Cablegate: Tfsrol: Dart Field Officer's Visit With

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLASSIFIED SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 01634

SIPDIS

SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
497IG AMHS BOLLING AFB DC//INAGE//
USMISSION USNATO
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 001634

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO AID
VIENNA FOR BOSNIA
AID FOR AA/BHR, EUR/RME, BHR/FFP, AND
BHR/OFDA/DRD

BUDAPEST FOR RFMC/CEE
STATE FOR IO, IO/PHO, EUR/EEA/RJOHNSON
EUR/EE/RERDMAN AND JMOORE, PM/ISO, AND RP

USMISSION GENEVA FOR RMA, AAO

SECDEF ALSO FOR ISA/GLOBAL AFFAIRS OSD/HRA/IRVIN
BONN ALSO FOR GSO KAREN KLEMP
RAMSTEIN FOR DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD//

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREF AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: DART FIELD OFFICER'S VISIT WITH
BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE IN
ZENICA

-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01634 01 OF 04 251057Z

1. ON APRIL 5, DART/ZAGREB FIELD OFFICER HAD AN
INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE MEETING WITH MR. FUAD
DIDIC, MINISTER OF COORDINATION AND FIELD AFFAIRS
IN ZENICA FOR THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. HE IS THE
SENIOR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE REGION.
FORMERLY A PROFESSOR OF MARXIST PHILOSOPHY AT THE
LOCAL UNIVERSITY, MINISTER DIDIC WAS PERSONABLE,
ARTICULATE, AND INTELLIGENT. THOUGH HE SEEMED TO
UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK SOME ENGLISH, HE SPOKE
THROUGH A TRANSLATOR.

--------------------------
MINISTER'S JOB DESCRIPTION
--------------------------

2. ACCORDING TO THE MINISTER, HIS JOB IS TO
PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE PRESENCE OF AUTHORITY IN HIS
(ZENICA) REGION AND TO PROVIDE A "STAIRWAY MODEL
OF AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNMENT IN SARAJEVO".
THIS WAS UNDERSTOOD TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A "CHAIN
OF COMMAND".

----------------
THE FOUR CANTONS
----------------

3. MINISTER DIDIC SAID THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN
SARAJEVO HAD DIVIDED BOSNIA INTO FOUR REGIONS OR
"CANTONS" (ZENICA, TUZLA, BIHAC, MOSTAR) WITH A
MINISTER IN EACH ONE. HE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01634 01 OF 04 251057Z
NEW GOVERNMENT WAS FORMED SIX MONTHS AGO IT WAS
PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH (1) HELPING THE PEOPLE
SURVIVE THE RAVAGES OF WAR, WINTER, AND
STARVATION; (2) DEFENDING THEM AGAINST
AGGRESSORS. "THESE TASKS HAVE NOW BEEN MET", HE
SAID.

--------------------------------
GOVERNMENT AGENDA AND PRIORITIES
--------------------------------

4. ACCORDING TO THE MINISTER, RECONSTRUCTION AND
ORGANIZATION OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IS THE
FIRST PRIORITY SO THAT PEOPLE AND HUMANITARIAN
AID CAN MOVE FREELY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE
SECOND PRIORITY IS THE CONTINUED "SAFETY OF THE
CITIZENRY FROM AGGRESSION, FROM EPIDEMICS, FROM
ANARCHY, FROM A RETURN TO HUNGER, ETC." THE
THIRD PRIORITY IS THE REBUILDING OF HOMES,

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01634 02 OF 04 251057Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 OASY-00 EUR-01
OIGO-01 HA-09 HHS-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-16
L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 RP-10 SR-00
SSO-00 PMB-00 /046W
------------------3FC528 251611Z /38
R 251126Z APR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
SECSTATE WASHDC 1658
INFO CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/EC POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J3/J4/J5//
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01634 02 OF 04 251057Z
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
497IG AMHS BOLLING AFB DC//INAGE//
USMISSION USNATO
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ZAGREB 001634

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO AID
VIENNA FOR BOSNIA
AID FOR AA/BHR, EUR/RME, BHR/FFP, AND
BHR/OFDA/DRD

BUDAPEST FOR RFMC/CEE
STATE FOR IO, IO/PHO, EUR/EEA/RJOHNSON
EUR/EE/RERDMAN AND JMOORE, PM/ISO, AND RP

USMISSION GENEVA FOR RMA, AAO

SECDEF ALSO FOR ISA/GLOBAL AFFAIRS OSD/HRA/IRVIN
BONN ALSO FOR GSO KAREN KLEMP
RAMSTEIN FOR DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD//

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREF AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: DART FIELD OFFICER'S VISIT WITH
BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE IN
ZENICA

BUSINESSES, AND FACTORIES.

-------------------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01634 02 OF 04 251057Z
REDEVELOPMENT PLANS
-------------------

5. THE MINISTER EXPLAINED THAT PREVIOUSLY THERE
WERE LARGE FACTORIES BUILT IN THE BIGGER CITIES
AND OWNED BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY. HE SAID THE
ONE IN ZENICA EMPLOYED 100,000 PEOPLE. BECAUSE
THE SURROUNDING TOWNS AND VILLAGES WERE A SOURCE
OF CHEAP LABOR, MOST OF THE WORKERS WERE BROUGHT
IN FROM THE VILLAGES TO WORK. THIS DEPLETED THE
SMALLER AREAS OF MANPOWER AND TOOK JOBS AWAY FROM
THE CITY DWELLERS. THE NEW GOVERNMENT WANTS TO
CHANGE THAT. THEY WANT THE LARGER FACTORIES TO
BE REPLACED BY SMALLER, MORE MODERN FACTORIES SO
THAT CITY PEOPLE CAN BE EMPLOYED. THE VILLAGES
IN OUTLYING AREAS WOULD THEN USE THEIR MANPOWER
AND RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
PRODUCTION. PERHAPS SMALLER SATELLITE FACTORIES
WOULD ALSO BE BUILT IN THE RURAL AREAS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF CLOTHING, SPAR
E PARTS, ETC., HE
SAID.

------------------------------------
SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS RESIST CHANGE
------------------------------------

6. THE MINISTER EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE LEADERS
IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES WHO ARE RESISTING THE
INITIATIVES OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT. THIS IS
BECAUSE THEY ARE PROHIBITED FROM SERVING IN THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01634 02 OF 04 251057Z
NEW GOVERNMENT AS MANY ARE SUSPECTED OF WAR
CRIMES, PROFITEERING, AND OTHER CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY. THESE LEADERS ARE IN PROZOR, KISELJAC,
AND BUSOVACA, (HVO CONTROLLED AREAS) AS WELL AS
IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS
HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THESE LEADERS FROM THEIR
WELL-ENTRENCHED POSITIONS OF POWER IN THE SMALLER
COMMUNITIES.

-------------------------
SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOR
-------------------------

7. THE MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FINDING
SKILLED LABOR WILL BE A PROBLEM SINCE SO MANY
PEOPLE LEFT DURING THE WAR. THERE IS SOME
ANXIETY THAT ONCE SARAJEVO BECOMES A FULLY
FUNCTIONAL CITY AGAIN, MANY OF THE TALENTED
PEOPLE REMAINING IN ZENICA, MOSTAR, AND THE OTHER

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01634 03 OF 04 251058Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 OASY-00 EUR-01
OIGO-01 HA-09 HHS-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-16
L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 RP-10 SR-00
SSO-00 PMB-00 /046W
------------------3FC538 251611Z /38
R 251126Z APR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
SECSTATE WASHDC 1659
INFO CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/EC POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J3/J4/J5//
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01634 03 OF 04 251058Z
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
497IG AMHS BOLLING AFB DC//INAGE//
USMISSION USNATO
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ZAGREB 001634

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO AID
VIENNA FOR BOSNIA
AID FOR AA/BHR, EUR/RME, BHR/FFP, AND
BHR/OFDA/DRD

BUDAPEST FOR RFMC/CEE
STATE FOR IO, IO/PHO, EUR/EEA/RJOHNSON
EUR/EE/RERDMAN AND JMOORE, PM/ISO, AND RP

USMISSION GENEVA FOR RMA, AAO

SECDEF ALSO FOR ISA/GLOBAL AFFAIRS OSD/HRA/IRVIN
BONN ALSO FOR GSO KAREN KLEMP
RAMSTEIN FOR DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD//

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREF AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: DART FIELD OFFICER'S VISIT WITH
BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE IN
ZENICA

CANTONS WILL MOVE TO SARAJEVO TO FIND WORK BUT
THE MINISTER WAS OPTIMISTIC AND FELT THAT WITH
PROPER MOTIVATION AND TRAINING THEY COULD SOMEHOW
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01634 03 OF 04 251058Z
FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK REQUIRED. "IF
WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME" HE SMILED.

----------------------------------------
BOSNIANS DISTRUST EUROPEANS; USA FAVORED
----------------------------------------

8. THE MINISTER SAID THAT DURING THE TROUBLE OF
THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE SPIRIT OF THE
BOSNIAN PEOPLE HAS REMAINED UNDAUNTED. HE WENT
ON TO SAY THAT MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD AND
APPRECIATED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT SPIRIT. IT
WAS U.S. SUPPORT, HE SAID, THAT GAVE THE BOSNIAN
PEOPLE THE WILL TO CONTINUE TO RESIST AGGRESSION.
HE SAID THE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLETELY LOST FAITH
WITH EUROPEAN COUNTRIES LIKE FRANCE, GREAT
BRITAIN, GERMANY, AND ITALY. HE WENT ON TO SAY
THAT HE THOUGHT MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THOSE
COUNTRIES SUPPORTED THEIR CAUSE, BUT THAT THE
GOVERNMENTS DID NOT. HE NOTED THE "RISE OF
FASCISM AND RACIST INCIDENTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES"
AS STRONG INDICATIONS THEY WERE "NOT LIKELY TO BE
SYMPATHETIC TO VICTIMS OF SERB AGGRESSION IN
BOSNIA." HE SAID THAT EVEN WITHOUT THE MASSIVE
HUMANITARIAN AID FROM THE USA, THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE
WOULD HAVE FOUND STRENGTH IN SIMPLY KNOWING THAT
AMERICANS WERE SYMPATHETIC TO THEIR CAUSE. BUT
THEY DEEPLY APPRECIATED THE HUMANITARIAN AID, HE
SAID, AND WOULD REMAIN ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01634 03 OF 04 251058Z
------------------------------
PEOPLE FEAR A RETURN TO HUNGER
------------------------------

9. ALTHOUGH THERE IS FOOD IN ZENICA NOW, THE
HUNGER THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCED IN DECEMBER AND
JANUARY IS STILL FOREMOST ON THEIR MINDS. EVEN
THOUGH THEY NOW HAVE AMPLE FOOD TO EAT, THE
MINISTER SAID, THERE IS GREAT ANXIETY THAT THE
FOOD WILL RUN OUT AND HUNGER WILL RETURN. THE
MINISTER SAID THAT 17 PER CENT OF THE LAND AROUND
ZENICA IS ARABLE AND THAT MORE HAS BEEN
CULTIVATED THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE.

-------------------------------------
FOREIGN INTEREST IN BOSNIAN RESOURCES
-------------------------------------

10. THE MINISTER SAID THAT THE BRITISH HAD SHOWN

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01634 04 OF 04 251058Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 OASY-00 EUR-01
OIGO-01 HA-09 HHS-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-16
L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 RP-10 SR-00
SSO-00 PMB-00 /046W
------------------3FC542 251611Z /38
R 251126Z APR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
SECSTATE WASHDC 1660
INFO CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/EC POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J3/J4/J5//
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01634 04 OF 04 251058Z
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
497IG AMHS BOLLING AFB DC//INAGE//
USMISSION USNATO
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ZAGREB 001634

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO AID
VIENNA FOR BOSNIA
AID FOR AA/BHR, EUR/RME, BHR/FFP, AND
BHR/OFDA/DRD

BUDAPEST FOR RFMC/CEE
STATE FOR IO, IO/PHO, EUR/EEA/RJOHNSON
EUR/EE/RERDMAN AND JMOORE, PM/ISO, AND RP

USMISSION GENEVA FOR RMA, AAO

SECDEF ALSO FOR ISA/GLOBAL AFFAIRS OSD/HRA/IRVIN
BONN ALSO FOR GSO KAREN KLEMP
RAMSTEIN FOR DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD//

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREF AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR AORC EAID PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: DART FIELD OFFICER'S VISIT WITH
BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE IN
ZENICA

AN INTEREST IN THE COAL MINES IN CENTRAL BOSNIA.
ACCORDING TO THE MINISTER, THE BRITISH SEEM TO BE
INTERESTED IN FINDING PLACES TO DEPOSIT
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01634 04 OF 04 251058Z
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AND OTHER HAZARDOUS WASTE.
THEY WERE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE ABANDONED
TUNNELS OF SOME OF THE OLDER MINES WHERE THE COAL
HAD PLAYED OUT. THE FRENCH, HE SAID, WERE
INTERESTED IN THE GAS IN THE MINES. IT WASN'T
CLEAR WHETHER THEY WERE INTERESTED IN NATURAL GAS
DEPOSITS, OR IN THE COAL GASIFICATION PROCESS.
NO ONE HAS YET SHOWN AN INTEREST IN OIL
EXPLORATION, THE MINISTER SAID.
-
--------------------------
CROATS AND SERBS IN ZENICA
--------------------------

11. THE MINISTER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE
CROATIAN POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE LEFT, THE
CROATIANS WHO REMAIN IN ZENICA ARE WELL-
REPRESEN
TED BY THEIR CHURCH LEADERS AND
INTELLECTUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE
22,000 CROATS IN THE ZENICA REGION BEFORE THE
WAR. NOW THERE ARE 15,000. TWENTY PER CENT OF
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS ARE DIVIDED
EQUALLY BETWEEN THE SERB AND CROATIAN CITIZENS OF
THE REGION. THERE WERE 20,000 SERBS IN THE
ZENICA REGION BEFORE THE WAR. BETWEEN 10,000 AND
15,000 REMAIN. THE LEADER OF THE LOCAL ORTHODOX
CHURCH IS THEIR SPOKESMAN.

----------
CONCLUSION
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01634 04 OF 04 251058Z
----------

12. THIS VERY INFORMATIVE MEETING SHOWED THE
MINISTER OF ZENICA TO BE A SOPHISTICATED,
INTELLIGENT MAN WITH A FULL PLATE OF PROBLEMS AND
PLANS TO HELP REBUILD HIS COUNTRY. THE RETURN TO
NORMALIZATION WILL BE A DIFFICULT ROAD, BUT THE
BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE LOOKING BEYOND
IMMEDIATE DIFFICULTIES AND FORMULATING PLANS FOR
LONG-TERM REDEVELOPMENT.

GALBRATIH

UNCLASSIFIED

>

© Scoop Media