Editing Franjo Tuđman (section)

====Bosnian War====
{{See also|Bosnian War|Croat–Bosniak War}}
[[File:Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman sign the Croat-Muslim Federation Peace Agreement - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency.jpg|thumb|right|Tuđman and [[Alija Izetbegović]] signing the [[Washington Agreement]] in 1994]]

As the war in Croatia reached a stalemate, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina worsened. The JNA used its territory for offensives against Croatia, but avoided the Croat majority part of Herzegovina.{{sfn|Marijan|2004|p=252}} Tuđman doubted that Bosnia and Herzegovina could survive the dissolution of Yugoslavia, but supported its integrity if it remained outside a Yugoslav federation and Serbian influence.{{sfn|Sadkovich|2007|pp=239–240}} The first Croat casualties in the country fell in October 1991 when the village of [[Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Ravno]] was attacked and destroyed by the JNA. Several days later Bosnian president [[Alija Izetbegović]] gave a televised proclamation of neutrality, stating that "''this is not our war''".{{sfn|Marijan|2004|p=255}}{{sfn|Krišto|2011|p=43}}

The Bosniak leadership initially showed willingness to remain in a rump Yugoslavia, but later changed their policy and opted for independence.{{sfn|Krišto|2011|p=43}} The Croat leadership started organizing themselves in Croat-majority areas and on 18 November 1991 established the [[Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia|Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia]] as an autonomous Croat territorial unit.{{sfn|Krišto|2011|p=44}}{{sfn|Marijan|2004|p=259}} At a meeting in December 1991 with the [[Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina|HDZ BiH]] leadership Tuđman discussed the possibility of joining Herzeg-Bosnia to Croatia as he thought that Bosnian representatives were working to remain in Yugoslavia. There he criticized HDZ BiH president [[Stjepan Kljujić]] for siding with Izetbegović. However, in February 1992 he encouraged Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the upcoming [[1992 Bosnian independence referendum|Bosnian independence referendum]].{{sfn|Krišto|2011|pp=47–48}} Izetbegović declared the country's independence on 6 April that was immediately recognised by Croatia.{{sfn|Tanner|2001|p=285}} At the beginning of the [[Bosnian war]] a Croat-Bosniak alliance was formed, though it was often not harmonious.{{sfn|Christia|2012|p=154}} The Croatian government helped arm both Croat and Bosniak forces.{{sfn|Marijan|2004|p=266}} On 21 July 1992, the [[Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia|Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation]] was signed by Tuđman and Izetbegović, establishing a military cooperation between the two armies.{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=243}} In September 1992 they signed two more agreements on cooperation and further negotiations regarding the internal organization of Bosnia and Herzegovina,{{sfn|Mrduljaš|2008|p=859}} though Izetbegović rejected a military pact.{{sfn|Krišto|2011|p=51}} In January 1993 Tuđman said that Bosnia and Herzegovina could survive only as a confederal union of three nations.{{sfn|Mrduljaš|2008|p=862}}

Over time, the relations between Croats and Bosniaks worsened, resulting in the [[Croat–Bosniak War]].{{sfn|Christia|2012|pp=157–158}} The Bosniak side claimed that Tuđman wanted to partition Bosnia and Herzegovina, a view that was increasingly accepted by the international community. This made it difficult for Tuđman to protect Croatia's interests and support Herzeg-Bosnia.{{sfn|Krišto|2011|p=51}} As the conflict escalated, Croatia's foreign policy reached a low point.{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=247}} Throughout 1993 [[Peace plans proposed before and during the Bosnian War|several peace plans]] were proposed by the international community. Tuđman and the Herzeg-Bosnia leadership accepted all of them, including the Vance-Owen Plan in January 1993 and the Owen-Stoltenberg in July 1993. However, no lasting ceasefire was agreed.{{sfn|Sadkovich|2007|p=218}} In early 1994 the United States became increasingly involved in resolving the wars. They were concerned with the way the Croat-Bosniak war helped the Serbs and put pressure on the two sides to sign a final truce. The war ended in March 1994 with the signing of the [[Washington Agreement]].{{sfn|Tanner|2001|p=292}} In June 1994 Tuđman visited Sarajevo to open the Croatian embassy there. He met with Izetbegović and discussed the creation of the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Croat-Muslim Federation]] and its possible confederation with Croatia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/06/14/croatian-president-visits-sarajevo/|title=Croatian President Visits Sarajevo|date=14 June 1994 |publisher=chicagotribune|access-date=19 July 2015}}</ref>