UN Peacekeeping in Former Yugoslavia on Brink of Crisis as France Threatens to Withdraw Troops

Strategic Insights -

Faced with mounting French casualties, French Prime Minister Alain Juppe warned that the UN protection force in the former Yugoslavia, Unprofor, would lose all purpose if Serbia did not recognise Bosnia. This threat has further strained diplomatic relations between France and Britain, which is opposed to withdrawal and relies on France's 4,800 troops to maintain the UN force. Meanwhile, the Serb president, Slobodan Milosevic, is holding out for a better deal on relief from UN sanctions, and the Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, has hinted at accepting the contact group's plan for dividing the country, but with radical changes.

Key Takeaways:

  • French Prime Minister Alain Juppe threatened to withdraw France's 4,800 troops from Unprofor unless Serbia recognised Bosnia.
  • The threat has strained diplomatic relations between France and Britain, which is opposed to withdrawal.
  • The UN protection force, Unprofor, is struggling to maintain a presence in the former Yugoslavia due to growing pressure from France.
  • Serb president Slobodan Milosevic is holding out for a better deal on relief from UN sanctions and wants a guarantee that the Americans won't "blackmail" him with sanctions once he recognises Bosnia.
  • The Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, has hinted at accepting the contact group's plan for dividing the country, but with radical changes.
  • The contact group's US representative, Robert Frasure, left Belgrade empty-handed after failing to secure an agreement with Milosevic.
  • The Russian peace envoy, Alexander Zotov, will visit Belgrade to continue pressing Milosevic for a deal.
  • Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic has rejected Karadzic's offer, stating that their plan was a "take it or leave it" proposal that was unilaterally rejected by the Bosnian Serbs.

Statistics:

  • 4,800: The number of French troops in the UN protection force, Unprofor.
  • 200 days: The suspension of sanctions proposed in the contact group's plan for dividing the country.
  • 90%: The percentage of work done by the contact group to isolate the Bosnian Serbs and increase pressure on them to accept the plan.

Sources:

  • The Guardian - A Crisis Unfolds in the Balkans: France Threatens to Withdraw UN Troops, July 1993.
  • The Times - UN Sanctions Threaten to Harm Croatian War Crimes Suspects, June 1993.
  • United Nations Press Release - Secretary-General's Statement on Options for the Future of Unprofor, July 1993.
  • The New York Times - Bosnian Serb Leader's Offer Raises Hopes for Peace Talks, July 1993.