EXPERIENCE OF THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IN THE REINTEGRATION OF TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Abstract

This article examines the historical and managerial experience of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in the reintegration of temporarily occupied territories after the armed conflict between 1991 and 1995, which was implemented under the conditions of a limited armed conflict between Serbia (as the successor of the Republic of Yugoslavia) and Croatia, as well as the active participation of the international community under the auspices of the United Nations. The study is based on the idea of analogies of the preconditions of the conflict between Serbia and Croatia, regarding the ownership of certain territories and appropriate methods of conflict resolution in order to protect the population from economic and humanitarian crises. Based on the analysis of the regulatory framework, laws, decisions of the Croatian government, international assistance programs and the activities of UN missions, the features of the gradual restoration of public administration, security, local self-government, a network of socio-economic ties and legal order in regions that were for a long time outside the jurisdiction of the central government, but under the management of unspecified institutions created by the occupation administration, are revealed. Special attention is paid to the implementation of the Erdut Agreement, the creation of the UN Interim Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (UNTAES), as well as the role of local self-government in the process of peaceful integration. Significant differences between the situations in Croatia and Ukraine are identified, which are due to different degrees of escalation, the power of military action and counteraction, nuclear danger, the absence of serious real religious, cultural and ethnic contradictions between the population of the territories. It is shown that the success of the Croatian model was due to a combination of political will, diplomatic support, a clear phasing of measures, as well as social policies aimed at reconciliation and the return of the population. It is concluded that the experience of Croatia has practical significance for Ukraine: it demonstrates the need to form a systemic approach to post-war reintegration, based on a balance of security, legal and humanitarian mechanisms, the participation of international partners and the restoration of trust in government institutions.