US Calls for Tripling of Monitors on Serb-Bosnian Border Amid Concerns of Wartime Materiel Flow

Strategic Insights -

The United States has expressed concerns to the UN Security Council that a significant amount of military equipment is still passing through the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, despite a declared arms embargo. US representative Madeleine Albright stated that "significant quantities of materiel" are still getting through, and the US is pushing for the number of monitors controlling the border to be tripled from 300 to 400. This comes as Bosnian government forces have made significant gains on the battlefield in recent days, and NATO planes are flying low over the city of Sarajevo in a show of force.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US is advocating for the number of monitors on the Serb-Bosnian border to be tripled from 300 to 400 to prevent the flow of wartime materiel.
  • Significant quantities of military equipment are still passing through the border, despite a declared arms embargo.
  • The Bosnian government has made significant gains on the battlefield in recent days, sparking concerns about the flow of arms to their forces.
  • NATO planes are flying low over Sarajevo in a show of force, amid fresh mortar and artillery exchanges between Bosnian government troops and Bosnian-Serb forces.
  • The US is not challenging the overall conclusion of the monitors' latest report, but is disputing its aspects.
  • The UN monitoring mission was launched last month, following Serbia's agreement to stop the arms flow to the Bosnian Serbs.

Statistics:

  • 300-400: proposed number of monitors to be deployed on the Serb-Bosnian border.
  • 1991: year the war in Bosnia began.
  • 1991: year the war in Bosnia began.

Sources:

  • United Nations (Nov. 7 Anonymous)
  • U.S. State Department (Nov. 7 Anonymous)