============================================== 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.