Western Allies Reach Tentative Deal with Croatia on Peacekeeper Numbers

Senior Administration officials have announced that a reduced contingent of United Nations peacekeepers will remain in Croatia, following intense diplomacy between the US, Europe, and Croatia. President Franjo Tudjman had threatened to have the 12,000 troops leave after their mandate expired on March 31, sparking concerns about a potential new war in Croatia and worsening the conflict in Bosnia. The tentative deal, pushed by the US and Germany, allows for a reduced force of 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers, with 10% deployed at border crossings into Bosnia and Serbia.

Key Takeaways:

• The United Nations peacekeepers in Croatia will be replaced by a force of 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers, reducing the original 12,000 troops by 60-50%.
• The reconfigured force will include 10% of soldiers stationed at border crossings into Bosnia and Serbia, catering to President Tudjman's demands for protecting Croatia's territorial integrity.
• A senior American diplomat warned that the agreement is fragile and that "things can still go wrong" in the Balkans.
• The deal follows intense diplomacy, including meetings between Assistant Secretary of State Richard C. Holbrooke and President Tudjman in the Presidential Palace.
• President Tudjman was also offered economic aid in the form of an international program to assist the loose confederation between Bosnia and Croatia.
• The Serbs in Croatia, also known as Croatian Serbs, are seen as the "wild card" in the agreement, and their cooperation is crucial for its success.
• The Croatian Government considers the existing United Nations Protection Force in Croatia to be discredited, and a new force will be authorized by a Security Council resolution.
• The US and its European allies rejected President Tudjman's proposal to replace United Nations peacekeepers with NATO forces.
• A reduced United Nations force will originally be composed of peacekeepers from Western nations, maintaining the balance of responsibility between the US and its European allies.

Statistics:

• 5,000 to 6,000: The reduced number of United Nations peacekeepers that will remain in Croatia under the tentative deal.
• 10%: The percentage of peacekeepers that will be deployed at border crossings into Bosnia and Serbia.
• 12,000: The original number of United Nations peacekeepers in Croatia before the deal was struck.
• 60% (12,000 - 5,000): The reduction in the number of United Nations peacekeepers in Croatia.
• 50% (12,000 - 6,000): The alternative reduction in the number of United Nations peacekeepers in Croatia.
• 30%: The percentage of Croatia's territory controlled by Serbs.
• 1,000 miles: The length of the cease-fire line that separates Croatian Government troops and Serbs.
• 23,000: The number of United Nations peacekeepers in Bosnia.
• 2 dozen: The number of border crossings along the Sava and Danube Rivers that will be guarded by peacekeepers.
• 5,000 to 6,000 troops: The number of peacekeepers that will be deployed in Croatia after the deal is finalized.

Sources:

• The New York Times (no date provided in the original text).
• Associated Press (no date provided in the original text).
• United Nations (no date provided in the original text).
• State Department officials (no date provided in the original text).
• Assistant Secretary of State Richard C. Holbrooke (no date provided in the original text).
• State Department officials (no date provided in the original text).
• Madeleine K. Albright (no date provided in the original text).
• Croation Government officials (no date provided in the original text).
• Senior American diplomat (no date provided in the original text).
• Peter W. Galbraith (no date provided in the original text).