============================================== FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 25th January 1995. ZAGREB, CROATIA A meeting of the Croatian National Security and Defence Council was held last night in Zagreb, in which members of the Council deliberated on the statements of concern and requests from the European Union and the United States that Croatia reconsiders its decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate. The Council unanimously upheld the decision, but is willing to consider international monitoring of Croatia's reintegration of the occupied areas. The statement in regards to the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia will be one of the first discussion points in today's session of the House of Representatives of the Croatian Parliament. In yesterday's session of Parliament the statement was given overall support, with Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic stating that the decision would not be reversed. UNPA SECTOR WEST, CROATIA According to UNPROFOR spokesperson for Sector West, Serbs from Croatia's occupied territories have refused to begin the de-mining of the railroad tracks and the pipeline of the Sumetlica water works which supplies the town of Pakrac. The project to repair the railroad track and the pipeline was scheduled to begin last week and is part of the economic agreement signed by the Serbs and Croatian authorities. SLAVONSKI BROD, CROATIA Serb forces in occupied parts of Bosanska Posavina last night opened fire on Slavonski Brod. According to local police, Serbs opened machine gun fire from the direction of the demolished bridge over River Sava and Brodsko Polje near Bosanski Brod. Croatian boarder police near Poloj and Zbjeg were also fired upon. No casualties were reported. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The member states of the Contact Group have not changed their stance for the resolution of the crisis in BosniaHerzegovina. Ambassador Charles Thomas, the US representative for the Contact Group, announced in Sarajevo that the member states firmly uphold the proposed peace plan for B-H. In a short statement made after a meeting with Ejup Ganic, the Vice President of the Bosnian Federation, Mr Thomas stressed that it is necessary to uphold the current cease-fire if the peace process is to continue. Mr Thomas did not respond when asked how long the Contact Group was willing to wait for the Bosnian Serbs to accept the proposed peace plan. TUZLA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The United Nations has decided to open the Tuzla airport for UNPROFOR humanitarian purposes as of 1st February. The decision follows the Bosnian Government's request of 17th of this month that UNPROFOR re-open the airport by 1st February or unconditionally evacuate the airport by 1st March. The Tuzla airport, officially opened by the UN in March 1994 to bring in humanitarian aid for the region, was immediately closed due to Serb bombing. Bosnian Serb forces are positioned only a few kilometres from the runway. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA According to HVO sources, it was relatively peaceful on the Orasje-Bosanski Samac front. Serbs opened sporadic light arms fire on the eastern section of the front. Last night Serb forces targeted defence positions to the east from the direction of Lepnica and to the west from Batkusa. GENEVA, SWITZERLAND The conclusion of yesterday's meeting in Geneva between UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and UN Special Envoys Yasushi Akashi, Thorvald Stoltenberg and Kofi Anan are expected later today. Statements are expected on the continuation of the peace talks in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the patronage of the Contact Group, the situation in Croatia in light of the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate, and the possible effects of the Croatian decision on UN forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina. =============================================== FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 26th January 1995. ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian President Franjo Tudjman yesterday received peace mediator Lord David Owen. Prior to this Lord Owen held talks with the Croatian President's Chief-of-Staff and Croatian Government negotiator with local Serbs, Mr Hrvoje Sarinic. After their meeting Mr Sarinic announced that the Adriatic pipeline running through UNPA Sector North would be opened today. The pipeline extends from the Omisalj refinery towards Sisak and then onwards to Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The statement in regards to the UNPROFOR termination will once again take front seat at discussions of today's session of the Croatian House of Representatives. The session will continue until tomorrow with various new legislations expected to be passed. A meeting to discuss some of the new initiatives proposed by the Contact Group for Bosnia-Herzegovina was held in Zagreb yesterday between Croatian Government officials Miomir Zuzul and Bosiljko Misetic and Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic. During their discussions it was concluded that the Contact Group's new initiatives were unacceptable to both the Croatian and Bosnian side. It was proposed that a trilateral meeting be organised between Croatia, the United States and the Bosnian Federation. KNIN, CROATIA According to UNPROFOR spokesperson for UNPA Sector South Alun Roberts, ongoing meetings between Croatian Government representatives and Serbs from Croatia's UNPAs are scheduled to resume tomorrow in Knin. Mr Roberts stated that the talks would focus on the opening of the railway lines from Zagreb through occupied Okucani, Slavonski Brod, Tovarnik and Mirkovac, and from Zagreb to Split via occupied Knin. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The newly appointed UNPROFOR commander for B-H General Rupert Smith arrived in Sarajevo this morning. Upon his arrival General Smith said that the main task of the peacekeepers in the coming months was the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. He stressed that the UN troops will continue working on their task of achieving a lasting peace, based on the current four month cease-fire agreement. Later today General Smith is to be received by Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Bosnian Serbs once again breached the cessation of hostilities agreement on the Orasje-Bosanski Samac front yesterday. Reports confirm sporadic firing of heavy artillery on HVO defence lines. There were no reports of casualties. Forces loyal to Fikret Abdic and Serbs from Croatia's occupied areas have again attacked the Bosnian Army defence lines from the directions of Zeljava-Bihac and from Velika Kladusa towards Pecigrad and Vrnograc. Radio Sarajevo reports that the Bosnian Army is resisting the onslaught. THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS The 16 ambassadors of the NATO Council met yesterday and called on the organisation's military leaders to modify the existing plan for the UNPROFOR withdrawal from BosniaHerzegovina. They specified that the plan is to include the withdrawal of UNPROFOR personnel from Croatia. The Council also agreed on initiating contact with Croatian authorities in order to receive permission for the use of Croatian harbours and airports with regards to the withdrawal of UNPROFOR. AVIANO, ITALY According to the Italian coastguard reports, a US F-16 fighter jet plunged into the Adriatic sea this morning. The jet, accompanied by another two jets, took off from the Aviano airbase and did not return from the mission. It is still uncertain whether the pilot ejected from the aircraft. ================================================ FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 27th January 1995. ZAGREB, CROATIA A new Croatian ministry was officially inaugurated yesterday. The Ministry of Development and Reconstruction and its new minister, Mr Jure Radic will be responsible for the development of national and strategic programmes for Croatia. The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives today officially adopted the declaration on ending the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia on March 31st. Croatian Prime Minister Nikica Valentic today at a press conference proposed five new ministers and a Deputy Culture Minister for his cabinet. Zagreb County Prefect Ivica Gazi is the new Agriculture and Forestry Minister, while Deputy Labour and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara now becomes Labour and Social Welfare Minister. Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Marina Matulovic-Dropulic now has the portfolio for Building, Housing and Environment. President of the Privatisation Fund Ivan Penic moves on to the portfolio of Privatisation Minister. The head of the Government Office for Displaced People and Refugees, Adalbert Rebic, now becomes a Minister without a portfolio, and Zagreb Attorney Miro Crnja is the new Deputy Culture Minister. The new portfolios are expected to be approved henceforth by the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and by members of parliament. The European Commissioner for Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Mrs Ema Bonino today arrived for a tour of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. To date, the European Commission has given the largest amount of humanitarian aid to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In total 1 billion 250 million US dollars of aid has been donated. SISAK, CROATIA The first quantities of oil have arrived at the Sisak terminal via the Adriatic oil pipeline. According to head expert at the Sisak terminal, Antun Bobetko, all is going according to plan. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA A three day commemoration for the defence of Sarajevo began today. Today marks the 1000th day since the tragedy of war engulfed Sarajevo. Guests are expected to arrive by UN planes from all corners of the world to pay homage to the citizens of Sarajevo for their determination and suffering. In a special statement to commemorate the day, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros- Ghali expressed his solidarity with and sympathy for the people of Sarajevo. Mr Ghali reasserted his commitment and that of the United Nations to continue in all efforts to alleviate the plight of those affected by war and to bring a peaceful settlement to the conflict. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA In a joint counter offensive, the Bosnian Army and HVO forces liberated the village of Bugar in the Bihac enclave, 20 kilometres north-east of Bihac town. ============================================ FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 30th January 1995. ZAGREB, CROATIA President Tudjman received yesterday a delegation of the Croatian International Youth Congress led by their President Pavo Gagulic. The delegation, comprised of second generation Croatians living in Europe and overseas, briefed the President on the Congress projects in Croatian communities abroad. One of the main goals is to stimulate young Croatians to return to their homeland and bring with them their knowledge and skills. The delegation welcomed the proposal to form a Ministry of Immigration and gave their support to the President's decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate. The President emphasised the importance of Croatia's demographic recovery, pointing out that the return of young people to the homeland is of high strategic significance for Croatia. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel arrives in Zagreb today and then heads for Sarajevo. Mr Kinkel announced that he is against Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic's proposal for an ultimatum for the Bosnian Serbs. The Minister rejects any talks of differences within the Contact Group, and announced that any such proposal would halt the continuing work in trying to find a peaceful agreement for Bosnia-Herzegovina. President Tudjman this morning received the Z-4 Ambassadors, Leonid Kerestedijanc of the Russian Federation, Peter Galbraith of the United States, ICFY Ambassadors Geert Ahrens and Alfredo Matacotta Cordella, joined by the French Ambassador Jean-Jacques Gaillarde representing the EU Presidency. Commenting on the Z-4 draft plan, the Croatian President said that Croatia would consider the positive elements that it contains regarding the re-establishment of Croatia's sovereignty in the whole of its territory, the return of refugees and local autonomy for the ethnic Serb minority. Talking to the Z-4 ambassadors, the Croatian President stressed Croatia's full support for a peaceful resolution based on the Croatian constitution and laws, the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions regarding Croatia's occupied territories, as well as the normalisation of Croatian-Serb relations. President Tudjman added that Croatia will not accept anything not in line with its constitution and international conventions on the rights of ethnic communities or minorities. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Cease-fire violations continue in West Bosnia. Fierce clashes between the Bosnian Army, Fikret Abdic's forces and Serbs from Croatia's occupied territories have been reported in the vicinity of Velika Kladusa overnight and yesterday. At least 1 000 impacts were reported in the area, with the hardest hit being Mala Kladusa and Velika Kladusa. According to UNPROFOR, the frontline seems to be moving to the west. UNPROFOR spokesperson Jerry Coward stated that there were some indications pointing to the possible evacuation of some 25 000 to 30 000 civilians from Velika Kladusa, most of whom had already spent some time at the refugee camps in Batnoga and Turanj. The situation in Bihac was somewhat calmer, but cease-fire violations were reported. UNPROFOR sources also reported three detonations in the Sarajevo area on Sunday although they were unable to confirm who was responsible. ================================================ FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 31st January 1995. ZAGREB, CROATIA President Tudjman yesterday received the Z-4 ambassadors. The Z-4 draft plan for Croatia was presented to the Croatian President by the French Ambassador in Zagreb Jean-Jacques Gaillarde. President Tudjman said that Croatia received the draft plan and will take it into consideration, especially the positive parts it contains. These are thought to be the establishment of Croatian sovereignty over its whole territory, the return of the displaced persons and the local self-government for the Serb ethnic community or minority. Ambassador Geert Ahrens stated on behalf of the Z-4 group of ambassadors that the Serb representatives in Knin rejected the draft plan for the reintegration of the occupied Croatian territories. Mr Ahrens added that the Serb representatives believed that their acceptance of the proposed text would at the same time represent the acceptance of negotiations on its improvement and implementation. Emma Bonino, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian and Social Affairs, speaking at a press conference at Zagreb airport yesterday, expressed her satisfaction with the results of her visit to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mrs Bonino explained the purpose of her visit was to give encouragement and support to humanitarian workers, to evaluate their effectiveness, their limitations and further possibilities in the deployment of aid. The European Commission's Office for Humanitarian Affairs has donated 330 million US dollars aid to former Yugoslavia in the past year. In addition, a further 193 million US dollars has been approved for the first six months of this year. The European Bank for Renewal and Reconstruction has approved a 10 year loan of 228,700,000 Croatian kunas for the reconstruction of the Croatian electrical network. The loan will be used to repair electricity networks in waraffected areas, stabilise financial management and to introduce institutional reforms in the energetics field. The Minister of Development and Reconstruction Jure Radic received yesterday the newly appointed head of the EU Observers in Zagreb, Albert Turot. Minister Radic informed Ambassador Turot of the views of the Croatian authorities on the indivisibility of Croatia. Mr Radic also spoke of plans for reconstruction and development of areas under Croatian control as well as those currently occupied by the Serbs. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. The two discussed the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia and the present situation in the federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the city of Mostar. Mr Kinkel also met with UN Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi and then left for Sarajevo for meetings with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic and Bosnian Federation President Kresimir Zubak. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The general alert was put into effect early yesterday evening following fierce Serb artillery attacks on the Livno region. Reports on casualties and material damage were as yet not available. Bosnian Serb forces initiated fierce attacks against HVO positions and civilian targets on the Orasje-Bosanski Samac front in the past 24 hours. No casualties were reported. The Dutch Defence Minister announced yesterday that Muslim soldiers have detained some 100 Dutch UNPROFOR troops in the south-west of the Srebrenica enclave. The Dutch UN battalion commander Lt. Colonel Karemans, who is responsible for the security of Srebrenica, is currently negotiating with the Muslims to release the UNPROFOR soldiers and thus enable them to continue their work in the area. GENEVA, SWITZERLAND The annual conference of the Commission for Human Rights will today continue its session, which began yesterday in Geneva. The conference will last six weeks with 50 fully pledged members and 90 observer nations participating, including Croatia. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic is expected to present Croatian points of view in regards to human rights, while a general resolution in regards to the abuse of human rights in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is also expected to be accepted by the Commission. WASHINGTON, USA US Vice President Al Gore yesterday meet with Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic in Washington. Mr Gore once again confirmed American support for the territorial integrity of the Bosnian state and the Contact Group peace plan. Both statesmen meanwhile expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the constant refusals of the Bosnian Serbs to accept the initiatives of the Contact Group. Mr Silajdzic sought a three month ultimatum for the Bosnian Serbs to accept the peace plan, in which case a refusal would would bring about the lifting of the arms embargo for the Bosnian Government. Talking about the Z-4 peace plan, the US State Department spokesperson Christine Shelly said that the aim of the peace plan was to re-establish Croatia's sovereignty over the whole of its territory with significant autonomy for areas with a Serb majority. Ms Shelly added that full Croatian authority would be re-established in Sectors East and West, while Sectors North and South would become self-governing regions. =================================================== 6th February, 1995 FOREIGN PRESS ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN ZAGREB, CROATIA Expert groups for mine clearance from both the Croatian and Serbian side have agreed to begin mine clearing operations along the occupied section of the Zagreb-Vinkovci railroad in UN Sector West. According to UNPROFOR spokesperson Susan Manuel, the works are to be carried out by a joint team of experts and have already commenced in the Novska and Nova Gradiska areas and are to continue for some 8 to 10 days. After this is completed other repair works are to commence and are expected to be finalised by the end of the month. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA According to the Department of Civilian Affairs in BosniaHerzegovina, the blue routes along the Sarajevo airport runway were re-opened for civilian traffic at 8.00am this morning. The Bosnian Minister Hasan Muratovi}, announced that an agreement was reached during yesterday's meeting with Bosnian Serb representatives. At least 700 vehicles utilised the newly-opened blue routes during the morning hours, while some 40 crossed over to Ilidza and Lukavica, the sections of the city under Serb control. according to reports traffic along the blue routes is flowing smoothly and both sides are fully co-operating. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The Bihac area was fiercely attacked on Sunday by the joint forces of the Bosnian Serbs, Serbs from Croatia's occupied territories and Fikret Abdic's troops. Six tank shells were fired on the town itself. The Bosnian Army defence positions remained intact. According to UNPROFOR headquarters in Sarajevo, fierce fighting has not eased in western Bosnia. Some 580 impacts were recorded near Velika Kladu{a overnight and during the day. Several shells were fired towards the eastern sections of the Ora{je and [amac front last night with small arms and anti-aircraft fire recorded overnight along HVO defence lines in the area. MUNICH, GERMANY Croatian Defence Minister, Gojko [u{ak, met in Munich yesterday with a US delegation, comprising of his American counterpart, William Perry, US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrook and the Joint Commander of the US Armed Forces John Shalikashivill. After the meeting, Mr [u{ak announced that plans had been analysed for joint and co-ordinated steps to be taken before the departure of UNPROFOR from Croatia. He expressed his satisfaction with the talks, despite the US expressing a different point of view in regards to the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate. In an interview on Croatian television last night Mr [u{ak said that the US looked upon Croatia's decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate as too early. He continued to say that it was now a question of how NATO and the US could be involved in the secure withdrawal of UNPROFOR. Meanwhile, talks in Munich continued on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Talks chaired by State Department Aide Richard Holbrook, focused on the implementation of the Washington Accord on the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Federation and the resolution of associated problems with the accord within the next two months. Present at the talks were Bosnian Federation leaders, including President Kre{imir Zubak, Vice President Ejup Gani} and Prime Minister Haris Silajdzi} and Croatian representatives, Foreign Minister Mate Grani}, Defence Minister Gojko [u{ak and ambassadors Miomir @u`ul and Ivan Ili}, as well as Contact Group members. They agreed on a nine-point plan of support for BosniaHerzegovina. The plan will attempt to solve the many key questions which have emerged during the practical implementation of the Bosnian Federation Agreement. The plan foresees the appointment of an representative arbitrator who would bring decisions in disputes in accordance with the Washington Accord and the Vienna Agreement; decisions that would bind both sides. It also foresees the establishment of a permanent commission in Sarajevo which would monitor the progress of the Bosnian Federation. ========================================== FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 8th February, 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian Defence Minister, Gojko Susak has sent a letter to UNPROFOR commander General Bertrand de Lapresle in which he calls for firmer and more co-ordinated cooperations in the realisation of the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate, especially on the field. Susak is requesting that all contacts with the defence ministry and the chiefs of staff of the Croatian army be made directly through the defence ministry's office. Susak believes that the office will be of great help to UNPROFOR in the planning and implementation of their withdrawal from Croatia. From the 1st of April Germany will begin returning Croatian refugees back to Croatia. Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic has expressed concern over this decision. Kostovic will travel to Germany on the 23rd of this month to discuss this matter with the parliamentary leaders of the three German states which are housing most of the Croatian refugees. Germany's decision however is conditional on the situation in the UNPAs improving. BIHAC, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA According to the Chairman of the Bosnian Town Council, Mr Kabiljagic, the humanitarian situation in the Bihac pocket is on the verge of a catastrophe. According to the latest statistics from Bihac hospital, 47 people have died in the last two months, most of these being children. The hospital is currently accommodating around 2,000 wounded and sick patients, with shortages of food and medicine. A UNHCR spokesperson in Sarajevo confirmed the grim situation in Bihac, adding that the town needs approximately two thousand tons of food per month. WASHINGTON, USA The US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrook has announced that the US is not prepared to continue negotiations with Bosnian Serbs unless they accept the Contact Groups peace plan. he added that Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will not be invited to the proposed highlevel meeting, as was proposed by France and supported by EU monitors. PARIS, FRANCE French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe announced in Paris that a meeting should be held between Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, Croatian President Franjo Tudman and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. France has offered to host the meeting but as yet no decison has been made as to where it will be held. ================================= FPB Bulletin 9th February, 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and his Bosnian counterpart Irfan Ljubijankic met in Zagreb yesterday. Granic stated that the meeting was a continuation of the recent Munich talks which he described as a great step towards establishing the Bosnian Federation, the implementation of the Washington Accords and the forging of firm lines between the federation and Croatia. Mr Granic described yesterday's talks as covering concrete solutions and future steps to be taken in the implementation of the accords. New rounds of talks are to be held in Zagreb next week. A delegation of the Hungarian Commission for Foreign Policy, headed by its President Matiash Ershi, met with Croatian speaker of parliament Nedjeljko Mihanovic. During talks it was concluded that political, economic and cultural relations between Croatia and Hungary are favourable and improving. The Hungarian delegation promised aid for development and official talks continued with the Croatian Lower House's commission for economics, development and renewal. Plans were also discussed on the reconstruction of the Rijeka-Budapest railway. KARLOVAC, CROATIA Representatives from UNPROFOR, UN civilian police (UNCIVPOL), the Croatian Army and Karlovac County officials yesterday paid a visit to the Karlovac suburb of Turanj in order to reach an agreement on sanitation measures for the area, where western Bosnian refugees had been accomodated for the last four months. After the return of the refugees to Velika Kladusa, houses in Turanj were left in conditions which pose a serious threat in terms of a spread of infectious diseases to other residential areas. KNIN, CROATIA In Knin local serbs have passed a decision on the cessation of all economic and political talks with Croatia until Zagreb reverses its decision to terminate the UNPROFOR manadate, or until the UN Security Council does not extend the mandate after March the 31st, stated a Belgrade news agency. MOSTAR, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA In Mostar yesterday evening, President of the Bosnian Federation, Kresimir Zubak met with UN Special Envoy Yashusi Akashi, on his official visit to the city. Both described the meeting as productive and successful. Mr Akashi earlier in the day had meetings with representatives of all three sides in the conflict and with Mostar's UN Administrator Hans Koschnik. Akashi announced that all agreed that Mostar's problems cannot be solved outside the Bosnian Federation but only within the federation framework. Speaking of his visits to Gornji Vakuf, Zenica and Vitez, Akashi explained that he had noticed improved co-operation between Croats and Muslims and stated that it was imperative to keep improving relations between the two. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA French Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Henri Zakolin in an interview for the Sarajevo newspaper Oslobodenje that the newest political initiative of the west is for Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian presidents to meet in Paris this month. Zakolin stressed that the situation on the ground is completely blocked, adding that the Contact Group received nothing from Pale and that it does not see a way out following the end of the cease-fire agreement at the end of April. The French Ambassador said that the international community requested of Milosovic that he recognise Croatia and Bosnia, which should be confirmed by the proposed meeting between the three presidents. He refused Radovan Karadzic's request to take part in the meeting. PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA Croatian Foreign Affairs Minister Mate Granic has left for an official visit to the Czech republic. Minister Granic and the Croatian delegation will hold talks with the Czech Foreign Minister Jozef Zieleniec and his coworkers. A joint press conference is scheduled after the meeting. ==================================================== FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 10th February, 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Lieutenant Volt Natincik from Zagreb UNPROFOR headquarters stated after being questioned by news reporters that the western sector of the Zagreb-Vinkovci railway is still in the process of being cleared of mines. Reporters also questioned the lieutenant concerning yesterday's meeting in Knin where the Serbs announced a possible risk of war. Lieutenant Volt Natincik had no comment on such a possibility but mentioned that on Tuesday and Wednesday in Sector South of the UNPA, HVO and Serbs from the UNPA's had opened fire on one another. At a press conference today, Croatian President Franjo Tudman stated that the Z-4 Plan is acceptable in so far as it seeks a peaceful solution within the confines of Croatia's borders. But references to federal-confederal rights for Serbs living in Croatia is completely unacceptable, stated the President. as for the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate, Tudman said that the decision was made independently and with full responsibility. The Croatian president finally expressed confidence that Croatia's allies and the international community will acknowledge the decision as correct, and will help to hasten the peace process not only for Croatia but for all of the former Yugoslavia. ZADAR, CROATIA An agreement was signed today between the Swiss government and Zadar County representatives for the renewal of homes in Crno, near the city. This is the third and final phase of repairs to 52 homes damaged in the war. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA UNPROFOR sources in Sarajevo have confirmed that Serbs are responsible for the cease-fire violations which occurred at 5.25pm yesterday afternoon in the Bosnian capital. The UNPROFOR spokesperson for the Sarajevo sector informed the Hina news agency that UNPROFOR troops have been deployed around the Jewish cemetery where the violations took place. reports confirm that eight unidentified projectiles were fired from Serb positions and exploded in the vicinity of Bosnian army positions. No information on casualties has yet been released. FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA A UNHCR convoy which left Zagreb yesterday morning has arrived in Cazin, confirmed UNHCR spokesperson Alemka Lisinski. The ten truck convoy is carrying 72 tons of food and medicines, one part going to Velika Kladusa while the majority is intended for the southern sector of the Bihac pocket. The Bihac pocket is again under attack from Bosnian Serbs and Serbs from Croatia's occupied territories. The villages of Vedro Polje and Klokot were attacked by heavy gun fire, according to UNPROFOR spokesperson Paul Risley. He also confirmed that Serbs once again attempted to take the Bihac water supply area. BELGRADE, SERBIA According to Belgrade Radio, Yugoslavian Foreign Affairs Minister Vladislav Jovanovic announced that proposed talks between the three presidents, Tudman, Izetbegovic and Milosevic, scheduled for Paris, would only come about if current sanctions imposed on rump Yugoslavia were lifted. UN spokesperson in Belgrade, Jurij Cizik has confirmed that the 60 helicopters detected in Bosnian air space last week came from Serbia. He explained that UN observers were unable to precisely identify the helicopters as Serb authorities prevented the use of radars. The flights, for which authorities in Belgrade have denied having any knowledge, have increased fears that the Bosnian Serbs are re-supplying during the cease-fire. PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC A meeting between Croatian and Czech Foreign ministry delegations began this morning in Prague. On the second day of their visit, Croatian Foreign Minister Affairs Minister Mate Granic stated that the main issues for talks will be the situation in former Yugoslavia, European integration and bilateral relations. ============================================ FPB Bulletin 20th February 1995 BELGRADE, SERBIA Belgrade would like to see the lifting of sanctions and Moscow wholeheartedly supports this move. This was concluded after two days of talks between Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic and Russian foreign minister Andrei Kozyrev, who visited Belgrade on behalf of the Contact group. Kozyrev did not hesitated to compliment Serbian leaders on their peace efforts, adding that he supported the French proposal for mutual recognition between the states which have emerged from the former Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, reports from Belgrade following the talks between Milosevic and Kozyrev confirm that Milosevic is not changing any aspects of his policy and that he does not intend to recognise Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina or any of the other ex Yugoslav states. Milosevic and Kozyrev described the lifting of international sanctions against the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" as the first and most important step toward a final solution to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. Yugoslav Foreign minister Vladislav Jovanovic announced that the Russians and Serbs agreed that sanctions were slowing down the peace process because, he claimed, peace depended on the lifting of sanctions. Jovanovic reiterated the Belgrade view that the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia involved an "illegal secession" by the former republics, adding that these republics now needed Belgrade's recognition while Belgrade had no need for their recognition. He stressed that they must however recognise Yugoslavia as a continuous state. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, FRONTLINES The situation in Western Bosnia is calmer than in the past few days. However, UNPROFOR spokesperson Jerry Coward announced yesterday that the humanitarian situation remains serious. The UNHCR received a green light from Serb authorities for two convoys to proceed toward Bihac through Licko Petrovo Selo. Also, the forces of Fikret Abdic are continuing to block passage to another humanitarian convoy headed toward Cazin. NATO NATO is analysing the best means for the possible evacuation of UN troops from Bosnia, said US Airforce high command spokesman Wolfgang Hoffman. Possible evacuation techniques are currently being simulated by computers in a US base in Germany, in which the commander of NATO forces in Europe, US General George Joulwan, US Admiral Leighton Smith and UNPROFOR commander for Bosnia and Hercegovina Gen. Rupert Smith are taking part. ===================================== 21st February 1995 SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA The representatives of UNPROFOR and the UNHCR in Sarajevo have accused forces loyal to Fikret Abdic as well as Serbian forces from the occupied sections of Croatia of deliberately stalling the deliveries of humanitarian aid to the civilians of Bihac. The UNHCR spokesman in Sarajevo Kris Janowski stated that despite being given clearances by the Knin Serbs to use the Licko Petrovo Selo route to get aid to the Bihac pocket, rebel Serbs in Croatia have re-directed the convoy to the Maljevac border crossing where it was stopped by the Abdic forces this morning. The UNPROFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Alexander Ivanko explained today's visit by UN envoy Yasushi Akashi and Gen. De Lapresle to Knin as a fresh effort to reopen the routes used for delivering aid to Bihac via the UNPA. The UNHCR is also planning to deliver a certain quantity of aid through air- drops, but the operation may run into trouble due to possible Serb anti-aircraft fire. This morning at 10:30 hrs, Lieutenant Gen. Rupert Smith Commander of UNPROFOR troops in BH accompanied by Mr. Enrique Aguilar, Civil Affairs Co-ordinator for BH met with Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic. They discussed progress with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the Central Joint Commission. According to UNPROFOR spokesman Alexander Ivanko, an expert level meeting chaired by Sector Sarajevo Civil Affairs was held this morning at the airport. They dealt with the issue of the freedom of choice concerning the place of living which was point 2 of the Protocol signed on 23 January. Mr. Ivanko added that UNPROFOR was planning a high-ranking meeting at the airport to discus a number of issues, among them the opening of the routes across the airport for the five local NGOs. UNPA SECTOR WEST UN Sector West spokesperson, Susan Manuel, speaking at a press conference yesterday, said that all repair works on the Sumletica waterworks and the section of railway running through the occupied parts of Western Slavonia have been halted, in line with the decision by the Serb authorities in Knin to stop implementing the points of the economic agreements. She added that the railway lines running through the UNPAs and through the zones of separation towards Gradiska and Novska have been cleared of mines and that the UN troops are monitoring the railway in a bid to stop any activity aimed at planting more mines. CONTACT GROUP The members of the five nation Contact Group are sticking to their proposal of a joint meeting of the presidents of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia", though the Serb president Milosevic is still rejecting such a proposal. According to official French Foreign Ministry sources, the whole initiative has not been brought into question, rather, that the preparations for such an eventual meeting have been put on hold for a few weeks. VATICAN The Bosnian Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic was received by Pope John Paul II yesterday. Quoting Italian newspapers "Avvenire", Cardinal Puljic spoke to the Pope about the problems faced by Catholics in Bosnia and Hercegovina adding that the people were not only expecting humanitarian aid, but were also looking for their human rights to be protected as well as their rights to life, work, home and personal identity to be observed. =================================================== FOREIGN PRESS BULLETIN 22nd February 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA President Tudman yesterday received the Vice-President of the European Commission, Hans Van den Broek. They discussed several of the more pressing local political issues, such as the end of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia, Croatian support for the Bosnian Federation and greater co-operation between Croatia and the European Union. Mr Van den Broek stated that the decision on a trade agreement between Croatia and the EU, as well as including Croatia in the PHARE program is still under consideration. This decision will depend on the situation in Croatia after the departure of UNPROFOR. Mr Tudman stressed that Croatia has proposed that international monitors supervise the peaceful reintegration of the occupied regions of Croatia, as well as having them placed on the international borders between Serbia, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Croatia. Head of the President's office and chief negotiator with Serbs from occupied territories, Hrvoje Sarinic met with departing UNPROFOR commander Gen. Bertrand de Lapresle and his replacement Gen. Bernard Janiver. Following the talks, Mr Sarinic stated that he had explained once again the reasons for the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate, stressing that it was most important to continue the process of normalising relations. Croatia will co-operate with Gen. Janiver while UNPROFOR are in Croatia and seek the possibility so that talks on political issues begin as soon as possible. Gen. De Lapresle expressed his satisfaction at the way in which UNPROFOR monitored the cease-fire in Croatia, as well as its support for the economic agreement. Croatian Foreign Affairs minister Mate Granic met with the American Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith. The talks revolved around the situation in occupied parts of Croatia, its decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate, as well as the possible unfolding of events in Bosnia following the Serb rejection of the last international diplomatic initiative. The common position of Croatia and America is that firm co-operation continue in order that a solution be found which would enable the continuation of talks, including peaceful reintegration and establishment of a just peace in Bosnia and the strengthening of the Bosnian Federation Prime minister Nikica Valentic yesterday received a delegation from the Iranian parliament led by Mohavedi Savoji. During the meeting, the Iranian delegates stressed that relations between Croatia and Iran were quite good in both political and economic fields. UN, NEW YORK UN ambassadors Danilo Turk from Slovenia, Mario Nobilo from Croatia and Muhamed Sacirbej from Bosnia and Hercegovina, sent a letter to the UN General Assembly and the Security Council in which they warn that the Belgrade authorities are ignoring the valid UN resolutions in which it is stated that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has ceased to exist. The three ambassadors wrote the letter in response to statements made by the rump Yugoslav representative to the UN, Dragomir Dokic who claims that the so called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is the legal successor to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in that country's former territory. Nobilo, Sacirbej and Turk refuted this statement by noting that the new so-called Yugoslavia is only one of the five equal successors to the former Yugoslavia and does not have the right to all of the property of the former state. The three ambassadors also noted that UN Security Council resolution 777 confirmed that Yugoslavia had ceased to exist and that Serbia and Montenegro had to submit a request for admittance into the UN. They also asked for the Yugoslav name plate and flag to be removed in front of the UN. WASHINGTON, USA The US administration does not agree with Serbian president Milosevic's recommendation that the economic and trade embargo be lifted as a prerequisite for talks to begin for the recognition of the international borders of Bosnia Hercegovina and Croatia, said the US State Department spokesperson Christine Shelly. She continued that Milosevic had made clear his wishful thinking so as to try and soften the sanctions, but the US would stick to what it had said last week and possibly soften sanctions only after the Belgrade regime had recognised its neighbours. Ms Shelly did not believe that Milosevic's rejection would be final, while adding that the US was still in full support of the peace proposals of the Contact group. The UN General Secretary Boutros Ghali has said that the international community should consider a new initiative after Serbian president Milosevic rejected to immediately recognise the international borders of Croatia and Bosnia. Ghali was also asked whether a decision had been made to shift the main HQ of UNPROFOR from Zagreb to Brindisi in Italy, to which he replied that a decision had not as yet been made. BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA, FRONTLINES A UNHCR humanitarian convoy which left Zagreb the day before yesterday was allowed entry this morning into the Bihac pocket and is continuing its journey to Cazin. It is expected that 99 tons of food will be distributed today in Cazin. A second UNHCR convoy that left Zagreb this morning will today move onto Kladusa from Maljevac, where it will await approval from Abdic's authorities to enter Cazin at the base of the Bangladeshi UNPROFOR battalion, said the UNHCR spokesperson Alemka Lisinski. Serb forces continue to violate the cease-fire on the Orasje-Samac frontline with light arms fire on the eastern part of the front and with anti-aircraft fire to the west. Serb snipers also opened fire along the entire front, while the movements of Serb scouts were seen last night. The movement of Serb military vehicles along the so-called corridor is sill strengthening, especially last night from the direction of Brcko-Loncari-Bosanski Samac. The regrouping of Serb forces and hardware was seen around Obudovac and Batkusa. ==================================== 23rd February 1995 BELGRADE, SERBIA German, French and British representatives of the Contact group are to meet with Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade today. They will speak with the Serbian president about their proposal on easing sanctions against Serbia in exchange for the recognition of former Yugoslav republics. JABLANICA, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Representatives of Bosnian Croats and Muslims held a meeting led by the president and the vice-president of the Bosnian Federation, Kresimir Zubak and Ejup Ganic and generals Tihomir Blaskic and Rasim Delic in Jablanica yesterday. They agreed, amongst other things, to shift the joint Bosnian Federation Army HQ to central Bosnia. Meanwhile, it was stated that the Muslim side had not kept its part of the agreement in the free movement of goods and people between the two central Bosnian towns of Vares and Kiseljak, with the Muslim representatives giving firm guarantees that this would soon be ratified. The two sides also agreed that political and military cooperation was satisfactory. TUZLA, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Bosnian Federation Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic together with his associates began a three day visit to Tuzla region yesterday . Work meetings are scheduled as part of the visit. A series of meetings are planned today with the first corps of the Bosnian Government Army, and Prime Minister Silajdzic will speak at a public meeting this evening on the establishment of the Bosnian Federation and problems related to it. ======================================== DAILY BULLETIN 24th February 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA President Tudman received US Ambassador Peter Galbraith yesterday. The top issue discussed was the situation regarding Croatia's decision to eject the UN forces, the steps to be undertaken in connection with the Contact Group's peace plan for Bosnia-Herzegovina and the possible summit in Paris. The two US diplomats were also received by the head of the President's Office Hrvoje Sarinic. SISAK, CROATIA Local Serbian authorities from the occupied town of Petrinja have ceased the negotiations on opening the waterworks in Novo Seliste near Petrinja, as well as the pipe-line from Petrinja towards Sisak. According to the head of the Regional Public Waterworks Sisak-Petrinja, the Serbs have rejected all further talks on implementing the economic agreement signed in December last year, particularly the part regarding the opening of the water supply system in the Sisak-Petrinja region. MOSTAR, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Talks between the leaders of the Bosnian Croatian Democratic Party (HDZ) and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) on the future political status of Mostar will begin on the 6th and 7th of March, stated the European Union Administration in Mostar at a press conference. Klaus Koschnik's assistant stated that these talks are of crucial importance for Mostar, adding that the EU Administration has received financial aid to the value of 1 600 000 German marks for Mostar to be distributed to both sides of the city. It is expected that 300 to 500 new jobs will be created in Mostar. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The general alert was sounded last night in Tuzla, three months after the establishment of the cease-fire agreement. Five mortar shells fell on the suburbs, but no casualties were reported. During the last 24 hours, Bosnian Serbs have constantly violated the cease-fire agreement along the Orasje-Samac front. Defence positions were attacked with light arms, machine-gun and mortar fire. Serb transport helicopters were spotted flying en route from Brcko to Bosanski Samac, while traffic along the so-called corridor in northern Bosnia was also intense. Furthermore, a large group of trucks and tankers were seen last night coming from the direction of Brcko. UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK Addressing the UN Security Council, UN peace mediator Thorvald Stoltenberg stated among other things that he was not responsible for the lack of information on repeated violations of the "no-fly zone" over Bosnia-Herzegovina and that details on the issue should be given by NATO, as it is in charge of monitoring the air-space over Bosnia-Herzegovina. ========================================== DAILY BULLETIN 28th February 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian president Franjo Tudman last night received Turkish president Sulejman Demirel who is on a working visit to Croatia. They discussed the ways of resolving the crisis in Bosnia and Croatia, as well as looking at future bilateral co-operation between Turkey and Croatia. After their meeting, in statements given to the press, the Turkish president said that Turkey wanted to actively participate in the search for a lasting peace in Bosnia and the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian occupied areas back into the Croatian state. Meanwhile president Tudman explained the importance of Croatia's decision to end the current UNPROFOR mandate, adding that UN troops would most probably be replaced by some other international force that would monitor Croatia's borders with Serbia and Bosnia. Members of the European Parliament Subcommittee for Human Rights will today end their two-day visit to Zagreb. Their task is to determine the real situation regarding human rights in Croatia. According to Croatian officials, the European parliamentarians are interested in the specifics of Croatian policy, the legal system and existing problems. French General Bernard Janier today officially accepted the duty of UNPROFOR commander for the former Yugoslavia at UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb. Former commander Gen. Bertrand De Lapresle and UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi were present at the ceremony. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA The Pakistani defence minister Aftad Shabant Merant is visiting Bosnia in order to celebrate the Islamic Holy Day of Bayram with Pakistani UNPROFOR troops. A defence ministry spokesperson in Islamabad stated that the minister will also visit Croatia and Albania during his 10 days tour. Serb forces today engaged in provocations along the Orasje and Samac fronts, especially from their strongholds in Covic Polje, Lepnica and Novo Selo. Two Serb transport helicopters again violated the no-fly ban from Brcko. There was also sporadic Serb light arms fire in the Usora area. Elsewhere, Serb forces regrouped along the Kupres front and the movement of tanks were seen last night, stated Croatian military officials in Bosnia. Serb infantry yesterday twice attempted to break defence lines on the Livno front, but Croatian Defence Council troops repelled the attacks. There were no casualties. UN military monitors have reported that it has been relatively peaceful on the Western Bosnian front during the past 24 hours but that there were more minor detonations than the previous day. A serious incident occurred at Mala Kladusa in which a UNHCR convoy came under fire. ANKARA, TURKEY Turkey has accused the UN of not providing security for Turkish president Sulejman Demirel's planned flight to Sarajevo yesterday morning which he was subsequently forced to postpone, revealed a presidential statement from Ankara. The statement goes on to say that UN officials refused to book a plane for the Turkish president's visit due to security reasons even though Demirel did not seek such guarantees. UN officials also refused to allow the president's personal plane to fly in to Sarajevo as Bosnian air space is closed to all but UNPROFOR aircraft. WASHINGTON DC, USA Although no decisions have been made to withdraw UNPROFOR from Croatia, the UN and the USA are preparing contingency plans to support the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from both Bosnia and Croatia, should it become necessary, said the US state department spokesperson Christine Shelly on Monday. She continued that the extent of NATO and US support for those operations depends partly on exactly what the UN authorities request. In regards to the possible pull out of UNPROFOR from Croatia, Ms Shelley said that the US was still trying to convince Croatian president Tudman to rethink Croatia's decision, as the consequences could mean a new war. She continued that she believed that UNPROFOR had played a positive role in Croatia as it had halted the conflict to a great extent, and eased the way for humanitarian help. VIENNA, AUSTRIA According to the British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd who attended the CSCE meeting in Vienna, the big powers have still not given up on persuading the Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic to give his support to the latest Bosnia peace-plan. The contact group representatives are to hold a fresh meeting with the Serbian leader tomorrow. ============================================== 1st March 1995 BELGRADE, SERBIA Members of the international Contact group for Bosnia will meet with Slobodan Milosevic today in Belgrade. They have no new recommendations for the crisis in the regions, but are rather visiting Milosevic to see whether he has made a final decision on the proposals that they put forward last week. ZAGREB, CROATIA The Croatian Army Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Janko Bobetko has received French Gen. Bertrand De Lapresle in a farewell visit, and has also met the new UNPROFOR commander Gen. Bernard Janvier. Gen. Bobetko stressed that the war could be averted if Croatia's borders with Serbia and Bosnia were to be effectively monitored with the help of new forces and also if the international community were to put pressure on Serbia to recognise Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina and to accept the Croatian proposal of Human Rights for the Serb minority living in Croatia. The Croatian Interior Ministry has informed the public of their success in halting the violation of UN resolution 942, which bans the selling of fuel to Bosnian Serbs. This transgression of the resolution was occurring in Lipovljani South and Lipovljani North, where the company "GT Invest" was illegally selling containers full of diesel oil to Bosnian Serbs. Two transport shipments had taken place, while Croatian police caught the offenders in the act on the third occasion. President Tudman received the Bosnian archbishop, Cardinal Vinko Puljic yesterday. They discussed the peace process and the ways of resolving the crisis in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic has received the delegation of the European Christian Democratic Union, led by European Parliament member Wim van Velzen. They discussed Croatia's decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia and the way this decision should be implemented. This delegation was also received by Cardinal Franjo Kuharic yesterday, who informed them of the relations between the representatives of the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia. The members of the Council of Europe's Parliament Subcommittee for Human Rights met yesterday with the president of Croatia's Supreme Court, Milan Vukovic and the State Attorney Marijan Hranjski. The House of Representatives' committee in charge of the constitution and the political system agreed that the draft proposal of the Z-4 plan was unacceptable to Croatia. It was stated that the plan treated a non-existent entity as an equal partner to the Croatian state and that there were demands for changes to be made to the Croatian Constitution and Croatia's whole legal system making the proposal even more unacceptable. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Serb forces opened light arms and anti aircraft fire from the direction of Batkusa and Jenjic along the Orasje - Tuzla road last night . Serb scouts were also seen along the middle section of the front. No casualties were reported. Bosnian Serbs have been continuing the offensive on the Bihac area. According to unofficial sources, five persons have been killed. Following several peaceful days, Serb forces have violated the cease-fire agreement on the Usora front. Serb forces opened anti aircraft fire on defence positions from their strongholds. As for the Livno and Kupres fronts, Serb forces frequently opened mortar, antiaircraft, artillery and light arms fire yesterday. BERLIN, GERMANY The member states of the European Union should take on a greater military responsibility for international security, in and out of the borders of Europe and independently of the NATO alliance. This was said by the British Foreign Minister Douglas Hurd while visiting Berlin, who added that if such forces had existed in 1991 they could of halted the crisis in Croatia and therefore the whole region by acting as buffer troops. WASHINGTON, USA The US is doing all it can to retain the UNPROFOR mission in Croatia, though it recognises that it may not be able to convince Croatian President Tudman and his government to change its position. This was stated by US president Bill Clinton at press conference after talks with the Dutch Prime Minister in Washington on Tuesday. Mr Clinton said that the US had not yet taken a definite stance regarding how it would help UNPROFOR's possible withdrawal, though he did state that the US would help the UN peace keepers not only in Bosnia but also in Croatia. ILLINOIS, USA By an act of the Governor of the US state of Illinois, the 4th of March has been declared Croatian American Day. Over 400 000 Americans of Croatian descent live in the state of Illinois, who have helped the development of the state and of the whole of the US. They also lobbied for peace and sent humanitarian aid to both Croatia and Bosnia.