ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian President Franjo Tudjman met last night
with Hungarian Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, the current
chairman of the Organisation of European Security and
Cooperation (OESC). The talks revolved around Croatia's decision
to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate and this, according to
President Tudjman, will accelerate the peace process regarding
the reintegration of the occupied territories. Mr Tudjman
emphasised Croatia's desire for a peaceful solution to the
crisis in Croatia, also stressing the importance of continuing
the process of normalising Croatian-Serbian relations and OESC's
influence on Belgrade to recognise Croatia. Minister Kovacs
expressed the readiness of the OESC to participate in finding a
peaceful political solution to the crisis.
Foreign Minister Mate Granic yesterday met with representatives
of humanitarian organisations operating in Croatia. Mr Granic
explained the reasons for the decision to terminate the UNPROFOR
mandate, adding that this will accelerate the process of
reintegrating the occupied areas into the constitutional and
legal system of Croatia. Mr Granic reasoned that Croatia will
intensify peace talks at all levels and would also continue
supporting the efforts of international humanitarian
organisations helping the displaced persons and refugees in
Croatia. Also present at the meeting were Deputy Premier Ivica
Kostovic and Adalbert Rebic, the head of the Government Office
for Displaced Persons and Refugees. Both stressed that there
will be no changes in relations between Croatia and the
international humanitarian organisations which are expected to
abide by UN Security Council Resolution 970, especially
regarding the occupied areas.
Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak and Croatian Army
Chief-of-Staff General Janko Bobetko met yesterday with John
Forvargue, the newly appointed British military attach in
Croatia. The improvement of the Croatian-British relations were
discussed, as well as Croatia's decision to terminate the
UNPROFOR mandate.
According to UNPROFOR spokesperson Michael Williams, UNPROFOR
was looking into the possibilities of moving their headquarters
to Sarajevo or some other neighbouring country because it would
be difficult in a political sense for them to remain in Zagreb
after the termination of the mandate on 31st March. Mr Williams
expressed hope that Croatia will reconsider its decision, but
the final decision regarding the mandate rests with the UN
Security Council. Mr Williams said that the possibility of the
UN peacekeepers remaining in the UNPAs and not in other parts of
Croatia was absolutely out of the question, adding that the UN
Security Council resolutions and the UNPROFOR mandate clearly
recognise the sovereignty of Croatia within its internationally
acknowledged borders. Mr Williams expressed concern that the
withdrawal of UN troops from the demarcation zones will incite
confrontations between the local Serbs and the Croatian forces.
SISAK, CROATIA A refugee settlement in Pisarovina near Sisak was
formally opened today. The whole project was financed by the
Swedish Government and Christina Magnuson, the president of the
Swedish Red Cross, handed over the keys to Ruza PospisBaldani,
the president of the Croatian Red Cross. The displaced residents
of Lasinja are to now inhabit the 122 prefabricated homes.
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Since his mandate ends on 24th
January, UNPROFOR Commander for B-H General Sir Michael Rose is
to meet with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic in Sarajevo
today. An UNPROFOR representative said that General Rose is also
scheduled to meet in Pale with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan
Karadzic and Bosnian Serb forces commander General Ratko Mladic.
General Rose is to be replaced as UN commander by British
General Rupert Smith.
BIHAC, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA UNPROFOR Commander for former
Yugoslavia General Bertrand de Lapresle is to visit Bihac today
in an attempt to strengthen the cease-fire in the region.
According to UNPROFOR HQ in Sarajevo, the UN Commander is to
meet with Bosnian Army 5th Corps Commander General Atif
Dudakovic.
According to UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, cease-fire violations were
registered in the Bihac pocket yesterday. In the Velika Kladusa
area alone 436 artillery impacts were recorded yesterday morning
by the UN observers.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND The meeting between the Contact Group for
Bosnia-Herzegovina and seven member states of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference ended yesterday in Geneva.
Representatives of both contact groups will continue to
consolidate the positions of their respective countries
regarding the strengthening of the cease-fire in B-H, as well as
initiating a new round of peace negotiations.
==========================
FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN
20th January 1995.
ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian President Franjo Tudjman met last night
with Hungarian Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, the current
chairman of the Organisation of European Security and
Cooperation (OESC). The talks revolved around Croatia's decision
to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate and this, according to
President Tudjman, will accelerate the peace process regarding
the reintegration of the occupied territories. Mr Tudjman
emphasised Croatia's desire for a peaceful solution to the
crisis in Croatia, also stressing the importance of continuing
the process of normalising Croatian-Serbian relations and OESC's
influence on Belgrade to recognise Croatia. Minister Kovacs
expressed the readiness of the OESC to participate in finding a
peaceful political solution to the crisis.
Foreign Minister Mate Granic yesterday met with representatives
of humanitarian organisations operating in Croatia. Mr Granic
explained the reasons for the decision to terminate the UNPROFOR
mandate, adding that this will accelerate the process of
reintegrating the occupied areas into the constitutional and
legal system of Croatia. Mr Granic reasoned that Croatia will
intensify peace talks at all levels and would also continue
supporting the efforts of international humanitarian
organisations helping the displaced persons and refugees in
Croatia. Also present at the meeting were Deputy Premier Ivica
Kostovic and Adalbert Rebic, the head of the Government Office
for Displaced Persons and Refugees. Both stressed that there
will be no changes in relations between Croatia and the
international humanitarian organisations which are expected to
abide by UN Security Council Resolution 970, especially
regarding the occupied areas.
Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak and Croatian Army
Chief-of-Staff General Janko Bobetko met yesterday with John
Forvargue, the newly appointed British military attach in
Croatia. The improvement of the Croatian-British relations were
discussed, as well as Croatia's decision to terminate the
UNPROFOR mandate.
According to UNPROFOR spokesperson Michael Williams, UNPROFOR
was looking into the possibilities of moving their headquarters
to Sarajevo or some other neighbouring country because it would
be difficult in a political sense for them to remain in Zagreb
after the termination of the mandate on 31st March. Mr Williams
expressed hope that Croatia will reconsider its decision, but
the final decision regarding the mandate rests with the UN
Security Council. Mr Williams said that the possibility of the
UN peacekeepers remaining in the UNPAs and not in other parts of
Croatia was absolutely out of the question, adding that the UN
Security Council resolutions and the UNPROFOR mandate clearly
recognise the sovereignty of Croatia within its internationally
acknowledged borders. Mr Williams expressed concern that the
withdrawal of UN troops from the demarcation zones will incite
confrontations between the local Serbs and the Croatian forces.
SISAK, CROATIA A refugee settlement in Pisarovina near Sisak was
formally opened today. The whole project was financed by the
Swedish Government and Christina Magnuson, the president of the
Swedish Red Cross, handed over the keys to Ruza PospisBaldani,
the president of the Croatian Red Cross. The displaced residents
of Lasinja are to now inhabit the 122 prefabricated homes.
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Since his mandate ends on 24th
January, UNPROFOR Commander for B-H General Sir Michael Rose is
to meet with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic in Sarajevo
today. An UNPROFOR representative said that General Rose is also
scheduled to meet in Pale with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan
Karadzic and Bosnian Serb forces commander General Ratko Mladic.
General Rose is to be replaced as UN commander by British
General Rupert Smith.
BIHAC, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA UNPROFOR Commander for former
Yugoslavia General Bertrand de Lapresle is to visit Bihac today
in an attempt to strengthen the cease-fire in the region.
According to UNPROFOR HQ in Sarajevo, the UN Commander is to
meet with Bosnian Army 5th Corps Commander General Atif
Dudakovic.
According to UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, cease-fire violations were
registered in the Bihac pocket yesterday. In the Velika Kladusa
area alone 436 artillery impacts were recorded yesterday morning
by the UN observers.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND The meeting between the Contact Group for
Bosnia-Herzegovina and seven member states of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference ended yesterday in Geneva.
Representatives of both contact groups will continue to
consolidate the positions of their respective countries
regarding the strengthening of the cease-fire in B-H, as well as
initiating a new round of peace negotiations.
From news.alpha.net!uwm.edu!news.moneng.mei.com!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!jobone!lynx.unm.edu!indus.unm.edu!not-for-mail Mon Jan 23 19:10:16 1995