New UN Force to Replace Current Troops in Croatia

Strategic Insights -

United Nations officials are discussing the formation of a new UN force in Croatia, totaling 5,000 to 6,000 troops, to replace the current 12,000 UN peacekeeping troops whose term will expire on March 31. The new force, consisting of 500 border monitors, will be responsible for monitoring zones separating Croats and Croatian Serbs, as well as assisting in the delivery of humanitarian goods and maintaining control at border crossing points. The new force is seen as a compromise reached by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and US Vice President Al Gore, aiming to avoid a wider conflict among the main ethnic groups in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new UN force will consist of 5,000 to 6,000 troops, replacing the current 12,000 UN peacekeeping troops in Croatia.
  • The new force will include 500 border monitors to be posted at border crossing points along the 1,000 km (600 mile) border between Croatia and its neighbors - Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • The new force will be responsible for monitoring zones separating Croats and Croatian Serbs, assisting in the delivery of humanitarian goods, and maintaining control at border crossing points.
  • U.S. troops will not participate in the new UN force, as per the agreement between Tudjman and Gore.
  • The new plan is scheduled to be adopted by the UN Security Council before the March 31 deadline for the withdrawal of the 12,000 UN troops.
  • Croatian President Franjo Tudjman is scheduled to visit the United States later this week to discuss the new plan with UN officials in New York.
  • The new UN force will continue the work of the U.N. Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia, which has been operating in the region since 1992.

Statistics:

  • The current UN peacekeeping troops in Croatia total 12,000, with a 1,000 km (600 mile) border to be monitored.
  • The new UN force will consist of 500 border monitors, to be posted at 25-30 border crossing points.
  • The U.N. has a total of 40,000 troops from over 30 countries in the Balkans, operating under the U.N. Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia.
  • The deadline for the withdrawal of the 12,000 UN troops is March 31.
  • The new UN force will consist of 5,000 to 6,000 troops, replacing the current UN peacekeeping troops in Croatia.

Sources:

  • A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing an agreement between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
  • A statement by the U.N. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the agreement between Tudjman and Gore.
  • A report by the U.N. on the U.N. Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia.
  • A statement by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, accusing U.N. troops of carrying out a mandate that allegedly helped Croatian Serbs perpetuate their demand for autonomy in the Krajina region.