E M B A R G O E D UNTIL 18:30 MET PEACE INITIATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

PEACE INITIATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ZAGREB, Nov 2 (Hina) - Following is the text of the Peace Initiative of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman which he expounded on Tuesday at a meeting with foreign ambassadors to Croatia and editors-in-chief of the Croatian media. "Deeply concerned by the impasse at the Geneva Conference on the former Yugoslavia, and by the failure of all other attempts made to stop the war and military conflicts in the area of the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, I consider it my statesman's duty to suggest to the international community, in particular to all the relevant global factors, a peace initiative which would stop the war and all the associated horrors, and open up the path to peace and understanding, and to a resolution of political and economic problems in the area of the former Yugoslavia. I. Proposal for the Implementation of the Peace Plan in the United Nations Protected Areas (UNPAs) in Croatia In order to achieve the speediest implementation of Security Council Resolution 871 (and all other resolutions referred to in this Resolution), the Republic of Croatian proposes as follows: 1. The Croatian Government is prepared to conclude within 15 days an agreement on the cessation of all hostilities with the representatives of the local Serbs, guaranteeing their local and cultural autonomy. 2. To this end we propose at the same time the renewal of the work of the Joint Commissions in order to resolve all issues enumerated in the Vance Plan, and the implementation of the provisions of Security Council Resolution 871, with the participation of the representatives of UNPROFOR and of the European Community. 3. We propose the immediate normalization of overall social and economic life in the UNPAs through the following: 3.1. The immediate opening of all road and rail communications throughout the Republic of Croatia, and particularly along the routes Zagreb-Knin-Split, Zagreb-Slavonski Brod-Zupanja, Novska-Okucani-Pakrac-Daruvar, Sisak-Glina-Bosanski Novi, Osijek-Beli Manastir-Hungarian border, Osijek-Vukovar, Osijek-Vinkovci-Ilok, etc.; 3.2. The opening of the Adriatic Oil Pipeline and the repair and beginning of regular operation of facilities for oil transport, and power and water supply, throughout Croatia; 3.3. The immediate return, without further delay, of all displaced persons to their homes under the supervision and with the efficient assistance of UNPROFOR and the authorities of the Republic of Croatia; 3.4. The initiation of all steps for the restoration of normal life in the UNPAs, including the reopening of all communications, the supply of goods to the entire population, i.e., including the Serbian population (without any discrimination) in the forthcoming winter period, the reinstatement of welfare and medical care, normal operation of schools, supply of electric power and other energy sources, the payment of pensions, the employment of all civil servants, and the integration of all other activities into the overall economic and legal system of the Republic of Croatia; 3.5. The preparation of plans and the initiation of steps to achieve the equitable integration of the UNPAs into the economic reconstruction of Croatia. 4. For the sake of the political settlement of the conflict and normalization of overall social life Croatia is prepared, within the scope of its constitutional and legal order, to ensure in the UNPAs the implementation of its regulations, as well as of international conventions concerning the rights and freedoms of the Serbian ethnic community. To this end the following steps will be undertaken: 4.1. The provision of full local autonomy (self-government), within the framework of the Constituional Law, in the Districts of Knin and Glina in which the Serbs account for the majority; 4.2. The assurance of the right to cultural autonomy of the Serbian ethnic community throughout Croatia, and especially the right to education in their language and script in accordance with special curricula, and the bilingual writing of toponyms in area in which they are in the majority; 4.3. The scheduling of elections for local - district and municipal - self-governmental authorities under international supervision; 4.4. The establishment of special police administrations in the Districts of Knin and Glina, whereby the national composition of the police forces should match the ethnic composition of the population according to the latest censuses. 5. In order to provide for full civil and political equality, and efficient safeguarding of the civil and ethnic rights of the Serbs in Croatia, Croatia is prepared to accept the establishment of a special international supervisory body, and of a special Human Rights Court, to which each citizen may apply after having exhausted the regular legal course. In order to safeguard their special rights, the Districts of Knin and Glina will be able to bring a constitutional action to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia should they consider that human rights and liberties, or the rights of the ethnic community, have been violated in their areas. 6. In order to create full confidence, Croatia is prepared to propose the use of a special international CSCE supervisory mission for mediation between the minority and the majority population. 7. The Republic of Croatia is prepared to negotiate the political settlement of all outstanding issues except those that may affect its territorial integrity and sovereignty. II. Proposal for the Cessation of War and Establishment of Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina In this fateful moment when there appears to be no escape from the tragic sequence of events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and when the orientation to the conveying of new, time-consuming international conferences is not likely to produce results, I propose that international factors revive the work of the Geneva Conference on the basis of the thus far achieved agreements concerning the constitutional arrangements of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a Union of Republics. In order to make such a revived Conference as efficient as possible, I suggest the participation, along with the Co-Chairmen of the ICFY, of representatives of States which have the most effective influence on the resolution of the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the former Yugoslavia, i.e: France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, Turkey and the United Kingdom. 1. Thus conveyed anew, the Geneva Peace Conference should prevail upon all the three parties in conflict, under the threat of sanctions and within 14 days, to: 1.1. sign an agreement on the immediate cessation of hostilities and all military actions, should they fail to do so, the UN Security Council should be requested to pass a resolution ordering such cessation under the threat of armed enforcement; 1.2. sign a declaration on the acceptance of the Constitutional Arrangement on the Union of Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the annexed agreements. 2. I propose that the controversial issues of delimitation between the Republics of the Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina be resolved through bilateral negotiations and, if no agreement can be reached, to entrust the final decision to a special (arbitration) body to be nominated by the Co-Chairmen of the ICFY and other Conference participants. 3. I propose that all the parties in conflict should undertake to immediately: 3.1. assure and guarantee free and unhindred passage of humanitarian aid to all parties in all areas where it is required; 3.2. exchange all detainees and disband all detention centres, and bear full responsibility for their treatment of detainees in accordance with the rules of international humanitarian law; 3.3. permit international supervision and freedom of movement to representatives of international agencies who will supervise the implementation of these steps. 4. The peace plan can be implemented by using NATO forces (in the role thus far played by UNPROFOR), with the authority to use force, air strikes included, against all those who violate the agreement on the cessation of hostilities or frustrate the delivery of humanitarian aid and international supervision of the implementation of the achieved agreements. III. Proposed Steps for the Permanent Consolidation of Peace If the peace, once achieved, is to be sustained permanently and consolidated, I propose that all the states in the area of the former Yugoslavia should proceed - within the framework of the Peace Conference and under the auspices of the UN Secretary General and Security Council - as follows: 1. sign a solemn declaration on the reciprocal recognition of the independence and sovereignty of all newly emerged states within their internationally recognized borders; 2. sign within 3 months an agreement on the succession to rights and obligations of all successor states of the former Yugoslavia pursuant to the decision of the Arbitration Commission; 3. start negotiating, within the scope of European integration processes, treaties between themselves and with other European states concerning the regulation and promotion of economic and traffic links and trade, and other matters of interest for relations among sovereign and independent states wishing to establish good neighbourly relations, and also of interest for the stability of the international order in this part of the world; 4. sign, within the framework of the conference, a solemn declaration on the observance of the rights of national minorities and ethnic communities in accordance with international standards and conventions, with internationally controlled implementation of such an agreement; 5. immediately begin negotiating an agreement on the regional security of countries in the area of the former Yugoslavia within the scope of the general CSCE conventional armaments limitation systems; 6. I believe that the UN Security Council sanctions enforced in respect to certain states in the area of the former Yugoslavia should remain in force until all the results of the proposed peace process are achieved. As soon as the peace plan is achieved, the sanctions ought to be lifted forthwith. I urge all international factors to consider these proposals and to take resolute measures to bring a halt to the conflict, and all steps required to bring peace and create the prerequisites for the establishment of a stable international order in the area, for the benefit of all the states in this part of Europe and in the world." (END) j-vm 021730 MET nov 93