US Seizes Diplomatic Initiative in Croatia, Easing Regional Tensions

The US has effectively taken over the initiative in Croatia, reversing the tide of European-led policy that has dominated the region for months. In a groundbreaking agreement, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman agreed to allow the United Nations peacekeeping forces to remain in his country, paving the way for a reconstituted peacekeeping operation.

Key Takeaways:

• The agreement requires two new Security Council resolutions to create separate United Nations forces for Bosnia and Croatia, the latter to be smaller and redeployed mostly to Croatian borders.
• The current mandate for the deployment of peacekeepers in Croatia expires on March 31, and Vice President Al Gore assured the Croatian President that the peacekeepers would remain in place even if the two Security Council resolutions were not in effect by that date.
• The smaller United Nations force of about 5,000 troops will only "monitor" the international frontiers, not control them, as initially stated by President Tudjman.
• The American officials have stated that there is no intention of involving American troops in the reconstituted peacekeeping operation.
• The agreement forestalls a NATO and US mission to withdraw over 35,000 peacekeepers from the former Yugoslavia, a scenario that was seen as inevitable if the United Nations operation in Croatia was canceled.

Statistics:

• 35,000: The number of peacekeepers that were set to withdraw from the former Yugoslavia if the UN operation in Croatia was canceled.
• 5,000: The number of troops in the reconstituted United Nations force.
• March 31: The date by which the current mandate for the deployment of peacekeepers in Croatia expires.
• 30%: The percentage of Croatia held by separatist Serbs.

Sources:

• The New York Times
• Reuters