FACT: WHAT A WONDERFUL ACT – PACIFISTIC DECISION OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL OF 25th SEPTEMBER 1991

COMMENT: Slobodan Praljak Lieutenant General of Croatian Army in retirement

Brilliant decision of the UN Security Council, superb decision, mixture of wisdom, knowledge, insight, leadership and historic responsibility, startling level of HUMANITY.

BRAVO, BRAVISSIMO.

Well – Russians and Serbs show their affection publicly, French like Serbs (Mitterrand expresses this publicly), well, ok, English don’t like anyone, let alone Croats, Yugoslavia is liked by everyone, but Americans, Americans, Americans.

John Ford and John Wayne must be turning in their graves from all this battle righteousness.

Montenegrin poet and bishop Njegoš said:

„The battle is not won by bright weapons, but by the beating heart in the chest of a hero“

Greek poet Cavafy wrote:

„ Honour to those who in the life they lead define and guard a Thermopylae “.

We paid a great price and WON.

DOKUMENT D-11, D-12, D-13

DOCUMENT D-11

JNA ARMED FORCES

STRUCTURE AND NUMBER OF SFRY ARMED FORCES

(ARMED FORCES = JNA + TERRITORIAL DEFENSE) AT WAR AND PEACE:*

JNA MANPOWER:

in peace: 180.000 (15%)

at war: + 1.200.000 (85%)

TD MANPOWER:

in peace: approx. 1.000 (2% command only)

at war: approx. 1.200.000 (98%) – of which:

Slovenia TD 110,000, Croatia TD 230,000, Bosnia and Herzegovina TD 270,000; Montenegro TD 40,000; Macedonia TD 60,000; Serbia TD 300,000; Vojvodina TD 60,000, Kosovo TD 130,000, keep in mind that the latter existed only on paper, because after the demonstrations of Albanians in the spring of 1981 TD was disarmed and weapons were taken to Serbia; Kosovo Serbs and Montenegrins (around 12% of the population) were left with the weapons or were later armed via parallel non-institutional channels. Total SFRY armed forces in war (stretched by 8%): 2,400,000, of which approximately 550,000 in manufacturing and logistics, and the rest in combat units.

Land forces

(LF) COMPOSITION:

17 corps

1st guard division (Belgrade) and 63rd Parachute Brigade (Niš) as independent units of the General Staff.

HEAVY ARMAMENT:

2,100 tanks

1,000 armoured personnel carriers

8,000 ordnance

1,300 antitank missile weapons.

Yugoslav Navy (YN)

COMPOSITION AND RESOURCES:

1 torpedo boats brigade (14)

1 missile boats and missile gunboats brigade (16)

1 patrol boats brigade (4)

1 minesweepers division

1 submarine brigade (11)

1 naval commando unit

3 naval infantry brigades.

Air Force and Air Defence (AF AND AD)

COMPOSITION:

5th Corps of AF and AD (Zagreb)

1st Corps of AF and AD (Belgrade)

3rd Corps of AF and AD (Skopje)

RESOURCES:

512 combat aircrafts

104 transport aircrafts

152 helicopters and

118 other aircrafts, and

5,100 antiaircraft guns and

2,800 antiaircraft missile weapons.

* Source: Martin Špegelj, “Memories of a soldier” (Croatian title: „Sjećanja vojnika“) published by Znanje d.d., Zagreb, 2001, II Appendix outside the text: 2 Maps: 4 Territorial organisation of JNA after 1988 – military system;

DOCUMENT D-12 i D-13

In a letter dated 14 November 1991182 the President of the Security Council informed the Secretary-General as follows:

“I have the honour to inform you that your letter dated 12 November 1991181 concerning an addition to the Member States contributing military personnel to the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia has been brought to the attention of the Council members. They agree with the proposal contained in your letter.”

LETTER DATED 19 SEPTEMBER 1991 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

LETTER DATED 19 SEPTEMBER 1991 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CANADA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

LETTER DATED 20 SEPTEMBER 1991 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF HUNGARY TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

LETTER DATED 24 SEPTEMBER 1991 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF YUGOSLAVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Decision

At its 3009th meeting, on 25 September 1991. the Council decided to invite the representative of Yugoslavia to participate without vote, in the discussion of the item entitled:

“Letter dated 19 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/23052).”22

“Letter dated 19 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/23053).”22

“Letter dated 20 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/23057).”22

“Letter dated 24 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Yugoslavia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/23069).”22

Conscious of the fact that Yugoslavia has welcomed, through a letter from the Permanent Representative of Yugoslavia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council183 the decision to convene a meeting of the Security Council.

Having heard the statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia.184

Deeply concerned by the fighting in Yugoslavia, which is causing a heavy loss of human life and material damage, and by the consequences for the countries of the region, in particular in the border areas of neighbouring countries.

Concerned that the continuation of this situation constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Recalling also the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter.

Commending the efforts undertaken by the European Community and its member States, with the support of the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, to restore peace and dialogue in Yugoslavia, through, inter alia, the implementation of a cease-fire including the sending of observers, the convening of a conference on Yugoslavia, including the mechanisms set forth within it and the suspension of the delivery of all weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia.

Recalling the relevant principles enshrined in the Charter, and in this context taking note of the declaration of 3 September 1991 of the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe that no territorial gams or changes within Yugoslavia brought about by violence are acceptable.

Taking note of the agreement for a cease-fire concluded on 17 September 1991 in Igalo, and also that signed on 22 September 1991.

Alarmed by the violations of the cease-fire and the continuation of the fighting.

Taking note of the letter dated 19 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council.185

Taking note also of the letters dated 19 and 20 September 1991 from, respectively, the Permanent Representative of Canada186 and the Permanent Representative of Hungary187 to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council.

Taking note further of the letters addressed to the Secretary-General dated 5 and 22 July, 6 and 21 August and 20 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands188 the letter dated 12 July 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Czechoslovakia,189 the letter dated 7 August 1991 from the Permanent Representatives of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,190 and the letter dated 19 September 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Australia191: as well as the letter addressed to the President of the Security Council dated 7 August 1991 from the Charge d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Austria,192 and the letters dated 29 August and 4 and 20 September 1991 from the Permanent Representatives of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland193 to the United Nations.

1. Expresses its full support for the collective efforts for peace and dialogue in Yugoslavia undertaken under the auspices of the member States of the European Community with the support of the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe consistent with the principles of that Conference;

2. Supports fully all arrangements and measures resulting from such collective efforts as those described above, in particular with regard to assistance and support to the ceasefire observers, and to consolidate an effective end to hostilities in Yugoslavia and to assure the smooth functioning of the process instituted within the framework of the Conference on Yugoslavia;

3. Invites to this end the Secretary-General to offer his assistance without delay, in consultation with the Government of Yugoslavia and all those promoting the efforts referred to above, and to report as soon as possible to the Security Council;

4. Strongly urges all parties to abide strictly by the ceasefire agreements of 17 and 22 September 1991;

5. Appeals urgently to and encourages all parties to settle their disputes peacefully and through negotiation al the Conference on Yugoslavia, including through the mechanisms set forth within it;

7. Calls upon all States to refrain from any action which might contribute to increasing tension and to impeding or delaying a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the conflict in Yugoslavia, which would permit all Yugoslavs to decide upon and to construct their future in peace;

8. Decides to remain seized of the matter until a peaceful solution is achieved.

Adopted unanimously at the 3009th meeting.

Prof. SLOBODAN PRALJAK, M.Eng.

Theatre and Film director – Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb

Lieutenant General of Croatian Army in retirement

Publisher: „Oktavijan“ d.o.o. Radnička cesta 39 HR-10000 Zagreb Croatia
Editor: Nikola Babić Praljak

Layout: GENS94, Zagreb

ISBN 978-953-7597-14-6

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available in the Online Catalogue of the National and University Library in Zagreb as 000956547

Comment
Translations and transcriptions of original documents contained in this book were compiled from a variety of sources. In order to preserve the authenticity of original documents, only the most necessary linguistic adaptations were made in translations.

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