Z-4 Plan - Croatian Reactions

Croatian Reactions

The plan was given to Croatian and Krajina authorities by the EU in January, 1995. Croatia accepted the plan as a basis for future negotiations, but found many parts of it unacceptable. Some in the Croatian opposition supported the Z-4 Plan. However, MPs from the right-wing parties called for the automatic rejections of the agreement.

Croatia is organized as a unitary state, and many viewed acceptance of the plan as a step to the federalization and confederalization of the state, both of which were unacceptable. The plan was also opposed because it would have required amending the constitution in significant ways. Croatia had also stated that it would not extend UNPROFOR’s mandate in Croatia past March 31. Croatia did accept the parts of the plan that concerned the establishment of Croatian sovereignty on its entire territory, return of the refugees, and local self-administration for the Serbian ethnic communities. However, Croatia rejected the aspects that exceeded the limits of constitutional provisions and international conventions on the rights of ethnic communities or minorities.