Europe 333
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On August 5, 2000, the Dea, a Croatian freighter, was seized in a Mon-
tenegrin port by Yugoslavian forces. There was no immediate reciprocation of the
seizure and the Dea was released two days later. On September 29, though, the United
States and Croatia performed joint military exercises off the Adriatic coast. Both the
United States and Croatia claimed the show of military force was not in response to
the seizure.
344 Croatia/346 Bosnia and Herzegovina
MID#3556
Dispute Number: 3556
Date(s): October 20, 1992 to October 27, 1992
Participants: 344 Croatia/346 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 251–500 deaths
Narrative: Croatia and Bosnia enjoyed a pragmatic alliance against Serbian forces.
That changed as Croatia made an agreement with Serbia to partition Bosnia and fight-
ing broke out on October 20, 1992. The fighting lasted a little over one week and ended
with an immediate ceasefire on October 27. Much of Bosnia had been partitioned.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from October 22, 1992. End Date changed from
October 28, 1992.
MID#4341
Dispute Number: 4341
Date(s): June 5, 1993 to March 1, 1994
Participants: 344 Croatia/346 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 251–500 deaths
Narrative: In 1992 Bosnia held a referendum on independence. The Bosnian Serbs
opposed independence and boycotted the election, so the voters who did turn out voted
overwhelmingly for independence. Fighting broke out as soon as the election results
were announced, and the Bosnian government moved toward independence. Over
the protest of the Bosnian Serbs, several countries recognized Bosnia in April, and
the United Nations admitted Bosnia in May. The Bosnian Serbs soon declared their
own independent state, although it did not receive recognition from the international
community.
Croatia also had interests in the fate of Bosnia. The Croats wanted Bosnian territory
and sometimes worked with the Serbs. However, the Croats also wanted to weaken
the Bosnian Serbs, including removing a substantial portion of the Bosnian Serb
lands. The militarized dispute began on June 5, 1993, when the Croatian army along
with Croatian Defense Force (HVO) units attacked Muslim defense lines at Travnik