LETTER OF PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TO WILLY CLAES

ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman forward today a letter to the President of the Council of Ministers of European Union, Willy Claes, as follows: "As I already informed you and the distinguished ministers of the European Union during our talks in Brussels, the unprecedented two week ordeal to which the humanitarian convoy "White Road to Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena" has been exposed by the most extremist of the Bosnian Moslem forces represents not only a moral outrage, but constitutes a grave obstacle to the peace process itself, as well as a threat to the future of the overall Croat-Moslem relations. Upon my arrival in Zagreb I have been presented with several greatly disturbing pieces of information: one of the convoy drivers has been killed and another three participants wounded; a part of the convoy - contrary to the agreements reached and the guarantees by the Moslem side - was still being held up in the Moslem controlled area until late Wednesday night; some 30 trucks had reportedly been hijacked to the subsequently used as a shield in offensive attack against the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) forces; shots were being fired at physicians, nurses, Franciscan friars and nuns, as well as journalists accompanying the convoy. An American journalist, Mr. Tsut Yamauchi, working for Independent Press Agency, has been wounded. A frontal attack on the convoy was launched at 14:30 near Dobrosin in the vicinity of Pavlovice. Let me remind you, Your Excellency, that several days ago in Geneva the Moslem side too signed the agreement concerning full freedom of passage for humanitarian convoys and guaranteeing free flow of aid to all those in need. On top of that, as the talks in Geneva and Brussels were entering their crucial stage, the Moslem side apparently decided to undertake one of the most severe offensive in the region of central Bosnia, i.e. against the remaining Croat enclaves. On Wednesday, the Moslem forces controlled by the Government of Mr. Alija Izetbegovic, launched attack on Zepce, the Lasva Valley (namely Vitez and Nova Bila), Novi Travnik, the Uskoplje Valley, Busovaca, Kiseljak, Kresevo. More than 600 shells and grenades fell on Zepce alone. Scores of people, including innocent civilians and children, have been killed or wounded, some of them reportedly even massacred. According to the information presently available to me, on Wednesday alone 24 persons were killed (including three children) and 47 wounded (including seven children). The Croatian Defence Council (HVO) have informed me they intercepted an order issued by the acting commander of the Third Corpse of the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mr. Dzemal Merdan, reading as follows: "...destroy all life, including women, children and the aged in the region of Novi Travnik, nova Bila, Vitez, Busovaca, in order to link with the Moslem enclave of Stari Vitez-Kruscica. To that effect use all available artillery, infantry, chemical agents and all volunteers from the Islamic countries for the glory of magnificent All'ah..." All this leads me to believe that we are dealing with something very much like a decisive and "final offensive" against the Croat enclaves in central Bosnia. This offensive reached its climax just hours before the Christmas cease-fire was to go into effect. It is my belief that the on-going offensive, as well as the aftermath of the "White road" convoy's tragic ordeal could eventually greatly affect not only the Brussels peace talks, but the future of the Croat-Moslem co-operation as well. Therefore I strongly appeal to you to use all your prestige and influence and exert further pressure on the Moslem side to immediately halt all offensive activities and cease fire in central Bosnia. It should be made perfectly clear to Mr. Alija Izetbegovic that this is the crucial prerequisite for continuation of any meaningful negotiations", said the letter of the President Tudjman to Willy Claes. 231701 MET dec 93