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Croatia Calls for Withdrawal of 12,000 U.N. Troops from Embattled Republic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman has asked the U.N. Security Council to end the presence of 12,000 U.N. troops in the former Yugoslav republic when their mandate expires at the end of March. Tudjman, addressing the Security Council, stated that the U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as UNPROFOR, has been "wholly unacceptable" and "significantly counterproductive" to the peace process. He cited the failure of U.N. troops to end fighting between Croats and Krajina Serbs, as well as the presence of 50 peacekeepers killed and 500 others wounded since their arrival in 1992. Tudjman warned that a U.N. withdrawal would result in renewed fighting, and he urged the parties to exercise "utmost restraint."

Key Takeaways:

  • Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman has requested the U.N. Security Council to withdraw the 12,000 U.N. troops from the embattled republic when their mandate expires on March 31.
  • Tudjman has accused the U.N. peacekeeping mission (UNPROFOR) of being "wholly unacceptable" and "significantly counterproductive" to the peace process in the Krajina region.
  • Over 50 U.N. peacekeepers have been killed and 500 others wounded since their arrival in 1992.
  • Croatian public opinion has demanded the reintegration of rebel Croatian Serb-occupied territories by force if necessary.
  • U.N. officials have disputed Croatia's view, stating that the U.N. troops' role is to separate the two sides and not to forcefully impose peace.
  • The Security Council has renewed the mandate of UNPROFOR every six months, with over 40,000 U.N. civilian personnel and military troops currently present in the Balkans.

Statistics:

  • 600 Croats have been killed and 12,000 others "forcefully expelled" from the Krajina region since 1992.
  • 390,000 non-Serb residents in Krajina were expelled by local Serb nationalists with the assistance of the Yugoslav army before the arrival of U.N. troops.
  • 50 U.N. peacekeepers have been killed and 500 others wounded since their arrival in 1992.
  • There are currently 40,000 U.N. civilian personnel and military troops in the Balkans, with 12,000 in Croatia and 23,000 in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Sources:

  • United Nations Security Council resolution S/RES/727 (1992)
  • Croatian government press release (1995)
  • U.N. official statement (1995)
  • State Department spokeswoman Christine Shelly (1995)
  • Croatian President Franjo Tudjman (1995)
  • Rebel Croatian Serb leader Borislav Mikelic (1995)

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