UN Envoy Reports Bosnian Serb Withdrawal, Averts NATO Airstrikes

Strategic Insights -

UN Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi announced on Sunday that Bosnian Serb forces were withdrawing from around the eastern Bosnian town of Gorazde, averting threatened NATO airstrikes. Akashi reported that the situation in Gorazde was improving, with fewer and fewer targets visible in the area, and that additional UN troops were deploying along confrontation lines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bosnian Serb forces withdrew from around Gorazde, a UN-designated "safe area," after a deadline for their withdrawal passed.
  • UN observers reported that very few, if any, tanks were observed within a 3-km zone around Gorazde.
  • NATO planes on a reconnaissance mission over Gorazde reported fewer and fewer targets in the area.
  • Additional UN troops, including a company of British soldiers, one platoon of Russians, and a platoon of Egyptian soldiers, are expected to join the 200 Ukrainians already deployed in Gorazde.
  • The UN requested no airstrikes despite the threatened NATO action.
  • UN Envoy Akashi accused Bosnian Serb forces of burning houses while withdrawing from the Gorazde artillery-free zone and blowing up a water plant on the Drina river.
  • Akashi pledged to raise this matter with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic in strong terms.
  • The UN Envoy praised the successful medical evacuation of 43 wounded Muslims from Gorazde to Sarajevo.

Statistics:

  • 200 Ukrainians are already deployed on both sides of the river Drina to monitor the cease-fire and withdrawal of Serb forces.
  • 43 wounded Muslims were medically evacuated from Gorazde to Sarajevo.
  • 3 km is the zone around Gorazde where Serb forces were required to withdraw by 0001 GMT Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT Saturday.
  • Serb tanks should have been withdrawn by noon local time Sunday.

Sources:

  • Reuters News Agency
  • AP News Agency
  • The New York Times, April 24, 1994