Still at Point-Blank Distance

On Tuesday a large group of foreign and domestic journalists besieged the Russian Embassy building in Bosanska St. 44 in Zagreb, in vain. After waiting for 14 hours they didn't manage to learn what had taken place behind the Embassy's locked doors, and why negotiations between the Croatian authorities and the Republic of Serb Krajina representatives had been interrupted, to be continued in seven days' time. The secrecy covering the talks is best illustrated by the fact that some Croatian papers didn't even know who Dusan Rakic, the head of the Serb Krajina delegation was, and learned later that he was a former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) rear admiral.

It came out later that the main topic of the talks was a cease-fire, and that they were difficult, since neither side wished to move from its initial position. These stands are known: Croatia wants to return its jurisdiction over the UNPA zones, while the Krajina Serbs are persistent in refusing this, and seek recognition. Republic of Serb Krajina President and former Krajina Interior Minister Milan Martic made his eventual arrival in Zagreb conditional to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's presence.

After countless talks with the authorities, ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives, opposition members and participants in the talks, it is possible to reconstruct what the talks had dealt with, and what lies behind the Russian-American proposal. Croatian negotiator Slavko Degoricija who has participated in many talks with the Serbian side, told the Zagreb daily "Vjesnik" that the talks had passed in a very positive and tolerant atmosphere, and that they had concerned a cease-fire and military maps.

Degoricija claims that it is necessary to separate the forces to a distance from which they can no longer be militarily effective, which means that military activity would not depend on individual commanders. In short, the weapons would be useless because of the distance. The talks touched on the deployment of infantry, which would be such as to thwart actions. In this way an empty space would be created, and UNPROFOR units would take it over, thus allowing the people to return to settlements in the area. This is a prerequisite condition before the second phase of political talks can be embarked upon.

This last sentence spoken by Degoricija, indicates the essence of the talks. A different model would be applied in Croatia from the one used in resolving the Croatian-Muslim conflict. A top official confirmed that the first phase would see the demilitarization of the "border area" in a way similar to what was done in Sarajevo, and with Muslim and Croatian arms. This means that the conflicting sides will have to withdraw their heavy arms 20 kilometers into their territories, something that neither Krajina or Croatia, find easy to do. Head of the Krajina Serb delegation Dusan Rakic said that the situation was not the same at all "borders". Some borders are close to big towns or villages, important industrial facilities, mines or oil sources. To illustrate the point, we can take a look at Zadar and its hinterland, especially Mt. Velebit and the area around Maslenica Gorge. The withdrawal of heavy arms and infantry would mean a withdrawal from the sea. The situation with Karlovac is similar. Here the border passes through the city itself. Krajina, again, will not agree to withdraw from those areas where it is now exploiting oil. This is the reason for the break - in order that all three sides may think things over and arrive at some compromise.

Another question that immediately crops up, is why are battles being fought while negotiations are underway. The reason for this can be gleaned from Degoricija's answer, when he said that the matter concerned acts of provocation by some Serb commanders.

The secrecy concerning the clash in Lika (for more, see Shorts at the end of the Digest), confirms that it was fierce, and according to some information brought by the Croatian press, there were a great number of victims.

"We are tired of being humiliated", "There will be no talks with the butchers, or forgiveness" - are just some of the slogans which were carried by several hundred demonstrators when Knin Serbs arrived in Zagreb. The protest was organized by "Libertas", a group of citizens led by Zvonimir Separovic, a controversial figure in Croatian politics. At one time Separovic was even Tudjman's Foreign Minister. Speaking of the negotiations in the Russian Embassy, Separovic said that they were "political mud" and that they were "very dangerous for Croatia", because "Russia was interfering in Croatia's internal affairs". We are not against peace, but we do not uphold peace at any price, nor do we support Russian dictates, said Separovic, who handed in a letter of protest at the Russian Embassy.