Cablegate: Serb Refugees in Knin -- A Step Closer To

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

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SIPDIS

USLO SKOPJE
AMCONSUL MUNICH

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USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL OSCE

E.O. 12356: DECL: 9/11/00
TAGS:
SUBJECT: SERB REFUGEES IN KNIN -- A STEP CLOSER TO
RELEASE

1. DECONTROL UPON RECEIPT -- SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -
- PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

2. TALKS BETWEEN SRSG AKASHI AND THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF
STAFF HRVOJE SARINIC TO RELEASE THE 780 SERB REFUGEES
LOCATED ON THE UNCRO COMPOUND IN KNIN CONTINUED OVER THE
WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 9-10. (NOTE: OF THE 780 REFUGEES, 760
HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO GO TO SERBIA.)

3. ON SEPTEMBER 11 THE UN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION TEAM TOLD
US THAT, DESPITE CROATIAN PRESS REPORTS THAT AN AGREEMENT
HAD BEEN REACHED, THE DEAL HAD NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED.
DURING THE AKASHI-SARINIC TALKS, THE GOC AGREED TO NARROW
THE LIST OF PEOPLE IT WANTS HELD FOR INVESTIGATION OF WAR
CRIMES FROM 62 TO 35. THE MAIN STICKING POINT HAS BEEN,
AND REMAINS, FORMAL GOC ACCEPTANCE OF UN DEMANDS FOR LEGAL
DOCUMENTATION OF THE CHARGES PENDING AGAINST THE 35 SERBS
AND THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THESE DOCUMENTS TO DETERMINE THEIR
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VALIDITY. IF THE UN CONCLUDES THE CHARGES ARE VALID THEN
THEY WILL ASSIST THE GOC IN IDENTIFYING PEOPLE AND
TRANSFERRING THEM TO POLICE CUSTODY PROVIDED THE GOC
ALLOWS UN MONITORS DURING TRANSFER AND COURT PROCEEDINGS,
AS WELL AS REGULAR ACCESS AND GUARANTEES OF FAIR
TREATMENT.

4. UN SOURCES TOLD US THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
REFUGEES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING THESE TERMS.

5. THE UN ANTICIPATES GOC ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS WILL
COME BY LATE AFTERNOON ON SEPTEMBER 11. OUR SOURCE SAID
THAT THEY EXPECT TO BEGIN MOVING REFUGEES ABOUT 48 HOURS
AFTER THE AGREEMENT IS FORMALIZED. (IT IS NOT YET KNOWN
WHERE AUTHORITIES IN SERBIA WILL SEND THE REFUGEES ONCE
THEY ARRIVE, ALTHOUGH PRESS REPORTS HAVE SPECULATED THE
DESTINATION WILL BE KOSOVO.) THE UN OFFICIAL WE SPOKE
WITH SAID IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FORMULA FOR RESOLUTION
OF THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN KNIN WILL BE APPLIED TO A
SIMILAR SITUATION IN FORMER SECTOR NORTH, WHERE THE GOC
HAS PREVENTED DEPARTURE OF 26 REFUGEES.

GALBRAITH

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