Statement
by
Dr. Jelena Grcic Polic
Deputy Permanent Representative in the Security Council
on Kosovo
New York, June 10, 1999
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, Croatia assigns particular importance to peace and security throughout Europe. Within the framework of the previous Security Council debates and deliberations on Kosovo, Croatia has called for the active and energetic involvement of the international community in the prevention of a humanitarian catastrophe and the plight of the civilian population. Much innocent blood has been spilled, many families have been broken up and left homeless, many children have lost their schools and are deprived of their very childhood.
Croatia sincerely hopes that this important resolution shall mark the end of the circle of destruction which began almost a decade ago, when the Greater-Serbian expansionist policy initiated wars in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This, now hopefully defeated and defunct, policy resulted in the dissolution of former Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, a founding member of the United Nations, and its replacement by five equal successor states, none of which continues automatically the former SFRY’s international legal personality and status in the UN. The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, that was adopted earlier today, refers to the FRY as one of the successor states to the former SFRY.
We heartened today by the apparent consensus of the international community, the Belgrade authorities and the Albanians in Kosovo to bring an end to the spiral of violence.
Like preceding speakers, I should like to express our support and praise for all those efforts which have led to the political framework contained in the resolution before us. Croatia believes that the full implementation of the resolution’s provisions is critical to giving the political process a chance to mature within an environment of restored security and civility. Croatia stands ready to share its extensive experience and contribute to the success of the forthcoming efforts of the international community in the implementation of this resolution.
As a neighboring country of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), throughout the crisis in Kosovo Croatia has played a constructive, as well as, supportive role to the efforts of the international community. In doing so, we have been motivated by the desire to see the conflict come to an end, as soon as possible, and strengthen the stability in the region. It is in this spirit that the efforts of our President to achieve a peaceful resolution were based.
Croatia actively contributed to the effort of the international community in Kosovo, including by the dispatch of humanitarian aid for Kosovo refugees and by providing support for the military and civilian activities of the international community in the area. Croatia´s role of a factor of stability in the region has been proven and dedicatedly exercised. While supporting the actions of the international community in Kosovo, we have persisted in maintaining the pace of normalization of relations with the FRY and its peoples. Make no mistake, this was no easy task. Our diplomatic and consular offices in Belgrade, Subotica and Kotor remained open for those refugees applying to return to Croatia, their homeland. This return process is continuing.
Mr. President,
I should like to join others in condemning the violation of human rights and grave breaches to humanitarian law committed in Kosovo, as well as denounce all acts and all forms of terrorism, regardless of whether they are sponsored by individuals, groups or states. Those who have committed such acts must be held accountable. Croatia categorically supports the universal right of the Kosovo Albanian population and all the people living in Kosovo to be allowed to return to their places of origin and to live in safety and dignity.
Peace breeds in and on economic prosperity. Hence, we ought not underestimate the challenges that lie ahead regarding lessening and eventually overcoming economic hardship, not only in Kosovo and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but also, throughout the region. As a neighboring state, Croatia has so far suffered $2.5 billion in direct economic losses, and an estimated $5 billion in overall economic losses due to the conflict in FRY. The international community should strengthen its approach towards fostering the overall security, political and economic stability and prosperity in the entire region, thus widening the road, for those who seek it, towards reintegration into Euro-Atlantic structures. The Republic of Croatia has all along advocated such an approach and along this line has actively embraced the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
Mr. President,
Croatia has a long and extensive experience with the UN peace-keeping operations on its soil. We welcomed and embraced help from the UN to restore peace, inter-ethnic confidence, stability and the Government’s authority in war-torn parts of our territory. No conflict and hence no peace-keeping operation is alike. Thus, although very different in scope and mandate, the UN operation in Eastern Slavonia, which came to a successful end, can serve as an example of a skillfully planned operation, equally well implemented through good co-operation between the UN and the host country. Croatia can only hope that the international community, as well as Kosovo and the rest of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia can draw upon the ´lessons learned´ from this example.
I would like to respond to the gross misrepresentation of facts as just represented by the Ambassador of Cuba in order to put the record straight. It was not 500,000 Serbs who left Croatia in 1995. The exodus that took place from the Croatian area of Krajina in 1995 included, according to the UNHCR data 90,000 civilians and 30,000 armed rebels. This exodus was ordered by the rebel leader, Milan Martic, who was accused for the shelling of the city of Zagreb and indicted as a war criminal. He still remains at large. The indignation of the Ambassador of Cuba expressed over attrocities in the FRY only, would carry some weight if his country had reacted similarly while Croatian cities were shelled, inluding my home town of Dubrovnik. The same goes for Sarajevo and other cities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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