN AUGUST.  HE RECALLED THAT THE ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN HAD BEGUN WITH CONCERN THAT EXTREMISTS OF 
THE RIGHT AND LEFT -- THE CROATIAN PARTY OF RIGHT AND 
THE EX-COMMUNISTS CROATIAN PARTY OF RENEWAL -- WOULD 
EACH GARNER SOME 15 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.  IN THE 
EVENT, EACH EXTREME WON ONLY 3-5 PERCENT. 
 
------------------------- 
CROATIA'S ECONOMIC PLIGHT 
------------------------- 
 
¶6.  TUDJMAN SAID THAT CROATIA FACED SERIOUS ECONOMIC 
PROBLEMS AS IT MADE THE TRANSITION FROM A SOCIALLY- 
OWNED TO A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY.  INFLATION IS 
CLIMBING, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE 
FORMER YUGOSLAV MARKET AND THE BURDEN OF MILITARY 
DEFENSE EXPENDITURES.  THE WAR DESTROYED A GREAT PART 
OF CROATIA'S PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. . 
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ACTION H-06 
 
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P 271307Z NOV 92 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2833 
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
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USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
USMISSION USNATO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION USVIENNA 
USIA WASHDC 2475 
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CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22// 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 06 ZAGREB 02517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH 
 
CROATIA SUPPORTED SOME 300,000 DISPLACED CROATS AND 
450,000 REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA (B-H).  THIS 
WAS BEYOND CROATIA'S ABILITY TO COPE.  INTERNATIONAL 
HELP FOR THE REFUGEES HAD BEEN INSUFFICIENT.  THE 
GOVERNMENT'S AIM WAS TO CONTROL INFLATION SUFFICIENTLY 
TO MOVE TO CURRENCY CONVERTIBILITY IN 1993. 
 
---------------------- 
UNPROFOR AND THE UNPAS 
---------------------- 
- 
¶7.  TUDJMAN SAID UNPROFOR MUST COMPLETE ITS MISSION, 
WHICH IS TO IMPLEMENT THE VANCE PLAN FULLY.  HE ASKED 
RHETORICALLY WHY, IF UNPROFOR WERE UNABLE TO 
IMPLEMENT THE VANCE PLAN BY MARCH 1993, IT SHOULD BE 
EXTENDED.  HE SAID CROATIA WANTED TO SEE:  1) THE 
RETURN OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS; 2) DISARMING OF THE 
SERBIAN PARAMILITARIES; AND 3) REOPENING OF 
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS THROUGHOUT THE 
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COUNTRY.  HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SERBS IN THE UNITED 
NATIONS PROTECTED AREAS (UNPAS) ARE ONLY A SMALL 
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SERBS IN CROATIA. 
BUT PROGRESS IN THESE AREAS WAS CRITICALLY DEPENDENT 
ON RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
CROATIA'S ACTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  TUDJMAN SAID CROATIA HAD A VITAL INTEREST IN 
PEACE IN B-H, WITHOUT WHICH THERE COULD NEVER BE 
PEACE ALONG CROATIA'S BORDERS WITH B-H.  CROATIA 
WANTS B-H TO REMAIN A SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT 
NATION OF ITS THREE CONSTITUENT PEOPLES, TUDJMAN 
STATED.  B-H'S POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MUST BE BASED 
ON THE RIGHTS OF ALL THREE PEOPLES.  IN B-H, THE TWO 
KEY PROBLEMS ARE:  HOW TO STOP SERBIAN AGGRESSION AND 
HOW TO GET THE MUSLIMS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. 
 
¶9.  SENATOR DECONCINI NOTED THAT VARIOUS CRITICISMS 
WERE OFTEN LEVELLED AGAINST CROATIA IN THE U.S.  HE 
ASKED TUDJMAN HOW ONE OUGHT TO RESPOND TO CHARGES 
THAT THE CROATS TOO HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN ATROCITIES IN 
DETENTION CAMPS THEY RAN IN B-H AND THAT CROATIA HAD 
TERRITORIAL DESIGNS ON PARTS OF B-H.  THE SENATOR 
ADDED THE QUESTION WHETHER, IF CROATIA WERE FIXED ON 
A "THREE PEOPLES" APPROACH TO B-H, IT WOULD BE 
POSSIBLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A DIVISION OF 
B-H TERRITORY. 
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USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
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AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
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GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH 
 
¶10.  TUDJMAN SAID THE BOSNIAN CROATS HAD TAKEN UP 
ARMS BECAUSE THEY FELT THREATENED BY SERBIAN 
AGGRESSION AND BECAUSE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN 
SARAJEVO HAD NOT PREPARED ADEQUATELY TO DEFEND THEM. 
THE BOSNIAN CROATS INITIALLY FELT SO ENDANGERED THAT 
MANY OF THEM WERE ADVOCATING SECESSION AND JOINING 
CROATIA.  IT WAS THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, TUDJMAN 
SAID, WHICH HAD BLUNTED THE SECESSION MOVE AND 
STRONGLY URGED BOSNIAN CROATS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 
B-H INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM.  ULTIMATELY, BOSNIA'S 
CROATS WERE THE FIRST TO OPPOSE SERBIAN AGGRESSION. 
ONLY LATER HAD THE MUSLIMS JOINED IN IN A SIGNIFICANT 
WAY. 
 
¶11.  TUDJMAN SAID CATEGORICALLY THAT THERE WERE NO 
CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN CROATIA AND, AS FAR AS HE 
KNEW, NONE IN THE CROATIAN-DEFENDED AREAS OF B-H. 
DURING THE WAR WITH THE YUGOSLAV ARMY LAST YEAR, 
CROATIA HAD HAD SEVERAL POW CAMPS BUT THOSE WERE 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  02517  04 OF 06  271306Z 
CLOSED WHEN THE PRISONERS WERE EXCHANGED.  TUDJMAN 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN INDIVIDUAL CASES OF 
VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CROATIA BY EXTREMISTS, 
EVEN THOUGH THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAD CALLED ON THE 
PEOPLE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY.  THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY 
WAS STRICT RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE 
OF CROATIA.  LATER IN THE CONVERSATION, DEPUTY 
PREMIER GRANIC CLARIFIED THAT THE BOSNIAN CROATS 
MAINTAINED THREE DETENTION CAMPS, ALL OF WHICH HAD 
BEEN VISITED BY THE ICRC.  MATE BOBAN, AT "GENEVA'S" 
REQUEST, HAD ORDERED ALL THREE CLOSED.  GRANIC SAID 
CROATIA HAD ONLY SOME 30 SERBIAN PRISONERS, WHO HAD 
BEEN AWAITING EXCHANGE WITH SERBIA -- BUT PANIC HAD 
BEEN UNABLE TO DELIVER. 
 
¶12.  TUDJMAN STATED THAT CROATIA HAD NO TERRITORIAL 
DESIGNS ON B-H.  HOWEVER, CROATIA IS VITALLY 
INTERESTED IN B-H DEVELOPMENTS928,& 59 &39-POLITICAL 
AND HISTORICAL REALITIES.  A B-H SOLUTION BASED ON 
THE THREE CONSTITUENT PEOPLES DID NOT MEAN DIVISION 
INTO THREE TERRITORIAL UNITS.  CROATIA COULD WORK 
WITH THE VANCE/OWEN 7-9 UNITS APPROACH. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
ENDING THE B-H WAR WOULD HELP WITH KOSOVO 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶13.  TUDJMAN AGREED WITH REPRESENTATIVE MCCLOSKEY'S 
EXPRESSION OF CONCERN OVER SERBIAN ACTIONS IN KOSOVO. 
TUDJMAN SAID THE KEY TO PREVENTING WAR IN KOSOVO WAS 
TO STOP IT IN B-H.  THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT HAD ACTED 
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INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
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AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
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USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
USMISSION USNATO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 06 ZAGREB 02517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH 
 
UNJUSTLY IN DEPRIVING THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO OF THE 
RIGHTS THEY HELD UNDER TITO'S SYSTEM.  HE AGREED THERE 
WAS A RISK OF WAR EXPANDING INTO MACEDONIA, WHICH 
SERBS STILL SOMETIMES REFER TO AS "SOUTHERN SERBIA." 
POSSIBLE GREEK/SERBIAN COLLUSION OVER MACEDONIA WAS 
ALSO OF CONCERN. 
 
----------------------------------- 
THE UNITED STATES HAS THE MAIN ROLE 
-------------------.--------------- 
 
¶14.  TUDJMAN SAID THE U.S., AS THE LEADING WORLD 
POWER, HAS THE MAIN ROLE IN THE SOLUTION OF THE 
BALKAN PROBLEMS.  HE RECALLED THERE HAD BEEN A STRONG 
AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND HE 
SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD AGAIN BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE 
IN THE PRESENT SITUATION.  HE SAID THAT CROATIA IS 
READY TO COOPERATE IN FINDING WAYS TO END THE 
CONFLICTS IN THE REGION AND TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS 
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WITH ALL OF ITS NEIGHBORS. 
 
¶15.  SENATOR DECONCINI TOLD TUDJMAN THAT HE AND THE 
CROATIAN PEOPLE HAD MANY FRIENDS IN THE CONGRESS AND 
THAT HIS VISIT WAS A TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF THAT 
FRIENDSHIP AND INTEREST IN CROATIA.  HE SAID HIS 
DELEGATION WAS PLEASED TO HEAR FROM HIM DIRECTLY OF 
CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO NEGOTIATIONS AND DEDICATION 
TO PEACE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. 
 
------------------------- 
CROATIA AND THE REFUGEES 
------------------------ 
 
¶16.  THE SENATOR EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR CROATIA'S 
REFUGEE BURDEN, ABOUT WHICH NOT ENOUGH WAS KNOWN IN 
THE WEST.  HE PLEDGED TO DO WHAT HE COULD TO GET THE 
WORD OUT ON CROATIA'S REFUGEE BURDEN AND THE NEED FOR 
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 
 
¶17.  TUDJMAN SAID THE CROATIAN PEOPLE WERE PRETTY 
DISSATISFIED WITH THE EC AND THE UN CONSTANTLY 
TELLING THEM OF THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATION TO TAKE 
EVER MORE REFUGEES, EVEN AS CROATIA LACKED THE MEANS 
TO CARE FOR ITS OWN DISPLACED PEOPLE.  HE NOTED THAT 
THE PREVIOUS DAY HE HAD PERSONALLY INTERVENED AT THE 
BEHEST OF THE ZAGREB JEWISH COMMUNITY TO APPROVE THE 
MOVEMENT TO CROATIA OF A GROUP OF 500 FROM SARAJEVO. 
"BUT WE ARE NOW THREATENED WITH ECONOMIC DISASTER," 
TUDJMAN EXCLAIMED. 
 
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INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
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AMEMBASSY LONDON 
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AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 06 ZAGREB 02517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH 
 
¶18.  DEPUTY PREMIER GRANIC SAID CROATIA NOW HAS 
450,000 BOSNIAN REFUGEES, 80 PERCENT OF WHOM ARE 
MUSLIM.  THE REFUGEE BURDEN ABSORBS 20 PERCENT OF THE 
CROATIAN STATE BUDGET.  GRANIC SAID CROATIA WAS 
EXTREMELY PERPLEXED BY CRITICISM OF CROATIA'S 
SUPPOSEDLY CLOSED BORDERS.  THE FACT IS THAT 
CROATIA'S ARE THE ONLY OPEN BORDERS IN THE REGION. 
SINCE CROATIA HAD INSTITUTED ITS BORDER "CONTROLS" ON 
JULY 13, SOME 100,000 BOSNIAN REFUGEES HAD ARRIVED IN 
CROATIA AND ANOTHER 100,000 HAD TRANSITTED.  CROATIA 
IS ALSO TAKING IN HUNDREDS OF EX-DETAINEES FROM THE 
SERBIAN PRISON CAMPS IN B-H.  GRANIC REITERATED 
CROATIA'S APPRECIATION FOR THE MATERIAL HELP IT HAD 
RECEIVED, BUT HE STRESSED THAT CROATIA ALSO NEEDS 
MONEY TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY, GASOLINE AND OTHER 
REFUGEE-RELATED DIRECT COSTS -- NOW RUNNING AT 110 
MILLION DOLLARS PER MONTH. 
 
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RELATIONS WITH CROATIANS OF SERBIAN NATIONALITY 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶19.  CROATIA WANTS TO SEE AN END TO AGGRESSION AND A 
RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE, INCLUDING NORMALIZATION OF 
RELATIONS WITH SERBS IN CROATIA, TUDJMAN SAID.  HE 
POINTED OUT THAT CROATIA HAD PASSED LAWS ON ABOLITION 
(FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR AGAINST 
CROATIA BUT DID NOT COMMIT WAR CRIMES) AND AMNESTY 
(FOR THOSE ALREADY INDICTED OR SENTENCED FOR NON-WAR 
CRIMES ACTS COMMITTED IN THE WAR).  HE EMPHASIZED THE 
EFFORTS HIS GOVERNMENT WAS MAKING TOWARD RESTORATION 
OF LAW AND ORDER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  THE 
CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAD WORKED TO REIN IN CROATIAN 
EXTREMISTS AND HAD SEVERAL OF THEM WERE UNDER 
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.  VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 
PARLIAMENT DUKIC, A SERBIAN HIMSELF, POINTED OUT THAT 
THE SERBS IN THE UNPAS ARE UNDER THE DOMINATION OF 
THE 5-10 PERCENT EXTREMISTS WHO ARE CONTROLLED BY 
BELGRADE. 
 
¶20.  IN CONCLUSION, PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TOLD THE CODEL 
THAT CROATIA IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO DEMOCRACY AND TO 
A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, INCLUDING A FREE PRESS. 
 
NEITZKE 
 
 
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