YUGOSLAVIA: ETHNIC TENSIONS CONTINUE IN CROATIA

Created: 8/20/1990

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Tensions Continue In Croatia

The referendum on Serb autonomy was held yesterday in Serb-popu/ated parts of Croatia without incident; however, tensions are such that the slightest incident could setloody confrontation and lead to demands for federal military Interventio

Although the referendum occurred without interference from Croatian or federal authorities, armed Serbs still control at least three towns in the region. The referendum's organizer. Serbian leader Jovan Raskovic, is seeking talks with Croatian President Tudjman to defuse the situation. Tudjman continues to blame Serbian strongman Milosevic and other Serb outsiders of trying to destabilize Croatia and bring down his government. The Slovene government has echoedrbia and called on Belgrade to bring the Serbs under control

Belgrade, while urging calm, issued another strong warning to thoseiolent solution to the country's political crisis. Presidenterb, stated that the collective presidency will act. if necessary, to prevent civil war but that"have the right to declare themselvespokesman for the federal Army said the military has the responsibility lo prevent fratricidal war in any pan of Yugoslavia and would carry out this taskhe official denied the Atmy was involvedlan to destabilize Croatia and warned Raskovic andotto attempt to manipulate the military for political rcasonsM

I The confrontation on Friday between the Serbs and the >itians almost certainly illustrated to all sides how quickly the situation can escalate toward armed confrontation. Although the referendum was mostly peaceful. Croatia's nationalist government will closely monitor how the republic's Serbian minority tries to articulate itsudjman will be particularly sensitive to /any evidence of involvement by Milosevic or his supporters. The Croatian President may come under intense pressure to regain the Scrb-controllcdio^is^^movcjlniost certainly to be met by armed resistance fl

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