Croatia's Rebel Serbs Reject New Peace Plan Amid Tensions

Croatia's rebel Serbs, led by self-styled Krajina Serb president Milan Martic, have refused to review a new peace plan presented by the United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union. The plan, designed to settle the nearly five-year-old dispute between Croatia's minority Serbs and the Croatian regime, was rejected by Martic, who demanded guarantees that peacekeepers would remain in the region after the March 31 deadline as protection forces, not observers. This decision comes as Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman has insisted on the country's territorial sovereignty, including the reintegration of rebel Krajina Serb-held lands, while rebel Serbs refuse to accept any solution other than complete independence from Croatia.

Key Takeaways:

• The new peace plan was presented by the United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union to settle the five-year-old dispute between Croatia's minority Serbs and the Croatian regime.
• Rebel Serb president Milan Martic refused to review the plan, demanding guarantees that peacekeepers would remain in the region after the March 31 deadline as protection forces.
• Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman has insisted on the country's territorial sovereignty, including the reintegration of rebel Krajina Serb-held lands.
• Tudjman has stated that he would not change his mind about dismissing U.N. troops, but is open to participation of international observers to oversee the "peaceful reintegration of Croatian occupied territories."
• German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel visited the Croatian capital of Zagreb and discussed the end of the U.N. mandate, the new peace plan, and deteriorating relations between the Bosnian Muslim-Croat federation.
• Krajina Serb leaders have been preparing for resistance, including an agreement with Bosnian Serb force commanders for joint military action.

Statistics:

• 15,000: The number of U.N. troops stationed in predominantly Serb-populated areas in Croatia.
• 5 years: The duration of the dispute between Croatia's minority Serbs and the Croatian regime.
• March 31: The deadline for the end of the U.N. mandate in the region.
• 1992: The year U.N. troops first arrived in the region as a buffer between the two sides.

Sources:

• Tanjug, the state-run Yugoslav news agency based in the Serbian capital of Belgrade.
• Local news reports.
• Statement by Milan Martic, self-styled Krajina Serb president.
• Statement by Franjo Tudjman, Croatia's President.