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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
95ZAGREB2986	1995-08-05 22:34	2011-08-30 01:44	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Zagreb

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

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 
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                           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

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