Cablegate: Tudjman Letter to President of the World

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

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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00066 01 OF 03 161536Z
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0559
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0060

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 00066

SIPDIS

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PINR PGOV CA PGOV CA PGOV CA PHUM
SUBJECT: TUDJMAN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD
JEWISH CONGRESS
FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO
TUDJMAN TO EDGAR BRONFMAN, PRESIDENT OF WORLD JEWISH
CONGRESS. BEGIN TEXT:

DEAR MR. BRONFMAN,

I AM ADDRESSING YOU ON BEHALF OF THE REPUBLIC OF
CROATIA, CURRENTLY THE YOUNGEST EUROPEAN STATE, BUT
A STATE WITH A CENTURIES-LONG TRADITION OF
STATEHOOD. CROATIA NOW SEEKS THE RECOGNITION OF HER
INDEPENDENCE AS EXPRESSED BY THE WILL OF HER
CITIZENS AT THE REFERENDUM OF MAY 15, 1991. AT THE
REFERENDUM, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CROATIAN
CITIZENS CHOSE TO LIVE HENCEFORTH IN THE INDEPENDENT
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, A DEMOCRATIC STATE ASSURING ALL
ITS CITIZENS EQUAL RIGHTS, REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS,
NATIONAL OR POLITICAL AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS, AND
REGARDLESS OF ANCESTRY OR SOCIAL STATUS. THE
CROATIAN PEOPLE WISH TO ACHIEVE THE BASIC RIGHT OF
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EVERY NATION TO SELF-DETERMINATION.

I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
AND SUPPORT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FREELY
EXPRESSED WII) 9| 5#3 :858"3, 9| 5#3 4307?)8: 9|
:49-58-, HAVING IN MIND YOUR INTERNATIONAL STATURE
AND YOUR POSITION, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD
JEWISH CONGRESS, THE HIGHEST REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF
THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN ALL COUNTRIES WHOSE CITIZENS
INCLUDE JEWS. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE JEWISH
PEOPLE WILL SHOW UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OUR
EFFORTS, WHICH ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL WITH THE
LONG-STANDING STRUGGLE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO
REALIZE THEIR NATIONAL RIGHT TO STATEHOOD, A RIGHT
AFFIRMED BY THE WORLD IN 1948 WHEN THE STATE OF
ISRAEL WAS PROCLAIMED.
THE MILLENNIAL DREAM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE, REALIZED
IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL, WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH HORRIBLE SUFFERING AND PERSECUTION,
CULMINATING IN THE TRAGIC EVENTS DURING THE SECOND
WORLD WAR. AS IN MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THE
CROATIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHOSE CONTRIBUTION TO THE
CULTURAL, PUBLIC, ECONOMIC AND SPIRITUAL LIFE OF
CROATIA HAS BEEN INVALUABLE, SUFFERED TRAGIC LOSSES
DURING THE WAR. ABOUT THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND
CROATIAN CITIZENS- CROATS, SERBS, JEWS AND OTHERS -
FELL IN THE ANTIFASCIST STRUGGLE AND AS VICTIMS OF
FASCISM AND NAZISM. THE USTASHA REGIME OF THE
INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA COMMITTED COUNTLESS WAR
CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. THAT WAS A
REGIME WHICH, UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE NAZI AND
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FASCIST OCCUPATION FORCES, PERSECUTED JEWS AND
MEMBERS OF OTHER NATIONALITIES AS WELL AS CROATIAN
POLITICAL OPPONENTS IN THE MOST BRUTAL MANNER. WITH

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ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 CIAE-00 DODE-00 CSCE-01 HA-09 H-01
INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-02 PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 SCT-03 SNP-01
SP-01 SSO-00 SS-01 TRSE-00 T-01 FMP-01 /052W
------------------042D1F 161543Z /44
O 161533Z JAN 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0273
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
USIA WASHDC 1088
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY LISBON
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMCONSUL MUNICH
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO 1349
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00066 02 OF 03 161538Z
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0560
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0061

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 00066

SIPDIS

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PINR PGOV CA PGOV CA PGOV CA PHUM
SUBJECT: TUDJMAN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD

THESE CRIMES, IT IRREVOCABLY JOINED ITS PATRONS,
SHARING THEIR HISTORICAL FATE. ON THE OTHER HAND, A
VAST NUMBER OF CROATS - MYSELF AMONG THEM - TOOK UP
ARMS AGAINST THE USTASHA REIGN OF TERROR AND THE
NAZI AND FASCIST OCCUPATION.

WE DEEPLY REGRET THE FACT THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN
CROATIA SUFFERED THE TRAGIC FATE OF THE HOLOCAUST
DURING THE WORLD WAR II. HOWEVER, DURING THIS GRAVE
ORDEAL, THE CROATIAN PEOPLE SHOWED SOLIDARITY WITH
THE VICTIMS OF THE USTASHA REGIME. THIS IS
INDISPUTABLY EVINCED BY EXAMPLES OF DIRECT
ASSISTANCE WHICH THE POPULATION AND THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN CROATIAN RENDERED TO THE JEWS IN CROATIA.
A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE
PERSECUTED JEWS WAS THE ACTION OF THE SCHOOL YOUTH
OF ZAGREB. BROUGHT TOGETHER AT THE STADIUM WHERE
YOUNG JEWS WERE TO BE SINGLED OUT, ALL THEIR
CROATIAN FELLOW STUDENTS STEPPED OUT TO JOIN THEM.
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THIS IS ONE OF NUMEROUS CASES INDICATING THAT
ANTI-SEMITISM DURING THE USTASHA REGIME WAS THE
PRODUCT OF HITLER'S NEW EUROPEAN ORDER.

AS AN HISTORIAN, I HAVE DEVOTED MANY PAGES OF MY
BOOKS TO THE ANALYSIS OF THE HORRORS OF VIOLENCE
SUFFERED BY THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN RECENT HISTORY. TO
MY GREAT REGRET, PARTS OF MY BOOK "WASTELANDS OF
HISTORICAL REALITY" HAVE BEEN MISINTERPRETED EITHER
AS HISTORICAL REVISIONISM OR AS ANTI-SEMITISM. AS A
FORMER ANTI-FASCIST FIGHTER AND A COMMITTED
DEMOCRAT, I REFUTE ALL INTENTIONS OF THE KIND.

THE OBJECTIVITY OF MY CONVICTION IS CONFIRMED TODAY
BY RELATIONS BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC CROATIA WITH THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY, BY THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY TO THE CREATION OF A NEW DEMOCRATIC AND
INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, AS WELL AS BY ITS
PARTICIPATION IN THE MANY EFFORTS INTENDED TO EASE
AND ELIMINATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BLOODY WAR
AGAINST MY COUNTRY. IT IS ALSO CONFIRMED BY THE
EVER GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF
SUCH DISTINGUISHED JEWISH INTELLECTUALS AS ALAIN
FINKIELKRUT AND ANDRE GLUSKSMAN, REGARDING
CROATIA'S INALIENABLE RIGHT TO INDEPENDENCE, AS WELL
AS THE AID THAT MANY JEWS AND JEWISH ORGANISATIONS
HAVE OFFERED AND GIVEN TO WAR-TORN CROATIA.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ON ETHNIC COMMUNITIES AND

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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00066 03 OF 03 161538Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 CIAE-00 DODE-00 CSCE-01 HA-09 H-01
INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-02 PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 SCT-03 SNP-01
SP-01 SSO-00 SS-01 TRSE-00 T-01 FMP-01 /052W
------------------042C50 161539Z /38
O 161533Z JAN 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0274
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
USIA WASHDC 1089
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY LISBON
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMCONSUL MUNICH
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO 1350
UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00066 03 OF 03 161538Z
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0561
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON//N24//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0062

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 00066

SIPDIS

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PINR PGOV CA PGOV CA PGOV CA PHUM
SUBJECT: TUDJMAN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD
JEWISH CONGRESS
FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO
TUDJMAN TO EDGAR BRONFMAN, PRESIDENT OF WORLD JEWISH
CONGRESS. BEGIN TEXT:

NATIONAL MINORITIES GUARANTEE THE COMPREHENSIVE
DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF MINORITIES AND CITIZENS,
AND THEIR COMPLETE PROTECTION. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
IN CROATIA WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY, AS IT HAS IN THE
PAST, ALL THE RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL RIGHTS ENJOYED
BY OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS ALSO EVINCED BY
THE INITIATIVE TAKEN BY THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND
MYSELF TO REBUILD THE ZAGREB SYNAGOGUE, WHICH WAS
DESTROYED BY THE USTASHA REGIME.

MANY JEWS HOLD POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE IN CROATIAN
PUBLIC LIFE, AND WE WISH, BY THE SAME TOKEN, TO
ESTABLISH COMPREHENSIVE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WITH
THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

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I AM CONVINCED THAT THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE
CROATIAN AND JEWISH PEOPLE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE
BUIDING OF A NEW AND BETTER UORLD. WITH THIS
BELIEF IN MIND, DEAR SIR, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL
SUPPORT MY COUNTRY AND MY PEOPLE IN THE ACHIEVEMENT
OF PEACE, FREEDOM, INDEPENDENCE AND DEMOCRACY.

ZAGREB, JANUARY 8, 1992

SINCERELY YOURS,
PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
DR. FRANJO TUDJMAN
END TEXT.
EINIK

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