CROATIA: CROATIAN GOVERNMENT APOLOGISES TO DANISH U.N. TROOPS WHO WERE USED AS "HUMAN SHIELDS"

Record ID: 646209

  • Title: CROATIA: CROATIAN GOVERNMENT APOLOGISES TO DANISH U.N. TROOPS WHO WERE USED AS "HUMAN SHIELDS"
  • Date: 8th August 1995
  • Summary: KOSTAJNICA, CROATIA (AUGUST 8, 1995)(RTV ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV DANISH CHECKPOINT 0.05 2. SV DANISH SOLDIERS ON TANKS (2 SHOTS) 0.14 3. SV CROATIAN ARMY DELEGATION ARRIVING 0.25 4. SV DANISH SOLDIER MAKING PHONE CALL IN OFFICE 0.31 5. SV DANISH OFFICERS GREET CROATIANS AND TALK (2 SHOTS) 0.54 6. SCU DANISH COMMANDER COLONEL JOERN JENSEN SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 1.39 7. SLV CROATIAN SOLDIERS (2 SHOTS) 1.52 8. SLV DAMAGED BUILDINGS (2 SHOTS) 2.03 9. SV PIGS RUNNING AROUND DAMAGED BUILDINGS 2.07 10.SV CROATIAN SOLDIERS AND DAMAGED BUILDINGS (9 SHOTS) 2.49 11.LV DESTROYED BRIDGE 2.51 12.LV BOSNIAN SERB BUNKER SEEN ON OTHER SIDE OF RIVER, BOSNIAN SERB FLAGS (2 SHOTS) 3.00 SEQUENCE 6 TRANSCRIPT: JENSEN: "LIAISON OFFICERS FROM THE (CROATIAN) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE WERE SENT DOWN TO ME TO APOLOGISE FOR THE INCIDENT WHERE SEVEN OF MY SOLDIERS WERE TAKEN AND PUT IN FRONT OF THE CROATIAN ADVANCE. I HAVE IN MY REPORT TO THE UN AND TO DENMARK ALSO EXPLAINED THIS INCIDENT, AND I ALSO EXPLAINED THAT IT'S THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE CROATIAN ARMY. I HAVE ACCEPTED THEIR APOLOGIES AND I HOPE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE CROATIAN ARMY IN THE MANNER THAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AS A UN OFFICER" Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KOSTAJNICA, CROATIA
  • City:
  • Country: Croatia
  • Reuters ID: LVADCMOL86DF8H43QGPX0Y6MZIJ9
  • Story Text: Croatian army officers presented the Croatian Government's apologies to Danish troops serving with the United Nations on Tuesday (August 8) after they were used as "human shields" by Croatian soldiers on Sunday.

    The Croatian officers, led by Major Dragan Kovacevic, Chief of the department for relations with the United Nations (U.N.), met Danish battalion cammander Colonel Joern Jensen in the town of Kostanjica and apologised for the incident in which Danish soldiers were forced to walk in front of advancing Croat troops.

    The two high-ranking officers saluted and shook hands and proceeded with talks at the Danish battalion base.

    Kostanjica is a town on the Croatian-Bosnian border and was among the last recaptured towns by Croatian army. Croatian troops entered the town on Sunday evening.

    Since then the town has been quiet. Fighting in neighbouring areas has continued and on Monday the bridge connecting Croatia and Bosnia over river Sava was destroyed in the fighting between Croatian army and Bosnian Serb forces.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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