It Won't Happen Again

With reference to your letter of April 30th 1992, in which you presented evidence concerning the forced eviction of Ruthenians and Ukrainians from Vukovar, Petrovac and Miklosevac in the period from March 22nd to April 20th, I would like to once again confirm the views I expressed to the diplomatic representatives of the five permanent Security Council members in Belgrade, on April 29th of this year, when I stressed that we most determinedly condemn such incidents, and will undertake measures so that in the future they can be avoided. When we received your letter, we issued orders to JNA Commands and the authorities in charge to immediately examine the event which you presented, and to take measures to establish who the perpetrators of such inhuman deeds were.

After informing the Government of the Republic of the Serbian Krajina (RSK) of the contents of your letter, it asked me to convey its regret concerning the afore mentioned events. The Government of the RSK has formed a Committee which will examine all the circumstances surrounding the deportation of Ruthanians and Ukrainians from Vukovar and the surrounding territories. The Government also informed us of its readiness to offer full guarantee that similar incidents will not be repeated in future, and that steps will be taken for the return of the forcibly evicted Ruthanians and Ukrainians to their homes.

After the Presidency of the SFRJ was acquainted with the "Information of the Union of Ruthanians and Ukrainians in Yugoslavia About the Victims and Hardships in Vukovar and the Surrounding Villages During the War and Truce", of March 7th, 1992, the Presidency and the Government Committee for Cooperation with the UN, as well as the Government of the Republic of Serbia, took prompt, coordinated action in order to prevent threats and pressure on the non-Serbian population on the territory of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem. The JNA's task was to protect everyone, and to provide complete security to the local population, regardless of their nationality. The Council representatives from the region visited the villages inhabited by non-Serbs in order to contribute to a stabilization of the situation. All police units, local officials and Territorial Defense Headquarters have been informed of the new and ensuing measures to be taken to prevent pressurization with the intention of eviction.

All of these measures have had certain results, and conditions are more favorable now than they were in the middle of April. However, incidents like those pointed out by you still happen. Pressure with the aim of eviction, is the result of the ethnic war which was waged in these parts. The perpetrators of these events - illegal groups - are being pursued by the authorities. We are certain that when UNPROFOR, which will include forces from the Russian Federation, assumes responsibility for the protection of these territories, more favorable conditions will be created, and such undesirable acts will not be repeated, and the return of all displaced people will be secured.

With my respect,

Dr. Borisav Jovic,

President of the Government Committee for Cooperation with the UN.