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Soldiers

Croatian Serb Leader Says Krajina Region Ready for UN Peacekeepers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Croatian Serb leader Milan Martic has stated that the breakaway Krajina region of Croatia is prepared to host UN peacekeepers if the Security Council votes to maintain their presence. This comes as Croatian President Franjo Tudjman has informed the UN Security Council that Croatia wants to withdraw UN troops from the region by March 31, citing the inefficiency of the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in maintaining peace. The move is seen as a maneuver by Tudjman to pressure the UN into forcing a territorial settlement on the Croatian Serbs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Croatian President Franjo Tudjman has informed the UN Security Council that Croatia wants to withdraw 12,000 UN troops from the occupied territories by March 31.
  • The Croatian Serb leader, Milan Martic, has stated that the breakaway Krajina region is prepared to accept UN peacekeepers if the Security Council votes to maintain their presence.
  • Martic believes that Tudjman's decision is a result of pressure from the Croatian opposition, which is demanding the reintegration of one-third of Serb-occupied Croatia through military force.
  • The Serb-Croat war erupted in June 1991 when Croatia declared independence from the six-republic Yugoslav federation.
  • Rebel Croatian Serbs declared their "Republic of Serbian Krajina" and took control of about 30% of Croatia before a UN-mediated truce was signed on January 3, 1992.
  • UN peacekeepers were deployed in Croatia in the spring of 1992 to separate the warring parties, deliver humanitarian aid to refugees, and mediate in negotiations between the Croatian government and rebel Croatian Serbs.
  • Croatian President Tudjman has stated that the continued presence of UNPROFOR in the occupied territories is counterproductive to the peace process.

Statistics:

  • 12,000 – the number of UN troops that Croatia wants to withdraw from the occupied territories by March 31.
  • 30% – the percentage of Croatia occupied by rebel Croatian Serbs before a UN-mediated truce was signed on January 3, 1992.
  • June 1991 – the month when the Serb-Croat war erupted after Croatia declared independence from the six-republic Yugoslav federation.
  • March 31 – the deadline set by Croatian President Tudjman for the withdrawal of UN troops from the occupied territories.

Sources:

  • Unidentified author, "Croatian Serb Leader Says Krajina Region Ready for UN Peacekeepers," Associated Press, January 13 (no date specified)
  • Franjo Tudjman, letter to the UN Security Council, Thursday (no specific date mentioned)
  • Milan Martic, interview with a local Krajina radio station, Friday (no specific date mentioned)

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