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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
December 15, 1998

U.S. Condemns Remarks of Croatian President Tudjman

The United States deplores the remarks of Croatian President Tudjman December 14, in which he declared that he had recently recommended the use of force against NATO troops on the Bosnian border and that this threat forced SFOR to change its plans. Such statements concerning our peacekeeping forces are unacceptable in any form and under any circumstances. This is particularly unfortunate given the commendable record of cooperation SFOR has enjoyed with Croatia to date.

The United States also rejects President Tudjman's use of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as a scare tactic for partisan political ends. The United States reminds the Government of the Republic of Croatia of its obligations and responsibilities according to the Dayton Agreement and international law, and urges the Croatian President to refrain from further partisan attacks on the ICTY.

The United States views with concern and regret President Tudjman's vision of the role of the international community, humanitarian organizations, and independent media in Croatia. His claim that "no country in the world is as riddled with a network of agents as is Croatia," and that "all those representatives from Europe, the United States, as well as from humanitarian organizations and the independent media...are all engaged in surveillance of the situation in Croatia" characterizes this distorted view. We hope and believe his view is not shared by the Croatian people.

The international community and the people of Croatia have long worked together to promote democracy, social justice, reconciliation, and economic development, in the interest of all Croatians. The United States remains firmly committed to these important and fundamental principles. It is unfortunate that the Croatian President sees these values and activities as threatening.

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