He set up the enterprise[clarification needed] Gavrilović, a meat processing farm which was very successful, and he was recognised throughout Yugoslavia as a prominent businessman.
Mikelić, whose party was the first to inform the Federal Presidency of these dramatic events, was accused of organising a Serbian rebellion by the Croatian government.
He was often asked to join the Socialist Party of Serbia of Slobodan Milošević, but never did, deciding not to attend their meetings and congresses, and instead associating with the Yugoslav Left.
Mikelić regarded them as committing a major error in appearing to be obstinate, though he himself accepted Z-4 only as a basis for negotiation, as it offered autonomy only to 11 municipalities, which formed less than half of the RSK's territory.
[5] Milan Martić, RSK President, claimed at one government meeting in early 1995 that Milošević had called him and backed his rejection of Z-4.
Mikelić thought this odd, as Milošević had been encouraging his economic agreements with Croatia, which were intended to lead to gradual reintegration.