We Do Not Want to Be Under Fire

"We are doing everything within our powers to ensure that the cease-fire in eastern Croatia is observed. We decided to send representatives to Belgrade to better establish contacts in this part of the country. Moreover, because our objectivity was questioned by senior

army officials, who claimed that, since we were spending most time in Croatia, we were supporting Croatia's position. It is true that there is nothing to monitor in Serbia, except for those cases when parts of its territory came under fire, as in Apatin, Sid and the village of Ilinci.

Our mission's aims are oversimplified and not fully understood by certain segments of Yugoslav society. In this part of the country, we hear that Germany is manipulating its position as a member of the European Community in order to attack Serbia for the third time. It is also claimed that the Germans want an outlet to the sea in the South; this is true in so far as we want to come as tourists this time."

VREME:It is interesting that you say that, being a Frenchmen yourself?

Ambassador Perin: "Since you have mentioned the French, we can discuss that. People are telling us: "You, French, are you so stupid as not to recognize that the Germans are manipulating you?". People fram all walks of life here keep saying this to us. Also, when we were commemorating the French Veteran's Day, near the New Cemetary, and while our Ambassador was laying a wreath in the company of war veterans, a man yelled: "Frenchmen, now you are like the Germans - - you are fascists!" . Like that man, many people here feel that France has betrayed Serbia. We are not necessarily siding with the Germans today, but we have become friends with them. We nurture friendly relations with other members of the EC as well, although it may have been harder for us to become friends with the Germans given the difficulties of the past. But we in the European Community have laid the past to rest. Also, within the EC, it is very important to establish good relations with Germany, a strong and well developed country. In the context of my work with the mission, I have frequent contacts with my German colleagues, which shows that cooperation is possible; that, indeed, is a fact. It was very significant and important that Presidents Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer overcame the bad memories of the past. In Yugoslavia -- especially in so far as relations between Serbs and Croats are concerned -- before any action is taken, a discussion of the past allways takes place. You manipulate and distort your past so as to suit various situations. This manipulation of history is very dangerous.

My father, for example, was imprisoned in a concentration camp in Terezin during the World War II. Only a few years after the war, he was able to speak with the Germans. I never heard him attack the Germans. My father never wanted to talk about the concentration camp. Rather he said: "Unfortunately, terrible things happened, but now it is time to lead a normal life."

I studied Serbo-Croatian because I like Yugoslavia. I was captivated by the country fifteen years ago. But now I am distressed because I am confronted by a sea of refugees on both sides, poor people on both sides. I cannot say that the Serbian refugees are in poorer situation than Croatian refugees. They are both the same.

We have had problems in Nevesinje. One member of our team was attacked there because they mistook him for a German, when in fact he is from Denmark. They were crying: "You are German, fascist, ustasha!", and were pointing a gun at him."

That is why we need to be in contact with the people of this country -- so thay would know what the goals of our mission are. They must know, that aside from objective observing, we do humanitarian work of vital interest for both sides".