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Soldiers

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Former Yugoslavia Delayed Amid Croatian Demands and Bureaucratic Wrangling

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Deployment of 4,000 British troops to reinforce a disintegrating peacekeeping mission in former Yugoslavia has been further delayed due to Croatian cash demands and ongoing negotiations within the United Nations command. Despite being on standby since May, the airmobile brigade will not be available in Bosnia before early August, according to defence sources. Senior UN officials are meeting with Croatian government representatives to address the issues, which include demands for payment of fees for facility use, environmental damage, and access to training areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • The deployment of 4,000 British troops to Bosnia has been delayed until early August, with the airmobile brigade still on standby since May.
  • Senior UN officials are meeting with Croatian government representatives to resolve issues related to the deployment, including demands for payment of fees.
  • Local Croatian officials have demanded payment for the use of facilities, environmental damage, and access to training areas near Tomislavgrad.
  • Fees were requested for the use of a Bosnian football pitch as a staging area and for gravel used in the construction of helicopter pads.
  • Croatian officials are also asking to be paid for the use of facilities, which has been described by a senior UN officer as "hard bargaining".
  • The French marines have been accused of acting like an "invading army" and have sparked local sensitivities, according to a UN official.

Statistics:

  • 4,000 British troops are intended to reinforce the peacekeeping mission in former Yugoslavia.
  • The airmobile brigade has been on standby since May.
  • The deployment will not be available in Bosnia before early August.
  • Six dozen helicopters are being maintained as part of the deployment.
  • Fees have been demanded for the use of a Bosnian football pitch as a staging area.
  • Gravel used in the construction of helicopter pads have also been the subject of a demand for payment.
  • Task Force Alpha, built around the Devon and Dorset Warrior armoured vehicles, is currently based at Vitez.

Sources:

  • "Croatian cash demands and continued wrangling within the United Nations command have further delayed deployment of 4,000 British troops intended to reinforce a disintegrating peacekeeping mission in former Yugoslavia" (Source: David Fairhall and Julian Borger, Zagreb).
  • "Senior UN officials are due to meet Croatian government representatives today to try to unravel the red tape hampering the deployment" (Source: David Fairhall and Julian Borger, Zagreb).
  • "Almost every aspect of the deployment, from barracks accommodation to maintenance of the six dozen helicopters and access to training areas near Tomislavgrad, has been subject to hard bargaining by Croatian and Bosnian officials" (Source: David Fairhall and Julian Borger, Zagreb).

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