GREATER-SERBIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST CROATIA IN THE 1990s

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UNPA zones On 21 February 1992 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 743 on the start of a peacekeeping operation and deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the Republic of Croatia for a period of 12 months (within the scope of the so-called Vance Plan for Croatia). The objective of the operation was accomplished only partly: the JNA left Croatia (after it had armed the rebel Serbs in Croatia and provided their logistical and manpower support), and the heavy weapons of the rebel Serbs was placed in storage under the joint supervision of UNPROFOR and the Serbs. But the other commitments were not fulfilled. The UNPAs (without the “pink zones”) comprised 12,554 sq. km. of Croatian territory (22% of the total); the “pink zones” (2,208 sq. km.) brought the total to 14,762 sq. km. In 1991 the population of that area was 536,370 – 258,298 (48.2%) Serbs, 205,075 /38.2%) Croats, and 72,997 (13.6%) others. They were divided into the following sectors: Sector East, with headquarters in Erdut (“Eastern Slavonia” with Baranja and Western Srijem); 2,153 sq. km.; population 188,184 (1991 census) – 49.1% Croats, 30.4% Serbs, 20.5% others; 4 municipalities – Vukovar and Beli Manastir, and parts of Osijek and Vinkovci. Sector West, with headquarters in Daruvar (“Western Slavonia”): 2,112 sq. km.; 99,452 inhabitants – 43.3% Croats, 35.4% Serbs, 21.3% others; 5 municipalities: Pakrac, Daruvar, Grubišno Polje, part of Novska (eastern part) and Nova Gradiška (western part). Sector North, 3,973 sq. km., with headquarters in Topusko (Banovina and Kordun); 6 municipalities; Dvor na Uni, Kostajnica, Petrinja, Glina, Vrginmost, Vojnić and Slunj. Sector South, 6,524 sq. km., with headquarters in Knin (northern Dalmatia and Lika); 5 municipalities: Knin, Benkovac, Obrovac, Gračac, Korenica and Donji Lapac. Sectors North and South (UNPA “Krajina”) comprised 10,497 sq. km. (including the “pink zones”); population (1991) 248,734 – 66.7% Serbs, 28% Croats and 5.3% others. 128

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