1. Serb-Croat Conflict in Croatia
Maggie Manning
Geography 308

2. General Information 56,542 km2- slightly smaller than West Virginia
2003 population: 4,422,248
89.6% Croat
4.5% Serb
Seceded from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991
Wants to be part of NATO/EU
Not granted membership because of human rights atrocities against Serbs

3. General Information Cont’d…
Mediterranean and continental climates
Hot summers and cold winters inland
Mild winters and dry summers on coast
Economy- based on agriculture and livestock until after WWII (more than half the popn. were peasants)

4. Different Ethnic Groups
Different ethnic groups in the area
Serbs have changed it the most
In % of popn. was Serb
2001 census: 4.54% is Serb
Large ethnic Serb minorities in Krajina and Eastern Slavonia

5. History of Serbs in Croatia
Serbs migrated to Croatia and to Hungary in 18th century
Welcomed by Austrian rulers
Serbs helped protect borders from invading Turks
Some stayed for generations
Especially in the Austrian military frontier, Krajina region

6. Atrocities against Serbs in WWII
Croatian Nazis commit atrocities against Serbs during WWII
Known as Ustashi
Both Croat and Muslim fascists were responsible
Genocide of Serbs, Jews, Gypsies, and other minority groups
Ustashi wanted “racial purification”
During this time Serbs were expelled, forced to convert religion, tortured, and killed

7. Krajina Region http://members.tripod.com/~kutla/razno/vodic.html
Eastern Slavonia

8. Nationalism Started Reappearing
Tensions increased between Croats and Serbs
Both Croat and Serb nationalists liked the irredentism view
Croatians had been suppressed by Josip Tito
After Tito died in 1980 Croatia and Slovenia elected non-communist political parties
Era of Communist Party monopoly ended

9. Violence After 1991 Secession
Violent break-outs between Croats and Serbs in northern Croatia
Serbian President Milośević supported the fighting
Tremendous destruction
Entire cities destroyed
Extensive damage to roadways, bridges, personal property
untaes.html

10. Serb-Croat War Croatia was poorly armed and Caught off guard
7 months of fighting
10,000 deaths
30,000 wounded
More than 14,000 missing
photos.htm

11. Europe Steps In European Community intervenes
January 3, 1992 UN peace-keeping force called for in Croatia
Serbs agree to hand over heavy weaponry
Allow refugees to return home

12. Croatia Wins
August ,000 Croatian troops retake control of Krajina (area along Bosnian border)
Rid the area of Serbian rebels
Ethnically cleansed Serbs who had lived there for centuries
Temporary peace in 1996 between former Yugoslav republic
January 15, 1998 eastern Slavonia transferred to Croatia
Was under UN administration for two years

13. Transition Underway Croatian nationalist leader Tudjman died in 1999
Replaced by democratic government
Will this create a new relationship between Croats and Serbs?
Tudjman’s nationalist party made a comeback in 2003

14. Most of the conflicts are geographical
Stem from historical misunderstandings of who “owns” the land
Serbs want control of land in Croatia that historically belonged to their ancestors
Disagreement about national composition of regional popn.’s
Popn. is mixed
Historically was the area majority Serb or Croat?
Could not agree on a time in history to look at
Key reason for present fighting

15. Two periods of ethnic cleansing during post-Yugoslav war time
1991-Croats were expelled
1995-Serbs were ejected
Lots of Krajina Serbs settled in Kosovo
Worsened ethnic tensions with Albania
Erupted into war in
Why ethnic cleansing?
Possibly because of economic problems
Who should have control over which regions?

16. Croatia in the 21st Century
In 2000 president-elect Stipe Mesic had reform ideas
All ethnic Serb refugees should be allowed to return home
Nationality and citizenship issues are irrelevant
All refugees are victims of war
Milošević was ousted in Serbia at this same time
Far reaching consequences for the region
Especially Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia

17. NATO/EU Membership Croatia wants to join NATO Wants to join EU
Cannot commit atrocities against minority groups
Do not want to cater to Serbs because of historic dispute
Wants to join EU
Needed to reform judicial system, protect its minorities, allow Serb refugees to return home
EU Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen on Croatian economy:
“Croatia is better placed today than most of the countries that will be joining on May 1st.”
Croatia has the backing of the EU Commission and will most likely become a member as early as 2007, and most definitely before the end of the decade

18. Obstacles Remaining Hostility towards Serbs has settled
Majority of returning refugees are elderly
Return of large number could cause a backlash
20% unemployment rate
Returning Serbs face joblessness
Homes still destroyed
Both Croats and Serbs
Bosnian Croats took refuge in Serb homes that had been abandoned
Serb refugees (1995)
en/reag/5myths.htm

19. References
“Croatia Inches Closer to EU Membership.” 21 April, April, 2004.
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“Croatia: Population Profile and Figures.” April, 2004.
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Jansen, Stef. “The Violence of Memories.” Rethinking History: 2002 vol. 6.
77-94.
Partos, Gabriel. “Analysis: Problems Hinder Return to Croatia.” 10 February, April, <
“Serbs.” 29 April, <
“The World Factbook: Croatia.” 18 December, April, 2004.
<
Worldmark Yearbook 2000 vol. A-H. Detroit: The Gale Group,