ZAGREB, July 28 (Hina) - Peter Galbraith, who was the US Ambassador in Croatia during the 1995 liberating operations "Flash" and "Storm", has said the Washington neither gave the green light to the operations nor did it oppose them
very much. We had the choice - either to approve of attacks of Bosnian Serbs against Bihac (north-western Bosnia, near the border with Croatia) or not prevent a Croatian offensive which would stop the Serb assaults on Bihac. Under the then circumstances we opted for not opposing very much the Croatian operations. But this is something different from the approval of them, Galbraith said in an interview he granted to the Croatian television on Friday night. Asked whether he was included in preparations of the Storm action, Galbraith said the United States had knowledge of the preparations which were under way, but his country did not endorse them. To have know
ZAGREB, July 28 (Hina) - Peter Galbraith, who was the US Ambassador
in Croatia during the 1995 liberating operations "Flash" and
"Storm", has said the Washington neither gave the green light to the
operations nor did it oppose them very much.
We had the choice - either to approve of attacks of Bosnian Serbs
against Bihac (north-western Bosnia, near the border with Croatia)
or not prevent a Croatian offensive which would stop the Serb
assaults on Bihac. Under the then circumstances we opted for not
opposing very much the Croatian operations. But this is something
different from the approval of them, Galbraith said in an interview
he granted to the Croatian television on Friday night.
Asked whether he was included in preparations of the Storm action,
Galbraith said the United States had knowledge of the preparations
which were under way, but his country did not endorse them.
To have knowledge of the preparations for operation does not mean
our approval of it neither does it mean that the United States took
part in military plans. Such accusations were not true, said
Galbraith.
He added that Croatia had the right to defend its territory. In such
circumstances, America had understanding for the reasons of the
Croatian operation in relation to the attacks against Bihac and
threats to which the Bihac population was exposed, the US diplomat
said.
However, the legitimate right to self-defence and the right to use
military measures after failed negotiations on the return of
territory justify in no way war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The fact is that such crimes were committed, he added.
The former US ambassador in Zagreb said he had talked with Serb
refugees while they had been fleeing Croatia and they confirmed to
him that they were told to go.
Refugees I talked to while they were leaving told me that they were
told to go. But I am not acquainted with facts, Galbraith said.
One thing must be clear: they left before the military operation.
This, perhaps, is understandable, as they feared. But, I do not
think it was a war crime. The crimes were perpetrated when the
Croatian army came into contact with civilians either through
directs activities or because they failed to stop war crimes in the
areas under their (army's control), said Galbraith who is currently
on vacation in Croatia.
(hina) ms