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THE RSK IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1995
The liberation of Western Slavonia was just another in a series of setbacks, although
a major one, which dogged the RSK since late 1994. Th e Krajina was undergoing
a diffi cult political and economic crisis. Regardless of diff erent interpretations,
the signing of the economic agreement with Croatia in Zagreb on 2 December 1994 was
a sign of weakness. Th e agreement regulated matters such as water and power supply,
the motorway and the pipeline. 92 Soon aft er that, on 21 December, the Zagreb-Belgrade
motorway was opened for traffi c. 93 Its opening had a devastating eff ect on the morale of
the population and of the army of the Krajina Serbs. It facilitated the growth of blackmarketeering
and opened up new avenues for Croatian promotional campaigns. 94 Th e
Croatian military success on Mount Dinara and in Livanjsko Polje posed a serious threat
for the morale of the Krajina Serbs.
Th e political scene in the Krajina was turbulent. Th e prime minister, Borislav Mikelić,
was the target of many attacks because part of the political forces saw in him an exponent
of S. Milošević who was allegedly doing his best in order “to leave the Krajina within
the borders of the former Socialist Republic of Croatia”. Aft er Operation Flash Mikelić’s
position became untenable because the restrained position of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia was considered treasonable. Finally, on 29 May 1995 Mikelić was relieved
because he opposed the unifi cation of the RSK and the RS. 95 Unifi cation was also
opposed by the leadership of the rebel Serbs in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western
Srijem. Th ey founded the Coordinating Board of fi ve municipalities headed by Goran
Hadžić. 96 Milan Babić returned to the political scene, and his government was accepted
in Topusko on 27 July 1995. 97
Another set of problems which plagued the Krajina were its relations with the
international community. On 12 January 1995 the President of the Republic of Croatia
informed the public that the Republic of Croatia had decided to cancel the mandate
92 “Hronologija rata” (Th e Chronology of War), 430.
93 HDA, RSK: RSK, Ministry of Defence, Government Staff for the Opening of the Motorway (undated, no
number); Information on the opening of the Paklenica-Lipovac motorway. SVA MORH, 125th Home Guard
Regiment; VP 2147; cl. 818-03/94-02/02, reg. no. 147-04/1-94-16 of 22 December 1994; Weekly report.
94 POA: RSK, MUP, Okučani Secretariat of Internal Aff airs, no. 08-05/1-1086/1-05 of 16 March 1995. POA:
SVK West Slavonian Corps, 4 March 1995; Support telegram. POA: Public Security Directorate, no. 08/1-1-
3366/1-95 of 21 April 1995. Order.
95 N. Barić, “Srpska pobuna u Hrvatskoj 1990-1995.” (Serb Rebellion in Croatia 1990-1995), 480-483.
96 Ibid., 484.
97 Ibid., 486.
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