============================================ 3rd March 1995 PARIS, FRANCE The international Contact group for Bosnia-Hercegovina has reviewed the newest peace talks held in Paris yesterday, but there have been no statements regarding their conclusions. The French Foreign Affairs Ministry refused to give any comment on the meeting. Yesterday night, a group of European Union members met with Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade. Sources from Paris noted that little progress had been made. The Contact group meeting in Paris is the beginning of strong diplomatic efforts to avoid war in the Balkans during the next two months, stated the deputy American Secretary of State Richard Halbrook. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA One person was killed and another wounded yesterday as a result of Serb sniper fire, stated Sarajevo Radio. The UNPROFOR office for public relations could not confirm the report. The ICRC has attempted to organise a prisoner exchange in Western Bosnia, but no results have been made public. According to official ICRC figures, there are over 1000 war prisoners currently in Bosnia, most of whom are being detained in Serb prison camps, while the least number of prisoners are detained in areas controlled by the Croatian Defence Council. The figures are based on areas that the Red Cross has access to, and it is presumed that the number of war prisoners (including civilians) detained by the Bosnian Serbs is much higher. A UNHCR convoy headed for Bihac, carrying 115 tons of humanitarian aid is currently in Maljevac, on the CroatianBosnian border, where it is awaiting security access to continue its journey. Fierce clashes continued yesterday near Mala Kladusa in Western Bosnia between Bosnian Army and Abdic's forces supported by Serbs from Croatia's occupied areas. OKLAJ, CROATIA The Oklaj authorities have sent a note of protest to the UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb informing them of the terrible plight of the remaining Croat population in the occupied Promina region. In the letter they have called on the UN forces stationed in the Promina area to prevent the mistreatment of elderly Croats. More than two thirds of the Croats living in the area were driven out of the Promina region in 1991 when it was occupied by the Serbs. Some 36 Croats have been killed since the UN forces were deployed in the area where Croats used to make up 84% of the population. Currently one hundred Croats live in this Serb-occupied area. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The Sarajevo airport again this morning, stated UNPROFOR spokesperson Gary Coward. UN investigations have confirmed that the shots fired into an UNPROFOR plane came from the Sarajevo suburb of Dobrinja, north of the airport which is controlled by both the Bosnian Army and Bosnian Serb forces. UNPROFOR, hence, were not able to determine who exactly fired the shots. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM Croatian ambassador to the European Union, Zoran Jasic and Croatian ambassador to the European Council in Strasbourg, Bozidar Gagro addressed the European Parliament in Brussels. They discussed the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate, minority rights and other issues regarding domestic and international Croatian relations. WASHINGTON, USA The USA has named international law expert Robert Owen as an arbitrator for the Bosnian Federation. Owen was a legal advisor for the State Department during the Carter administration and is credited with ending the American hostages crisis in Iran in 1981. Owen was appointed to his current post by State Secretary Warren Christopher at the request of Bosnian Federation President Kresimir Zubak and Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic. The US is considering sending more troops to beef up its contingent of 500 UN troops in Macedonia because of the danger of further conflicts spreading into that region from the rump Yugoslavia. The exact number of troops to be sent was not specified. KEY WEST, USA American, British, French and German defence ministers will meet today and over the weekend in Key West, Florida to discuss the tense situation on the territory of former Yugoslavia. VIENNA, AUSTRIA UN troops will be forced to leave Bosnia Hercegovina if Croatia sticks to its decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate, stated UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali at the Peacekeeping Operations Seminar held in Vienna yesterday. He added that it would be very difficult to supply the UN troops in Bosnia if the war broke out again in Croatia. MOSCOW, RUSSIA If Croatian authorities do not change their decision concerning the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia, the Russian battalion will be moved to Bosnia, said Russian Defence Minister Pavel Gracov, but he did not reveal the exact location. ========================================= FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 2nd March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatia's Defence and National Security Council held talks concerning the implementation of state policy yesterday evening. Croatia stood firm to its decision in terminating the UNPROFOR mandate on March 31st with no possibility of extension. As proof of commitment to a peaceful solution and the reintegration of the occupied areas, Croatia is willing to accept the presence of international monitors along Croatia's internationally recognised borders with Serbia and Bosnia. However, Croatia will not accept a new UN mandate nor the deployment of any forces within the infantry disengagement zone. President Tudman met with a delegation of the European Union of Christian Democrats led by Wim van Veltzen yesterday. The president spoke to the delegation concerning the possibilities for a peaceful solution for the occupied territories, on the causes of the Serbian aggression against Croatia, Croatia's elections and the referendum, and the role of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in creating a stable Croatian state. Van Veltzen told reporters that his delegation had decided to recommend admitting the HDZ to full membership in the EUCD. He also stressed that the EUCD fully supported peaceful reintegration and will take this into consideration when a final decision on full membership for the HDZ is made March 10th. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA The Bosnian parliament has proclaimed March 1st the Day of Bosnian Independence marking three years since the people of Bosnia cast their vote for independence via referendum. The presidency also emphasises that 93 UN member countries gave their support to Bosnia by formally recognising it as an independent state, and that US President Clinton once again stressed the support of the US for Bosnia's endurance and development based on freedom, democracy and pluralism. Clinton also pledged the US will help rebuild Bosnia once the war is over. Following a UN plane being hit by small arms fire as it was taking off from the Sarajevo airport, all UNPROFOR and UNHCR flights from the city have been cancelled until further notice. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA UNPROFOR spokesperson in Sarajevo reported yesterday that Abdic's forces have launched a heavy infantry attack on Bosnian Army positions south of Velika Kladusa. Abdic's troops were supported by heavy artillery fire by the Serb forces from Croatia, and UN monitors registered over one thousand detonations in the area. There is no information as to any movements of the front line. Renewed fighting is also reported between the Bosnian Army and Serb forces around the Grabez plateau. Relative peace has also been disturbed by the Bosnian Serbs on Usora front and the Stolac area. Mortar, anti aircraft and small arms fire was reported in the Livno-Kupres region as well. HVO sources revealed that Serb forces are being regrouped and brought into the area from Sipovo and Grahovo. Heavy artillery fire from the direction of Covic Polje, Lepnice and Krepsic was reported on Orasje-Samac front lines. According to the ICRC information department, the most vulnerable inhabitants of Bihac will receive a daily hot meal through a public kitchen programme recently taken over by the ICRC. The programme, which will be implemented by the local Red Cross, ensures that 3 000 beneficiaries, mainly displaced and social cases, will receive half a loaf of bread and a nutritious meal using food provided by the ICRC. BELGRADE, SERBIA At the meeting of Contact group members with Slobodan Milosevic, held yesterday, Milosevic rejected the newest proposal of the Contact group calling for the mutual recognition of all former Yugoslav republics. Milosevic said that in order for this to happen the sanctions imposed against Belgrade must be lifted. He has also expressed the wish to continue the talks on Bosnia based on the solutions put forward by the Contact group plan. PARIS, FRANCE French Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppe stated that Milosevic had announced his own counterproposal concerning the international peace plan for Bosnia and Hercegovina. Today in Paris, members of the Contact group will meet and discuss this issue which has been proposed by the Serbian president. GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Co-chairs of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, Lord David Owen and Thorwald Stoltenberg released a statement in Geneva yesterday which assessed that the economic agreement signed with the Croatian Serbs from the UNPAs three months ago has shown significant results so far. They predict that if the agreement were to be fully implemented, it would improve the standard of living, stimulate economic growth and clear the way toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis. =========================================== DATE=3/3/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-174965 TITLE=YUGO SITREP (L) BYLINE=WAYNE COREY DATELINE=VIENNA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS GHALI HAS PLEADED WITH U-N MEMBERS TO ENABLE THE WORLD BODY TO CONTINUE THE PEACE-KEEPING CONTINGENT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. HIS APPEAL FOLLOWS INCREASING TALK OF NEW MILITARY OFFENSIVES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND THE APPROACHING END OF THE U-N PEACE-KEEPING MANDATE IN CROATIA. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM OUR CENTRAL EUROPEAN BUREAU IN VIENNA. TEXT: THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL ENDED A VISIT TO THE U-N OFFICE HERE BY SAYING THE CRISIS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPERS HAVE TO WITHDRAW FROM BOSNIA AND CROATIA. THE U-N PEACE-KEEPING MANDATE IN CROATIA EXPIRES AT THE END OF MARCH. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY DOUBT THAT PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS COULD CONTINUE IN NEIGHBORING BOSNIA ONCE THE OPERATIONS IN CROATIA ARE SHUT DOWN. MR. BOUTROS GHALI SAYS U-N FORCES MUST REMAIN IN BOTH COUNTRIES. HE SAYS IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND FOR EUROPE IF THE PEACE-KEEPERS ARE FORCED TO WITHDRAW. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HE IS BEGGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO WHATEVER MUST BE DONE TO MAINTAIN THE U-N MILITARY PRESENCE IN BOSNIA AND CROATIA OR TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE OF ANOTHER KIND. A SENIOR AMERICAN DIPLOMAT, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WILL HOLD WHAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE INTENSE TALKS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN IN ZAGREB NEXT WEEK. IT COULD BE A FINAL AMERICAN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO PERSUADE MR. TUDJMAN TO REVERSE HIS DECISION TO EXPEL U-N PEACE-KEEPERS FROM CROATIA. MR. TUDJMAN SAYS HE WANTS NO NEW WAR WITH THE REBEL CROATIAN SERBS. BUT, HIS DEFENSE MINISTER HAS SAID A BRIEF AND LIMITED ARMY ATTACK AGAINST THE SERBS MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO UNITE CROATIA UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL. THERE IS ALSO GROWING TALK OF A MAJOR ESCALATION OF FIGHTING IN BOSNIA NOW THAT WINTER SNOW HAS MELTED AND MILD WEATHER APPROACHES. A SARAJEVO NEWSPAPER (LJILJAN) SAYS THE TIME FOR THE FIRST GREAT SPRING OFFENSIVES DRAWS NEAR. BOSNIAN ARMY COMMANDERS SAY THEY AND THEIR INCREASINGLY WELL-EQUIPPED SOLDIERS ARE READY AS SOON AS THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES ON ACTION. MEANWHILE, THE SARAJEVO AIRLIFT HAS RESUMED AFTER A ONE-DAY SUSPENSION BECAUSE OF THREATS TO RELIEF FLIGHTS, BUT, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW SNIPING ATTACKS IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. THE BOSNIAN OR CROATIAN SERBS HAVE ALSO FIRED TANK SHELLS INTO THE TOWN OF BIHAC, AND THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE IN AND AROUND MUSLIM ENCLAVES IN EASTERN BOSNIA. BIHAC TOWN AND THE EASTERN ENCLAVES ARE ALL U-N / DECLARED SAFE AREAS. BUT, THEY ARE LIKELY TO FIGURE PROMINENTLY IN THE RENEWED FIGHTING CONSIDERABLE INEVITABLE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (SIGNED) NEB/WC/MH/CF 03-Mar-95 9:40 AM EST (1440 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ========================================= 6th March 1995 SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA The Serbian blockade of humanitarian convoys in Bosnia is a violation of all international war and humanitarian rights, stated UN Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi in a letter addressed to Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. UNPROFOR HQ in Sarajevo stated that Mr Akashi had added that such behaviour may be the object of discussion for the Hague Conference on War Crimes. UNPROFOR Commander in Bosnia Gen. Rupert Smith has not succeeded in convincing Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic to lift the ban on convoys headed for eastern Bosnia. According to AP, one person was wounded yesterday in Sarajevo in the fourth straight day of sniper fire. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA In north-east Bosnia, trucks have brought badly needed supplies to Dutch peacekeepers deployed in the UN "safe zone" of Srebrenica. The convoy with 30 tons of supplies is the first since February 12. The Serbs, however, have refused passage to a medical convoy also bound for Srebrenica. On the Orasje-Samac front, Serb forces opened light arms fire towards HVO positions yesterday. KEY WEST, USA American, French, British and German defence ministers have ended their talks behind closed doors. Different issues were discussed, including the role of NATO in the evacuation of the UN peace keepers from the area of former Yugoslavia. In a brief statement following the three-day meeting, the US Defence Secretary, William Perry said that no decisions had been reached, but that the debate had focused on NATO as the backbone of European security. BONN, GERMANY The German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel has called on Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic to recognise Croatia and Bosnia and also to accept an invitation to take part in the meeting with their respective presidents in a bid to avert a new conflict. Kinkel said that the readiness of the Serbian president to recognise Croatia and Bosnia would make it possible for a top-level meeting between the three presidents to take place. ================================================== FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN 7th March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Yesterday evening, a Croatian delegation led by President Tudman held talks with the delegation of the Bosnian Federation led by president Kresimir Zubak in regards to the realisation of the Washington Accords, and the joint cooperation between the Croatian and the Bosnian Army. General Janko Bobetko, Croatian Army Chief of Staff, was named the commander of the joint headquarters of the Croatian Army and the Armed Forces of the Bosnian Federation, while the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Commander, Gen. Tihomir Blaskic, and Bosnian Army General Rasim Delic were made members of the inner circle of the command team. After the meeting, President Tudman announced that a general agreement for the realisation of the Washington Accords had been brought, and that the formation of joint headquarters of the Croatian Army and the Armed Forces of the Bosnian Federation was a natural step for two countries who were heading towards a confederation. He added that the joint military alliance had not been formed against a third party. The president of the Bosnian Federation, Kresimir Zubak hailed the joint military headquarters as very important for the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Bosnia and Croatia. He added that if the crisis was not solved in a peaceful manner then a joint co-ordinated military action could successfully resist attacks from Serb forces. Gen. Janko Bobetko said that the move was aimed at the implementation of the Washington Accords and the full establishment of the Bosnian Federation and its confederation with Croatia. Another goal was the protection of the territorial integrity of the Federation and the ensuring of the right circumstances for the return of refugees to their homes. President Tudman met with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke yesterday. The meeting focused on finding solutions for peace following the end of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia. According to diplomatic sources, Mr Holbrooke's visit was an attempt to persuade Croatia to revoke its rejection of the UNPROFOR mandate. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the President's Office stated that Messrs Tudman and Holbrooke had discussed possible developments after the departure of the peacekeepers. President Tudman received the head of the Croatian Association of Refugees and Displaced Persons, Mato Simic today. Speaking to journalists following the meeting, Mr Simic said that the Association fully supported Croatia's decision to suspend the UNPROFOR mandate adding that they had also discussed the daily problems faced by the refugees. Mayors and local leaders of towns and counties in Croatia's occupied areas have forwarded an appeal to the congresses of local and regional authorities in Europe for help in the peaceful reintegration of the occupied regions into Croatia's legal and political system, the return of displaced persons, the reconstruction and development of war torn areas as well as assistance in admitting Croatia into the process of European integration. Representatives of the INA Data Centre Info have submitted a report entitled Vukovar Reconstruction Project to the President of the Croatian High Court and Chair of the Croatian War Crimes Task Force Milan Vukovic. The data gathered for the project will serve in investigating war crimes committed against the people of Vukovar, their cultural heritage and environment at the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague. The information was gathered on the basis of eyewitness testimonies, photo and video material, and other sources which testify to the destruction and devastation of the town of Vukovar. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA On the Orasje-Samac frontline, Serb forces opened light infantry and antiaircraft gun fire yesterday. Traffic was reported along the corridor route in the area last night, namely a group of vehicles and trucks were seen driving from the direction of Brcko. According to the UNPROFOR HQ in Sarajevo, the separation lines between the Bosnian Army and Abdic's forces have been moved. Due to fierce fighting, the Bosnian Army 5th Corps has managed to retake territory previously lost to Abdic's forces in the Velika Kladusa and Mala Kladusa areas. Meanwhile, UN monitors have said that the action was successful but that the actual situation on the ground was as yet not completely clear, since Abdic's forces were barring the UNMO's from entering the battlefront. Two civilians were wounded in Bihac yesterday. All other west Bosnian fronts have been relatively quiet. BELGRADE, SERBIA The co-chairmen of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia, Lord Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg once again met with Serbian president Milosevic yesterday. Commenting on the situation, the British diplomat said that Milosevic had been offered the scrapping of sanctions against Yugoslavia if he were to recognise Croatia and Bosnia. Meanwhile, the representatives of the five superpowers are to meet in Paris tomorrow, where they will try to work out a way to avert a possible fresh conflict in the area of the former Yugoslavia. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM The EU foreign ministers have formally given the mandate to the European Commission to start negotiations on the reaching of an agreement on co-operation with Croatia, but this will not commence before the issue of the suspension of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia is dealt with. The ministers are to hold the next meeting on the issue on April 10. BONN, GERMANY Germany has decided to postpone for a further three months the beginning of the return of the 20 000 Croatian refugees from Croatia's occupied territories, said German Interior Minister Manfred Kanther, adding that this return had been planned for the first three months of this year. The decision was brought during the meeting of the interior ministers of the German federal states with Manfred Kanther. =========================================== 8th March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Hrvoje Sarinic, head of the President's Office, received the co-chairmen of the International Peace Conference on the former Yugoslavia, David Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg yesterday. They discussed the further implementation of the Economic Agreement, particularly the opening of railroad traffic and water supplies. They also talked about the possibility of having international representatives present for the withdrawal of the UNPROFOR. Following the talks, Lord Owen said that President Tudman and the Croatian government had the legal right to request changes to be introduced to the work of the international community in Croatia and that the international community and the UN could meet Croatia's demands. Lord Owen expressed the hope that some progress in the negotiations on the implementation of the Economic Agreement between Croatian authorities and the Serbs from the occupied territories would be made in the near future. He added that the Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic was still refusing to recognise Croatia and Bosnia, but that he was fully aware that this move played a crucial role in the search for a peaceful solution. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary General for the former Yugoslavia, Michael Williams stated at yesterday's UNPROFOR press conference that UNPROFOR was deeply concerned with the military agreement signed between the representatives of Croatia and Bosnia and Hercegovina as well as with the merging of the Bosnian Serb and Croatian Serb forces. What was most worrying, according to Mr Williams, was that UNPROFOR would no longer control the warehouses in occupied territories in which the weapons of the Knin Serbs had been stored. Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic addressed the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy on Croatia's international position and Croatian-European Union relations. Minister Granic stressed that Croatia had thwarted off great pressure, adding that such pressure was the result of international concern about the escalation of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Croatia sought the peaceful reintegration of the occupied areas, was prepared to talk with the Knin Serbs and was also prepared to talk with Belgrade on mutual recognition, said Mr Granic. Croatia has also accepted the proposed meeting in Paris, in contrast to Milosevic. The Croatian Foreign Minister went on to say that the decision to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate was final. He concluded that a common language must be sought between Croatia and the international community as a model for international monitoring that would be acceptable to Croatia. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA According to the UNPROFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Herve Gourmelon, Sarajevo airport was temporarily closed yesterday because a UN plane was fired upon. Serb forces entrenched on Spicasta Stijena, a hill just north of Sarajevo, fired on an Egyptian armoured vehicle which was carrying wounded civilians. The Egyptian soldiers fired back with machine guns. The UN spokesman, Alexander Ivanko stated that because of the frequency of Serb attacks in the last few days, which caused the death of one man and the wounding of two civilians, the UNPROFOR had reason to suspect that these were organised attacks rather than isolated incidents. He also confirmed that Bosnian Serb commander, Ratko Mladic has requested that UN troops be withdrawn from Eastern Bosnian enclaves and Sarajevo as well, if they should be withdrawn from Croatia. UN representatives added that UN humanitarian aid convoys had not yet been given firm guarantees for their safe passage to eastern Bosnia and Srebrenica and as further pressure, five members of the humanitarian organisation Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres (Pharmacists without Borders) had been captured while attempting to enter Sarajevo. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA According to the UNPROFOR HQ in Sarajevo, Serb forces opened mortar fire on Tuzla airport on Monday just as two UN helicopters landed. The helicopters took off almost immediately and returned to Split without unloading the majority of their cargo, consisting of medical supplies. According to a UN spokesman, the international team that is monitoring Serbia's blockade of the Bosnian Serbs may be dissolved in the next several weeks because of a shortage of funds amounting to 2 million dollars. This shortage of funds will also be a topic of a discussion at this Friday's meeting of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. The monitoring mission, which employs 189 people stationed at 21 border crossings, is under the supervision of Messrs Owen and Stoltenberg, who represent the European Union and the United Nations. According to the last report of this monitoring mission, it is believed that the so called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is upholding its embargo on the Bosnian Serbs. According to the UNPROFOR HQ in Sarajevo, UN forces are continuing to distribute food aid from their warehouses in western Bosnia. Despite the fact that 14 tons of aid were distributed to the population the day before yesterday, the humanitarian situation is further deteriorating with no signs of a fresh aid convoy setting off for the area. WASHINGTON, USA The American administration believes that progress has been made in talks between deputy Secretary of State Richard Holbrook and Croatian President Franjo Tudman in Zagreb. State Department spokesperson Christine Shelly stated that progress has been made on issues that are important for all sides, adding that the results will be considered together with European allies and UN Security Council members. US President, Bill Clinton met with NATO Secretary General, Willy Claes yesterday in order to discuss the NATO plans in case of the withdrawal of UN troops from Bosnia. The White House spokesman stated that NATO was still working on the plans for the withdrawal of the UN troops from Croatia, but the plans had as yet not been proposed to the USA. BONN, GERMANY The German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel has announced that the leaders of the Bosnian Federation are to meet in Bonn where they are to work out the problems that are hindering the full establishment of the Federation. Mr Kinkel stressed that the co-operation between the Croats and the Muslims in Bosnia was of the utmost importance for a lasting peace in this part of the world. ============================================== 9th March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA In a telephone conversation between Croatian President Tudman and the US Secretary of State, Warren Christopher it was stated that some progress had been made regarding the narrowing of the differences in the views of the international community concerning the ensuring of the continuation of the peace process in the occupied sections of Croatia after the departure of UNPROFOR. Meanwhile, following the talks with the government and President Clinton's Envoy Richard Holbrooke. Mr. Tudman met with the US Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith yesterday. Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic received the ICRC chief delegate for Western and Central Europe and the Balkans, Angelo Gnaedinger yesterday. Mr. Granic acknowledged the ICRC for their efforts in locating missing persons and requested that ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga take an active part in that process. Messrs. Granic and Gnaedinger also discussed the situation in the Croatian occupied areas in the wake of the decision to terminate the UN mandate. They both stressed the need for resuming talks in the peaceful reintegration of the occupied areas back into Croatia's constitutional and legal system. The UNHCR has decided to halt all the deliveries of humanitarian aid to Croatia's UNPAs until further notice. This has been decided due to the systematic hindering of aid deliveries to the civilian population in western Bosnia by Knin and Abdic authorities . KNIN, CROATIA The self proclaimed Knin parliament voted yesterday against holding a vote of no confidence against its Prime Minister Borislav Mikelic, as demanded by the President Milan Martic. Pressure has come to bear on the Serbs from the occupied Croatian territories after Croatian President Franjo Tudman terminated the current UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia, which has continued and encouraged the formation of a separate Serb entity on Croatian state territory. Some analysists see Martic's real objection to Mikelic as being his advocacy of talks with the legitimate Croatian government to prevent further escalation of the war and his lack of enthusiasm for making common cause with the globally ostracised Bosnian Serbs. This turn of events may mean that Mikelic will be gradually marginalised or eventually even ousted. MOSTAR, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Commander, Gen. Tihomir Blaskic, met yesterday with the UNPROFOR Commander in Bosnia, Gen. Rupert Smith. They discussed the current situation on the Bosnian fronts and the formation of a joint command of the Croatian Army, the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and the Bosnian Army. The generals also talked about the four months' truce in Bosnia which has been violated by Bosnian Serbs. The EU Administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik and the UNPROFOR Commander in Bosnia, Gen. Rupert Smith have held talks on the political and military situation in Bosnia Hercegovina. As of tomorrow, a new bridge, built in the place of the old bridge linking the two sections of the city, is to be opened. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Serb forces together with Abdic's units have been holding an aid convoy which left for Bihac late last month. Aid workers in the town reported that their warehouses were empty and that hunger has now become a serious threat. Heavy fighting is continuing in the Velika Kladusa area with Abdic's units and Serb forces from the occupied areas of Croatia launching heavy infantry attacks on Bosnian Army positions. UN sources in Sarajevo stated that there was no evidence of any significant shifting of the front lines. On Orasje-Samac frontlines, Serb forces are continuing with provocations. Yesterday afternoon, several Serbian helicopters were reported flying on the Brcko-Obudovac route. MUNICH, GERMANY The Bavarian Internal Affairs Minister, Gunther Beckstein stated yesterday that there was no chance of prolonging the return of Croatian refugees that are to leave German soil in mid April. He continued that a maximum three months extension might be allowed after that date under the conditions that the refugee had living quarters and was finally self sufficient. In regards to Bosnian Croat refugees, they would not be returned to their homes until the end of October, said Beckstein. ========================================= 10th March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Violations of the Zagreb agreement have been on the increase, revealed an UNPROFOR spokesperson in Zagreb at a press conference yesterday. Serb military drills which included 13 tanks and several armoured vehicles from the UN depot were reported in Sector East. Meanwhile, the Croatian Army and Serbian paramilitary units in Sector West have entered the disengagement zone and have taken positions held prior to the Zagreb agreement. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Muslim forces in Bihac have captured Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Commander for the Bihac region, Gen. Vlado Santic, stated Croatian Military officials in Bosnia. Bosnian Federation Armed Forces Commander Gen. Ante Roso has informed the Commander of the Bosnian Army 5th corps Atif Dudakovic of the event, Gen. Dudakovic claims, however, that he knows nothing about the incident. Serb forces last night opened light arms, anti-aircraft and mortar fire on the Orasje-Samac front. WASHINGTON, USA In a written statement to the Congress House Committee for International Affairs, the US assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrooke has called upon the US Congress to support the Croatian Bosnian Federation, adding that US support was crucial in stopping the Serbs from attaining their goals. He stressed that the Contact Group peace plan should be the basis for solving the Bosnian crisis and that the territorial integrity of Bosnia must be respected. Mr Holbrooke stated that UNPROFOR might remain in Croatia with a new mandate which would not maintain the status quo in the Croatian occupied areas as had been considered unacceptable by Croatia. He explained that negotiations were in progress, so at this time the only option was to change the UNPROFOR mandate in order to satisfy the interests of Croatians and Serbs, but only in accordance with Security Council resolutions. He continued that through the talks he had held with Croatian President Tudman he had come to understand that Croatian complaints concerning the UN mandate were legitimate, especially in regards to the fact that the Serbs from occupied Croatian territories had conducted a genocide policy against the Croats in the areas under their control, while UN forces merely looked on. Mr. Holbrooke added that the USA and its allies could not calmly sit and watch the situation deteriorate into all out war. According to the assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrooke, the celebration marking the first anniversary of the signing of the Washington Accords are to be held on March 16th. The leaders of the Bosnian Federation, as well as Croatian President Tudman and the President of the Bosnian Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic are to attend the event chaired by US Secretary of State, Warren Christopher. Croatia now has permanent observer status at the Organisation of American States, the oldest international regional organisation in the western hemisphere. The organisation of 35 member countries focuses on the strengthening of regional political, economic and cultural ties between the states from the two American continents. Another 30 countries, including most European countries, also have permanent observer status in the organisation. BONN, GERMANY Bosnian Croats and Muslims have decided to unite their police forces, government and eventually their arms, stated Associated Press. A signed agreement has confirmed when the Federation will begin to function, while some points still remain to be accepted by legal Croatian bodies in Bosnia. The Federation's implementation depends on the good will of both sides. The agreement was signed this morning after 10 hours of talks. Federation President Kresimir Zubak and Vice President Ejup Ganic have confirmed the Federation's government will assume its duties on April 15th. KANSAS, USA US Defence Secretary, William Perry expressed pessimism regarding the possibility of a quick political ending to the war in Bosnia. At the same time he rejected the possibility of US air strikes on Bosnian Serbs, as well as lifting the arms embargo on Bosnian forces. Mr. Perry added that US engagement in Bosnia would require sending more than 200 000 soldiers, and this could result with ten of thousands killed US soldiers. ==================================================== FOREIGN PRESS BULLETIN ZAGREB 13th March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA Following his return from Copenhagen last night, President Franjo Tudman stated that by agreeing to the Copenhagen Agreement Croatia had managed to secure the highest possible protection of its national and state interests. President Tudman added that the agreement was aimed at the Croatian government policy towards its current goal, namely that international observers monitor its borders with Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia Hercegovina. He went on to say that no more Croatian lives would have to be sacrificed in order for Croatia to have access to its borders. Mr. Tudman also said that the forces monitoring the borders would be a part of the United Nations, but they would have a special agreement with Croatia, as well as a separate command and would consist of forces in accordance with Croatia's wishes. President Tudman added that Croatia had not changed its mind concerning the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate but that no deadline had been set for the reaching of a new agreement. This, however, as it was stated in Copenhagen, would be done as soon as possible. Mr T udman also expressed the hope that this would come about by the end of June, when in accordance with Croatia's decision, UNPROFOR would withdraw from Croatia. President Tudman stressed that he was convinced the UN would agree to such an arrangement as not only the US but also the EU representatives and Russia had taken part in the hammering out of a new deal and added that the Serbs from the occupied Croatian territories did not need to give their approval since their so called state was not an internationally recognised one, and thus not an equal partner. Mr. Tudman pointed out that this fresh agreement was aimed at strengthening Croatia's political and economic ties with the international community. When asked about how the local Serbs would agree to the news, president Tudman replied that he expected that most of the Croatian Serbs would be instructed by Belgrade that the best possible solution was a peaceful re-integration into Croatia's constitutional and legal system. President Tudman said that as a part of the negotiations, the railway lines via Okucani were to be re-opened in the next few days, while the reopening of the Zagreb-Split lines passing through Knin was still being discussed. The British Foreign Minister, Douglas Hurd, was very pleased with Croatia's decision to allow UNPROFOR to remain in Croatia after the mandate expiry date, March 31st. German Foreign Affairs Minister, Klaus Kinkel stated that Croatia's decision to retain UNPROFOR under a new mandate on its territory was a decisive contribution to stability in the entire region. Mr. Kinkel also stated that Russia should now utilise its influence on the Serbs in order that Croatia and Bosnia Hercegovina be recognised in their international borders. Croatian President, Franjo Tudman received Indonesian President Suharto this morning. They discussed the current situation in Croatia and Bosnia Hercegovina and co-operation between the two countries. This visit is very important Indonesia heads the Non-aligned Movement and is one of the most influential countries of the Islamic Conference. The Indonesian President is expected to pay a brief visit to Sarajevo this afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, President Suharto held meetings with Croatian high officials with ways of improving political, economic and cultural ties on the agenda. The work on improving economic ties has already started with the two major companies, INA and Pertamina signing a letter of intent. As a part of the visit of the Indonesian delegation, the Croatian Army Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Janko Bobetko met with his Indonesian counterpart. Their talks focused on the prospects of military cooperation between Croatia and Indonesia. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA The B-H Presidential Council and the Ministry of Defence have been informed that the Croatian Defence Council commander in the Bihac region, Gen. Vlado Santic, who was taken hostage on March 9th by members of the Bosnian Army, was most likely killed. In a telephone conversation between Bosnian Federation President, Kresimir Zubak and Bosnian Army Commander, Rasim Delic it was confirmed that measures were to be taken in order to investigate the incident and punish the perpetrators. So far, the persons responsible for Gen. Santic's capturing have been arrested. According to Croatian Defence Council (HVO) sources, Serb provocations were reported on the Orasje-Samac and Usora front lines last night. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA UN representatives in Sarajevo believe that Bosnian Serbs were responsible for the shot fired at the plane carrying UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi yesterday. In the plane that landed in Sarajevo were UNPROFOR commander Gen. Bernard Janvier and UNPROFOR commander for B-H, Gen. Rupert Smith. No one was wounded in the incident. After the meeting with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi said that he regretted the situation in Bosnia. He also stated that he was disappointed because of the lack of communication concerning the cease fire, especially since Bosnian authorities had stated that they would not accept the prolongation of the cease fire. Mr. Akashi confirmed that he would meet with Bosnian Federation members tomorrow, and he would also visit Pale. UNPROFOR has confirmed that Bosnian Serbs have closed the only road that leads out of Sarajevo after snipers killed two girls in Grbavica, a Sarajevo suburb under Serb control. The UN humanitarian agencies' request for air support in delivering humanitarian aid has been rejected. Namely, UN officials believe an action like this could intensify battles. This decision was accepted by the members of the Council for Humanitarian Operations and by UNPROFOR. ======================================== 14th March 1995 GOSPIC, CROATIA Serb snipers fired upon Croatian Army defence positions near Bilaj in the Gospic region, in which one Croatian soldier was wounded. The incident occurred not far from an UNPROFOR checkpoint, and what is more, an UN officer from the Jordanian battalion was at the spot. By this incident Serb forces have violated the cease fire agreement. The Croatian Army Command for the Gospic region has sent a letter of protest to UNPROFOR. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA According to the UNPROFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Pierre Chavancy, the plane that Indonesian President Suharto was going to travel in to Sarajevo was fired upon at the Sarajevo airport, but was not hit. Mr. Suharto visited Sarajevo yesterday, where he was met by the UN special envoy, Yasushi Akashi and UNPROFOR Commander for the former Yugoslavia, Gen. Bernard Janvier. During his four hour visit to Sarajevo, Mr. Suharto met with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic. According to a report by the UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi, eight French UN soldiers were killed in a car crash that occurred not far from Sarajevo today. The incident occurred when a UN military vehicle overturned as it was travelling along the road on Mt Igman, to the south of Sarajevo. The UN has announced that the five countries which participate in the Sarajevo airlift have decided to cut aid flights until Wednesday. The decision was brought by military officials from Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany and the US due to concern over Saturday's attack on a Red Cross plane at Sarajevo airport. MOSTAR, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Bosnian Croat authorities have strongly condemned the kidnapping of Croatian Defence Council (HVO) commander for the Bihac area, Gen. Vlado Santic. Also condemned was the lack of action by the B-H Government Army and other Bosnian legal bodies since nothing is yet known about the fate of Gen. Santic, a high ranking HVO officer and organiser of the defence in the Bihac region. NATO HQ, BRUSSELS NATO and its partners from central and eastern Europe welcomed with relief the Zagreb decision allowing UNPROFOR troops to remain in Croatia, reports France Presse citing diplomatic sources from NATO HQ in Brussels. One diplomat said that the entire world received the decision allowing UNPROFOR to remain in Croatia positively. WASHINGTON, USA A certain number of American soldiers would be deployed in Croatia as part of smaller NATO contingent in order to assist in the plan for decreasing the UN Protection Force in Croatia, stated American Defence Secretary, William Perry. Mr. Perry did not elaborate on how many American or NATO troops would be sent to Croatia, but he stated that it was related to American and NATO action for a possible emergency UNPROFOR pullout in Bosnia. American Secretary of State, Warren Christopher will not travel to Paris this week in order to attempt to organise a meeting of the leaders of the former Yugoslavia, as it was stated by the French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe last Sunday. The State Department spokesperson, Christine Shelly said that Mr Christopher was not planning to travel to Paris, and would be going directly back to Washington following his trip to the Middle East. =========================================== 15th March 1995 ZAGREB, CROATIA The Croatian President's Defence and Security Council met in Zagreb yesterday to discuss a proposal for United Nations Security Council agreement on international forces after the current UNPROFOR mandate ends. A Croatian delegation of high state officials, led by president Tudman, departed for Washington today to mark the 1st anniversary of the establishment of the Bosnian Federation and the Croatian-Bosnian Confederation. Bosnian Federation President and Vice President, Kresimir Zubak and Ejup Ganic will also be attending tomorrow's ceremonies, as well as Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic. UNPA, CROATIA Serbs from Okucani do not support the deployment of international forces on the Croatian-Bosnian border. Following the decision to change the mandate for international forces, UNPROFOR spokesperson for Sector West, Susan Manuel stressed that talks on further implementation of the economic agreement was expected. OSIJEK, CROATIA The Commander of the Croatian Army's Osijek military district, General-Major Duro Decak sent a letter to the UNPROFOR commander for Sector East, Gen. Alexander Pereljakin. In the letter, Gen. Decak emphasised that in the Nustar area Russian UN troops had been preventing Croatian civilians from working on their fields. SREBRENICA, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA According to an UN spokesman in Sarajevo, the UNHCR warehouse in Srebrenica burned to the ground yesterday. So far, there are no details concerning the fire, but it is thought to have been caused by accident. The Zagreb UNHCR office announced that none of the supplies were harmed, as they were in the basement untouched by the fire. The 30 000 inhabitants of the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica are totally dependent on the aid they receive, as they are surrounded by Serb forces who have been making the passage of aid convoys difficult if not impossible. SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA UN special envoy, Yasushi Akashi ended his two-day visit to Sarajevo. Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Akashi said that the talks with Bosnian Serbs failed. Namely, Bosnian Serbs rejected to extend the cease-fire until the summer. Mr. Akashi concluded that the situation was very serious, and even critical. WASHINGTON DC, USA In Washington yesterday, a senior US State Department Official, Robert Fraser, described as encouraging the preparatory steps for a new UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia. He said the United States would push to prolong the UNPROFOR mandate in Bosnia and specify details such as the border in the new resolution. State Department spokesperson, Christine Shelly commented on reports that Serbs from the occupied parts of Croatia had rejected a change of the mandate and said that preliminary talks on a changed mandate were being conducted with the Serbs and that results had been more positive than has been reported. The United States proposed to Contact Group members and Italy, who chaired the Security Council, that the international forces in Croatia be called the United Nations forces in Croatia. VIENNA, AUSTRIA In Vienna last night, International Contact Group Member, Michael Steiner, said that strengthening the Bosnian Federation would mean a continuous power shift in government to designated areas in the Federation Assembly. Currently, power lies in the Bosnian Muslim-led government and BosnianCroat ruling assemblies, such as that of Herceg Bosnia, he said. Mr Steiner was speaking at the first anniversary of the signing of the Washington Agreement. His comments were the "only realistic options", according to Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic, who said that Croatia was the first ally and friend to the Bosnian Federation. ============================================= 16th March 1995 WASHINGTON, USA The Croatian President, Franjo Tudman will meet US President Clinton and other high-ranking US officials today, as well as the UN Secretary General, Boutros Ghali. Before setting off for the US, President Tudman said that the talks would focus on the details of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia. He concluded that the UNPA's would no longer exist, while the UN forces would be deployed along Croatia's internationally recognised borders. According to a US official, the celebrations for the first anniversary of the Bosnian Federation that will be held in Washington today, represent an important event, as the Federation is the key to Bosnia's survival. Moral and financial support of the Bosnian Federation was important, he said. Financial support should be achieved though founding a "Friends of Federation" organisation of states that would co-ordinate aid given to the Federation. CROATIAN REINTEGRATION OF TERRITORIES "LEGITIMATE" A high-ranking US official described as legitimate the Croatian government's request to re-integrate its territories and to fully implement the original Vance plan. He added that the Serbs from the occupied sections of Croatia have ethnically cleansed the areas they control, thus creating a serious refugee problem. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO UN COMMENTS ON NEW MANDATE The American ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, speaking to the Congress Foreign Operations Subcommittee, said that she hoped the details of new UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia would be worked out by March 31st, when the current mandate expires. She said that forces monitoring the cease-fire agreement between the Croats and the Serbs from the occupied Croatian territories would be deployed along Croatia's borders with former Yugoslav republics. SPLIT, CROATIA - cease-fire violations According to the Assistant Commander of the Croatian Army (Split) Command Political Wing, Mario Tomasovic, Serbs from the occupied areas have been creating a tense atmosphere during past few months, violating the ceasefire. Mr. Tomasovic said the Serbs had been reinforcing their positions in some areas within the Zone of Separation. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA DEVELOPMENT ON SANTIC DISAPPEARANCE The Bosnian Army 5th Corps Commander, General Atif Dudakovic, said that the group of people who had left hotel "Sedra", near Bihac, with missing Croatian Defence Council (HVO), General Vlado Santic, has been traced. The members of the group have been apprehended and are reportedly members of the military police of the 502nd brigade of the Bosnian Army Corps. Gen. Dudakovic said he not believe that General Santica, who disappeared between March 8 and 9 this year, has been killed. Gen. Dudakovic concluded that this incident should not disturb Croat-Muslim relations. SPORADIC FIRE IN ORASJE-SAMAC FRONTLINE Bosnian Serb forces engaged in sporadic provocations along the Orasje-Samac frontline, opening light arms fire. Last night they opened combined light and heavy artillery fire from their strongholds in the villages of Covic Polje and Novo Selo. USORA Bosnian Serb units fired mortar shells in the zone controlled by the Croatian Defence Council in the Usora yesterday. MOSTAR REGION Anti aircraft fire opened from the Serb positions was reported in the Mostar region yesterday. ================================================= FOREIGN PRESS BULLETIN ZAGREB 20 March, 1995 Near miss for French Transport plane in Sarajevo According to UNPROFOR sources, a Serbian artillery shell missed by just 50 meters a French transport plane trying to landing at Sarajevo Airport yesterday (Sunday). The French UN soldiers then shelled the area from which they were attacked, but were unsure if they managed to take out the Serb heavy gun. Following the incident, the UNPROFOR spokesperson in Sarajevo, Aleksandar Ivanko, asked for NATO planes to fly into Sarajevo's air space in a bid to stop fresh Serb attacks on the UN and the Red Cross. On Saturday evening, the Serb forces fired upon a private convoy approaching Sarajevo from the Serb-held area of Ilidja, One truck was forced off the road and the driver killed. This was the fourth Serb attack on private convoys trying to reach Sarajevo. Also in Sarajevo on Saturday, one person was killed by a sniper bullet and another person injured. Meanwhile, still unanswered is the UNHCR's request for the Serbs to allow Sarajevo Airport to be re-opened for humanitarian flights. Frequent shooting incidents have closed the airport, but the UNHCR spokesperson in Zagreb says that UNHCR convoys can enter the city, although blue routes remain closed. Action in Velika Kladusa There are reports from the Velika Kladusa area (in eastern Bosnia) of rebel Serb forces from Croatia and the forces loyal to Fikret Abdic piercing through the Bosnian Government forces defence lines. The Rebels have taken control of a section of the eastern side of Velika Kladusa. Tuzla under attack According to the Herzeg-Bosnian news agency, HABENA, Bosnian Serbs have since early this morning been pounding Tuzla and surrounds from their positions on Mt Majevica. At least six shells hit the town, but as yet, there are no reports of casualties. The town is still on general alert (as at 14.00 Zagreb time). Serb movements in Bosnia The Herzeg Bosnian Defence Ministry reported new Serb artillery attacks against the Livno area with Serb military vehicles moving towards Serb positions in the Bosanska Posavina area. Meanwhile, the southern section of the Stolac front came under Serb artillery fire overnight. ============================================ 21st March 1995 PARIS, FRANCE The Pact on Stability in Europe Fifty-two countries have accepted the pact on stability in Europe, according to the French Prime Minister, Edouard Balladur from the CSCE meeting held in Paris. The significance of the document is less than expected, although the French wanted to show otherwise, because crisis regions such as Croatia and Bosnia and other sensitive areas on the European continent have not been included in the document. Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic speaking at the concluding sessions of the Conference, said that the accepted document was very important for the development of good neighbourly relations between European states. Mr. Granic continued that such a process had come about too slowly and too late for countries in crisis such as Croatia and Bosnia. European Union starts negotiations with Zagreb Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic met with four representatives of the Contact Group yesterday in Paris. They discussed the models of the international presence in resolving the problem of Croatia's occupied areas. Following the talks, Mr. Granic stated that French and German Foreign Ministers, Alain Juppe and Klaus Kinkel had promised that if by 31 March Croatia came to an agreement with the United Nations on the UN forces new role in Croatia, then Croatia would immediately be admitted to the PHARE program and included in the Agreement on Trade and Co-operation with the European Union. They also said that EU members would offer full support for Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe, and they gave firm guarantees that sanctions on Serbia would continue to be tied to the recognition of Croatia and Bosnia. Pakrac: Serbs have postponed negotiations After a period of relative peace, Serbs from occupied areas of Croatia have again destabilised the situation in the region. Sniper fire was reported on the Pakrac-Pozega road, as well as in Pakrac and the surrounding area. The Serb side has postponed the negotiations regarding the opening of the Pakrac-Lipik pipeline, while a total media ban has been enforced in the Croatian occupied areas bordering the Pakrac region. Another Serb provocation on the highway A sign reading "Republic of Serb Krajina - Border Crossing Dragalici", written in the cyrillic script, was placed by the highway last Friday while the presence of armed and uniformed persons on the highway has increased. These incidents have been linked to a visit of the Serbian Radical Party president, Vojislav Seselj. He visited Knin over the weekend and Okucani yesterday. FRONT LINES, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA Nineteen civilians killed in Tuzla According to Bosnian Army sources in the city of Tuzla, nineteen people were killed and many others were wounded in a Bosnian Serb mortar attack on Tuzla yesterday. Bosnian Posavina region Serb militias also began a simultaneous assault on the Bosanska Posavina front. UNPROFOR units were not able to observe the movements in the Posavina region as the Bosnian government has limited them in their movements. UN sources have confirmed the assault, however, hearing many detonations in the region.