NORMALIZATION WITH "LARGE" OR "SMALL" CROATIA

AIM, BEOGRAD, 20. 1

The Geneva act announcing normalization of Serbo-Croat relations in Belgrade was encountered less by optimism signalling the end of war in ex-Yugoslavia then by dilemmas raised by political actors: Who was the agreement signed with - Craotia within old, ex-Yugoslav borders, or Craotia within new, real, several-years existing borders?

Serbian president Milosevic, who is always very eager to explain his motivations, hopes and conclusions in front of foreign journalists, did not feel obliged to elaborate his new Geneva move before domestic public. Official Belgrade today also did not say anything regarding the statement signed by two foreign affairs ministers. The public, therefore, does not know much about the content of the Serbo-Craot agreement, except for the announcement of establishing some kind od diplomatic officies in Zagreb and Belgrade. It was left to state radio and TV to explain content and meaning of the signed act. The state media presented the agreement as a result of a steady orientation of the Serbian regime to peace and negotiations as the only way for conflict resolution, and stressed that only Muslim side is guilty for the continuation of the war in Bosnia. Elaborating the agreement content, high way Belgrade-Zagreb re-opening, telephone connections re-establishment and oil-electricity exchange were mentioned. Comments of the agreement, however, were focussed on the unchanged status od Republic of Serb Krajina: its legitimate representatives will determine the status of Krajina in direct negotiations with representatives of Republic of Craotia. This was clearly stated by Milosevic himslef.

The confussion, however, was caused by Tudjman's statement reported by some media that the "Nomralization act" meant recognition of Craotia within intrnetaionaly recognized borders and opened a way for peaciful reintegration of Serb Krajina into Craotian constitutional order. Commenting Tudjman's words, leader of the oppositon Radical party Vojislav Seselj said the Geneva document another proof of a secret deal between Tudjman and Milossevic, on the account of Serb Krajina whose interests Milosevic had sold out. Republic of Serb Krajina must not be a change-money in Milisevic-Tudjman's deals, he said and announced his party would do everything to prevent this from happenning. He reminded that his party is one of the strongest oppostion parties both in Serbia and in Krajina and announced a coalition with Krajina's radical leader Milan Babic.

Leaders of other democratic opposition parties (DS, DSS) also insisted on claryfyng the consequences of the act signed on the status of Serb Krajina in Republic of Croatia, stressing that pushing them back in Craotin arms did not accept the reality of war results and the righ of Serbian people to self-determination.

Very few comments were made in regard to perspectives of peace in Bosnia. Political actors agree that Muslims will be more isolated by this agreement, the more so it was followed by Bosnian Serbs and Croats agreement, which, however, did not get much publicity.

was international