CROATIA: TROOPS MOVE TOWARDS SERB HELD AREA OF EASTERN SLAVONIA скачать в хорошем качестве

CROATIA: TROOPS MOVE TOWARDS SERB HELD AREA OF EASTERN SLAVONIA

(11 Nov 1995) Serbo-Croat/Nat Croatian forces have been moved towards the Serb held area of Eastern Slavonia for a second night running. In the face of the increased troop movements, the inhabitants of the frontline town of Osijek have been preparing for a renewal of fighting. For the second night running a large number of Croatian troops and weapons left their army barracks in Zagreb heading eastwards. Heavy artillery, multiple rocket launchers, armoured vehicles, tanks and engineering units were on the move. The Croatian Army refuses to make any comment on the movements. Rebel Serbs, with help from the Serb dominated Yugoslav army, occupied one third of Croatian territory after Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Earlier this year, the Croatian army recaptured most of its territories lost in 1991, leaving Eastern Slavonia the last bit held by rebel Serbs. They deny Croatian sovereignty and refuse to live in a Croatian state. Eastern Slavonia is the most eastern part of Republic of Croatia and is only separated from Serbia proper by the River Danube. Because of the increase in tensions in the area, Eastern Slavonia is high on the agenda at the Dayton peace talks. The latest troop movements make the possibility of a peaceful reintegration of Eastern Slavonia in Republic of Croatia increasingly difficult. War fever is present on both sides. Earlier this week, local Serbs took over deserted U-N observation checkpoints in the separation zone. Elsewhere Croatian troops are stationing themselves in bunkers and army bulldozers were digging out artillery positions near Osijek. People in the city of Osijek and the entire region bordering Eastern Slavonia are preparing for a fresh onslaught of fighting. Fresh shelters made of sand bags have been erected around the city. The County Prefect of Eastern Slavonia, a Croatian hard-liner, said Osijek was ready for war. SOUNDBITE: "We are ready for the military option. It is up to the Serbs to accept the proposed agreement or to refuse it. In case they will refuse it, and it looks like they are not going to accept it, Croatia will have legal right and green light of international community to liberate its occupied territories with its own means and reintegrate those regions with its own power." SUPERCAPTION: Branimir Glavas, County Prefect of Eastern Slavonia Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, who has returned from the peace talks in Dayton, has said he will liberate the area by November the 30th if the current negotiations end in failure. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...