Turkish Troops Enter Bosnia-Herzegovina After 605 Years

Strategic Insights -

Turkish troops, bearing the United Nations flag, are set to enter Bosnia-Herzegovina this week, marking the first such deployment since 1878. The move comes as a pressing need for fresh forces in the former Yugoslavia prompted the United Nations to break the rule banning old regional rivals from keeping the peace. The Turkish battalion's arrival has been met with a dramatic reaction, with Belgrade warning of the potential escalation of the conflict and the Bosnian Serbs threatening to shoot Turks on sight. Despite this, the Turkish commander, Colonel Mehmet Ali Erdogan, has stated that his troops have no hostile intentions and will strive to be impartial.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Turkish troops will be deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina for the first time in 605 years, since the Ottoman Empire took control in 1389.
  • The deployment comes as a result of the UN's decision to break the rule banning old regional rivals from keeping the peace.
  • The Turkish battalion will be deployed in Zenica and Kakanj in central Bosnia, as far as possible from Serbian front lines.
  • The Ottoman Empire's legacy is complex and sensitive in the region, with the Serbs celebrating the Day of Saint Vitus (June 28) as a day of national martyrdom.
  • The UN has stated that the Turkish troops will be responsible for patrolling Zenica, Kakanj, and the surrounding countryside, as well as building confidence among Croats and Muslims in the region.
  • The arrival of the Turkish troops has been met with widespread criticism, with Belgrade warning of the potential escalation of the conflict.

Statistics:

  • 605 years since the Ottoman Empire took control of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1389.
  • 1878: The Congress of Berlin ended 500 years of Ottoman rule in Bosnia.
  • 391: The number of people killed in the battle of Kosovo Polje, which marked the beginning of Ottoman rule in the region.
  • 28 June 1389: The date of the battle of Kosovo Polje, which is celebrated as St Vitus' Day by the Serbs.

Sources:

  • The Independent, no date mentioned.