From: draskovi@usc.edu (Zoran Draskovic)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.europe
Subject: Katimarini
Date: 11 Sep 1992 03:03:06 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: aludra.usc.edu


        KATIMARINI: GERMAN-ORIGIN ARMS IN CROATIA

    Athens, Sept 7th - Is it simply assistance to traditional
allies or is it a part of the plan of certain circles on a
'new Europe' the way they conceive it? Whatever the truth,
the fact is that German companies have been suplying
Croatia with military material of high quality and most
modern technology which iss expressly forbidden both under
the German constitution and the recent decisions of the
European Community and the United Nations. According to
verified information, made available to Katimerini, tons of
military material have been shipped to Croatia from Germany
since january 1991. for the purpose of preparing this
republic for a protracted war. This is, of course, support
or the fighting in the Balkans with extremely dangerous
goal and perspectives. Among other things, the shipments
included 80 military vehicles, 40,000 uniforms, 1,500
vehicles (civilian type) transporting the arms, 100,000 AK
automatic rifles, etc. Reliable documents confirm arms
deliveries in circumvention of E.C. and U.N. decisions.
Since January 1991., German military equipment companies
have been supplying various weapons to ex-Yugoslav
republics, Croatia in particular, despite limitations in
their country's constitution prohibiting arms shipments to
crisis areas. 'Katimerini' is in possesion of reliable
information relating to arms and material deliveries to the
territory of former Yugoslavia, in violation of the
decisions of the UN Security Council and the European
Community which, in the words of German Foreign Minister
Klaus Kinkel, are strictly complied with by German
government. It should be pointed out that Greece was the
subject of a fierce attack from German Defence Minister
Volker Ruehe, who ourightly accused the Greek government of
flouting the decision on an oil embargo against Serbia.
Katimerini would not go as far as to claim that the
violation of the UN and EC embargo is being perpetrated
with the knowledge and approval of the German government,
but it is obvious from the data documentation available to
it, that large amounts of German-made arms and material are
reaching Croatia. In late August Katimerini reported that a
military official belonging to the German air force
revealed that civilian aircraft containing war material
flew into Zagreb airport. A German Defence Ministry
spokesman denied categorically that the German government
had any information on an illegal arms trade on behalf of
Croatia. According to the information in possesion of
Katimerini, what follows is a schedule of the material
exported to the territory of former Yugoslavia:

1. January 1991: An arms shipment from Germany arrived in
   Croatia for the Ministry of Interior. It arrived in
   Lepoglava via Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Two German
   citizens were employed to train Croatian Ministry of the
   Interior Personell.

2. July 1991: 20 German-origin vehicles of unknown make
   arrived in Osijek and were dispatched to the battlefront.

3. October 1991: 40,000 military uniforms were sent from
   Germany to Croatia. Ready-to-eat meals were delivered, too.

4. Late October 1991: 6 containers of ammunition for L55 mm
   artillery pieces, 120 mm mortars and 70 anti-aircraft
   'Stinger' missiles arrived in Zadar.

5. 9 November 1991: Two boats arrived in Karlovac from
   Germany carrying aboard 'Stinger' missiles.

6. November and December 1991L Large quantities of arms and
   material were shipped from Germany to Croatia by land, sea
   or air.

7. 19. December 1991: 60 vehicles arrived in the port of
   Rijeka from Germany.

8. December 1991: Croatia ordered from German companies 6
   pieces of 203mm howitzers to Croatia. The first delivery was
   made on 31. December 1991 and the remaining equipment is
   expected to be delivered to the end of 1992. Delivery of
   4,000 hand granades is also pending.

9. January 1992: 100 anti-aircraft 'Stinger' missiles were
   delivered via a Basel-based company. The missiles were
   shipped via Italy. The shipment contained also 15,000 AK
   automatic rifles and a large number of hand granades.

10. March 1992: A German company supplied 90 vehicles to
    Croatia, 4 of them French-made, formerly in the arsenal of
    French forces in Germany.

11. April 1992: Croatia purchased from Germany various arms
    and material worth of USD 3 million. The agreement was
    signed in Zagreb on 21 and 22 April 1992.

12. Germany sold 1,500 passenger cars to Croatia this year,
    most of them, however ferried arms.

13. May 1992: The following orders were placed on behalf of
    Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia:

- 'Stinger' missiles 1,010 pieces,
- 'Ambrust' anti-armour rocket-launchers, 2,000 pieces
- AK-47 automatic rifles 100,000 pieces with 5,000 bullets for each
- RD-3 aircraft engines for MIGS, 60 pieces
- RPG-7 anti-armour rocket-launchers 2,550 pieces.

    Most of the said arms and materials were transported via
Italy by sea or by air.