Foreign Minister, Republic of Croatia

What he is known for: Sixth Croatian foreign minister to date. The most popular Croatian politician, according to the Zagreb weekly "Pecat". Participated in the most important official Serb-Croat negotiations: signed the Declaration to normalize Serbian-Croatian relations in Geneva, met in Zagreb with his Serbian counterpart, Vladislav Jovanovic, and former Yugoslav Assistant Prime Minister Zeljko Simic. He allegedly also met unofficially ("accidentally") with the former, mostly at airports during their travels around the world. Even though Granic's reciprocal visit to Belgrade was arranged during two rounds of negotiations in Zagreb, it still has not occurred.

Explanation (after the first round): "A visit to Belgrade is out of the question because specific conditions have not been met. Negotiations with the Serbs in the UN-protected areas must yield some results first" (May 23, 1994). At the time, the Croatian minister listed the conditions for a visit to Belgrade as: the opening of the highway (Belgrade-Zagreb "Highway of Brotherhood and Unity") and other communication links in the Krajina (Serb-held territory in Croatia) "as set forth in the Vance plan".

Explanation (after the second round): "Negotiations are senseless without the previous mutual recognition of two countries. The reopening of communication and air transport links is unacceptable to Croatia without the previous conditions being met (...) The recognition of Croatia by Belgrade is not necessary in and of itself, but because it would send a clear message to the Krajina Serbs that they must solve their problems within the context of Croatia, with the Croatian government" (November 8, 1994).

Why he is nevertheless willing to negotiate: "Croatia is ready to normalize relations with Serbia, which is of the utmost importance for peace and stability in the region."

What he denies is a part of negotiations: "There is no Croatian-Serbian agreement about territorial division, nor any trading of "war zones" or "exits to the sea".

He says the following about the Krajina problem: "We want a peaceful solution. We are given hope by the fact that not all Serbs are the same. Some are very cooperative, such as those in Western Slavonia. Only 10-15 percent of Serbs are terrorists; they hold everything in their hands". He offers the Krajina Serbs autonomy modeled upon that of the Italian region of Alto-Adige, stressing that the Italian model offers less than the amount of autonomy that Croatia is prepared to give.

Activities other than those related to Serbian-Croatian relations: Problems within the Muslim Croat Federation (eventually the confederation between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina) established in the Washington Agreement, which he sees as the foundation of "the peace process". He responds to speculation that this approach will clearly bring about the restoration of Yugoslavia with: "Croatia will not enter any kind of confederal relations that would also include the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ) under any conditions. No new Yugoslavia will ever exist - never and under no condition." It is noted that he once made the following comment about the disintegration of the Muslim-Croat alliance: "The Muslim population of Bosnia-Herzegovina is not homogeneous. There are currents that support cooperation with Croatia, but there are also those who would cooperate with Serbia. The largest number of Muslims are for cooperation with Croatia, but the number that prefer an independent Islamic state is not insignificant."

What is said about Granic: It is affirmed that he does not get involved in fractional struggles within the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). His work is technically independent, but his political moves are always in keeping with the will of Dr. Franjo Tudjman (Croatian president). He therefore bears all of the responsibility for the successes and failures of Croatian foreign policy. However, he is seen to be very familiar with political realities and the demands of the international community and therefore ready to make cautious steps more in line with the general direction that Dr. Tudjman determines.