Brutal History

The question of Croat Serb relations is one of the central questions of peace and future in this region. Croat Serb problems are nothing new. They have existed as long as these two peoples have been around, Josip Manolic said and went on, the leadership of the Republic of Croatia believed that relations between the two peoples could be solved peacefully, that Croatia did not want to remain together with the old, new or the third Yugoslavia, but that it wanted its own independent and sovereign state on the territory determined in the 1974 Constitution. We believed that this Constitution leaves some of our national interests remained outside these borders, but we were ready to solve them in accordance with international standards and interests as well as the interests of our neighbours.

We tried to adhere to these principles from the very beginning. However, the other side wanted to impose hegemony on the territory of Croatia after the first multi party elections and the fall of socialism. It wanted to preserve Yugoslavia, such as it was, at the cost of war, first with Slovenia, then with Croatia and now in this bloody conflict in Bosnia Herzegovina. That war was imposed on Croatia, we didn't want it, but we did want our own sovereign, democratic Republic of Croatia, so we accepted it. The war was brutal, more brutal than any other ever waged in this region. It will be remembered as a dark blotch in Serb Croat relations...

VREME: The ultimate consequence of this war is that Zagreb does not control 26 per cent of the territory of Croatia.

Manolic: That's correct. The ultimate consequence is that 26 per cent of the territory is occupied by the yugo army helped by the Serbian state and Serbs who live in that area. I think it is a bitter experience both for the yugo army which had undergone a total disintegration and for Serbia which can count tens of thousands of dead and wounded. Consequences of this war will be felt for a long time. In spite of everything, we ought to seek solutions which will ensure normal life of one state next to the other. It's not only us who demand this, but also our neighbours and the civilised world which does not tolerate violence and wants integration and cooperation.

VREME: After the Erdut agreement and opening of Maslenica bridge many people were convinced that things were taking a turn for the better. However, war psychosis was back with the destruction of the bridge. The authorities in Krajina insist on the implementation of the Erdut agreement.

Manolic: That is only one of the episodes which took place from the out break of war in Croatia to the Sarajevo armistice signed at the beginning of last year. There was neither peace nor war in this period. But, there were a few armed incidents. I would not like to draw any major and far reaching conclusions about Serb Croat relations from the latest events in Maslenica. That is only an episode which may, but does not have to be the last.

VREME: The Serb side keeps openly boycotting the special status offered to it by the Republic of Croatia, while Croatian media ever frequently talk about a military solution.

Manolic: From the very beginning Croatia tried to solve the question of Serbs in Croatia in a constitutional and legal way, taking into consideration European standards in solving the question of national minorities. We continue to insist that the Constitution is applied. This Constitution offers the Serbs proportional participation in decision making up to the level of executive bodies and in the composition of police and legislature in all areas where they are majority population, which is a broad autonomy, not only cultural, but one which encompasses all aspects of life. That is as far as Croatia can go in respecting national minorities and guaranteeing all civil rights to Serbs in Croatia. This is also the framework and the standard which Europe recognises. Current Serbian insistence on a separate state lacks sense and logic. It can not be recognised by the world and Europe. It is guaranteed in the U.N. Security Council Resolution 847 that Serbs in Croatia represent an integral part of the legal and territorial system of the Republic of Croatia. Only one quarter of the entire Serbian population in Croatia lives in Knin. Sooner or later, they will have to realise that they cannot represent the Serbs, since Serb representatives must represent the entire Serbian population including urban Serbs on the territory of Croatia. Urban Serbs have organized themselves in political parties, they are involved in other Serbian institutions and represented in the Parliament and other institutions. It would be normal if the representatives of Krajina were integrated in Serb Croat relations and their solving.

VREME: You are at the head of the State board for normalising of Croat Serb relations.

Manolic: The board was formed since it was realised that normalisation of relations is one of the burning problems of the current state policy. The Croatian state and Serbs living in it should benefit from it. However, there are objections that the board which rallies about fifty prominent representatives of both peoples is not efficient. All those who expected that the situation would change overnight after the board had been formed are disappointed. The board did not have a wand to solve all problems immediately. However, the board can create better and more positive atmosphere for seeking a solution.

VREME: Does this also include Croat Serb contacts?

Manolic: It does. We make contacts and create room for the talks on all possible levels. This has been done ever since the London agreement. We have recently had intense contacts in Geneva on the state level with the Republic of Serbia. We have also established another level of contacts between urban Serbs and Serbs in Krajinas, but also between some Serbian circles in Serbia and Serbs living in Croatia.

VREME: The Serb side has confirmed that Croatian negotiators go to Serbia. Could you confirm possible visits of Serbian negotiators to Croatia.

Manolic: I believe that there are reasons that these things be veiled in secrecy, but not for long. However, while the negotiations are still underway, information to the public could be manipulated with. You can always add or hold back something, which can only harm reaching of the ultimate goal of the talks and negotiations. The announcement that Josip Boljkovac, the former Croatian Interior Minister currently one of the top officials of the ruling Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ), is going to Serbia and his colleague from Serbia is coming to Croatia can only do damage to creating the atmosphere for the talks, but also to the entire process of normalising of relations.

VREME: The future Croatian ambassador has already announced that he will soon take over his office in Belgrade.

Manolic: This was agreed in Belgrade at a meeting of the representatives of the Yugoslav Government and Serbia with the representatives of the Croatian state board. It was also agreed that Croatia and Serbia exchange their offices in Belgrade and Zagreb, with a limited number of diplomats who would remain in office until another agreement regarding mutual recognition of the state borders and opening of embassies has been reached.