HERZEG-BOSNA AS THE OBJECTIVE

AIM Zagreb, July 8, 1996

On the same day, three Croatian journals published the title that Croatia had become a prisoner of Herzegovina. However, priority in having expressed something which might be taken as the general frame of mind can be attributed to to Alain Finkielkraut, French philosopher who is usually designated here as a great friend of Croatia and who in regime-controlled Obzor advises Zagreb: "Control Herzegovina, or else it will control Croatia. Do not become prisoners of the Herzegovinians. The greatest risk for Crotia, political and moral, is that it might become a prisoner of Herzegovina. If you continue to let those people do whatever they want, they will lead you to ruin. This is at the moment the most urgent, most important issue for Croatia."

That Herzegovina is a heavy weight tied to the legs of Croatia - this is certainly felt every day by the public. But, Finkielkraut is wrong about one thing - the birthplace of the problem is neither in Grude nor in Mostar, but in Zagreb. It is true that nowadays Herzegovina rules Croatia, but also that Croatia has practically annexed Herzegovina. Tudjman's policy in Bosnia & Herzegovina is enfangering Croatia again. The situation reminds of the time before signing of the Washington agreement, when due to engagement in the bloody Croat-Muslim war, Croatia was internationally isolated.

Nowadays, its access to international integrations has been blocked until it truly shows in Bosnia, with deeds and not words, that it supports Dayton. Croatia was clearly told that it will be given admission into the Council of Europe after the elections in Bosnia, depending on its engagement in the peace process. Via Bosnia to Europe - that is how a newspaper precisely formulated the message which was forwarded to Zagreb from the seat of the NATO. One can only imagine what great psychological suffering such refusals cause in the Presidential Palace, especially in view of boasting of the Croatian President that the Council had authorized him to bring the Bosnian Muslims to European civilization.

The attitude to Croatia was especially strained after reactivating of the Government of Herzeg-Bosna, which should have been long dead and buried pursuant the Dayton accords. When the international public marked this as a provocation, Croatia pretended not to be aware of what was happening, Croatian politicians did not comment on it, but Herzegovinian leaders - trying to prove that their only fault was that their good intention was badly presented by the media - revealed by the way that Zagreb was, of course, kept informed about the developments.

That Zagreb was fully aware - the world also knows it, so Secretary General of the NATO, J. Solana, proclaiming revival of the Government of Herzeg-Bosna "absolutely harmful for Croatia and the Croats in Bosnia", resolutely concluded that "any integration of Croatia into Europe depends on its role in the peace process in Bosnia & Herzegovina". American President Bill Clinton, in a letter to the Croatian President, also expressed concern because of political developments in B&H Federation. Claiming that existence of the structure of Herzeg-Bosna was not in accordance with the Federation and Dayton, he expressed hope that it would immediately be dissolved (because "nomination of new ministers diminishes efforts invested into construction of the Federation"), and demanded from Tudjman to soften B&H Croats.

According to the statement issued from the office of the President, in the answer to the American President it was stated that Croatia fully supports the Washington and the Dayton agreement, especially establishment of the Federation and its institutions. Clinton was instructed that Dayton accords prescribe complete dissolution of structures of Herzeg-Bosna, in parallel with establishment of the federal authorities, and that for the sake of ensurance of "stability and safety of the Croat people in Bosnia & Herzegovina it was important that the Federation develops close linka with Croatia". Tudjman also declared that he was against further concessions to the Bosniac party, claiming that this would frustrate the Croats, and that would not be, he said, favourable for the peace process.

Correspondence between Zagreb and Washington took place before the elections in Mostar, so that certain note of insolence in Tudjman's answer could be interpreted as part of the election campaign. But, not even two days had passed from the elections in Mostar when leadership of B&H branch of Tudjman's party was received in the Presidential Palace. The official statement from the talks mentions devotion of Croatia and the Croat people in Bosnia to consistent implementation of the Washington and the Dayton agreements, strengthening of the Federation and its as firm as possible links with Croatia.

However, reliable sources claim that behind these general formulations stands a decision on definite dissolution of Herzeg-Bosna. How true this is - it remains to be seen. Tudjman will certainly have to make certain concessions. The first was already made in connection with the law on defence, which was finally completed after two years of haggling, and on the occasion, the Croatian flag appeared again on Croatian TV tied with the Bosnian flag. Certain appeasing of Herzegovina extremists can be expected, but it is hard to believe that official Zagreb will essentially change its attitude towards Bosnia & Herzegovina. Preparations for the forthcoming elections show it quite clearly. The fact that lists of candidates for the autumn elections, including the candidate for the Presidency of B&H, have been agreed in the Presidential Palace in Zagreb proves it. Tudjman has not given up the people he had relied on so far, so it is difficult to detect any changes in that personnel policy.

The decision not to have the Croat Democratic Community (HDZ) run in the elections in the Serb entity also indicates that nothing has been changed. This is in accordance with the statements which have come from the highest instance that there is no place for the Croats in the regions controlled by the Serbs. It is, therfore, not surprising that Karadzic's party has also decided not to run in the elections in the Federation. Bozo Rajic, president of the HDZ in B&H, says that in a conversation with the Croatian President, they "sought solution how to involve 170 thousand of banished Bosnians, 130 thousand of whom are Croats, who live in Croatia in the elections in Bosnia & Herzegovina". He did not explain what it means, but allegedly there is an attempt to make the Croats who have fled from the present Serb entity vote in the Federation. This would mean that they have given up return to their own homes. Among the people from the Sava river valley it could be heard that the HDZ is doing its best to give the last two pockets in the valley which belong to the Federation to the Serbs. But not through negotiations any more, but through the elections, with the assistance of election engineering.

Behavior of the Croat party in Mostar elections also shows the intention to finish in peace what was begun in the war, and to ratify results of ethnic cleansing and legilize them through democratic elections. Mostar is important for the Croat national project, Herzegovinian leaders used to say, without revealing what they meant by it. They announced that Mostar should be the "Croat seat" or "central city". Allegedly, the Serbs and the Muslims have their cities, so the Croats must also have theirs. Never again, Yugo-Mostar, Mijo Brajkovic, mayor of the western part of the city used to say. United city - it is a politically dangerous offer, because it revives the idea of Yugoslavia, Bozo Rajic claimed. Fear of Yugoslavia became in Herzegovina, exactly like in Croatia, the only thing the ruling HDZ has to offer.

However, if that intimidation with Yugoslavia is pushed aside a little - it turns out that all ethnic mixing is marked by the HDZ as the spirit of Yugoslavia. Coexistence, as the accomplishment of civilization is thus designated with the name of the state which perished. As if different nations had lived only in Yugoslavia. After all, mixtures of different nations, religions and cultures had existed in this space long before Yugoslavia did. "Leopard's skin" was not created in 1918 or 1945. In Bosnia, the Muslims, the Serbs and the Croats lived together, side by side, before Yugoslavia existed.

Creation of ethnically pure spaces - that is the objective about which the official Croatia agrees the best with Herzegovina bosses. At the same time, this is the point at which it most profoundly, tragically and definitely parts with the democratic western world. And this remains a constant. Perhaps, under international pressure, just slightly more carefully concealed.

JELENA LOVRIC