http://www.politics.co.uk/issues/former-yugoslavia-and-role-british-forces-$2081725.htm
Politics.co.uk
Debate-Issue briefs
Former Yugoslavia and the Role of British ForcesWhat is the role of
the British Forces?
British forces have been involved in the conflicts in the former
Yugoslavia since the mid-1990s through their involvement in
multilateral peacekeeping and conflict missions mandated by the United
Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO).
In 2004, there were British forces based in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo
and Macedonia.
Background
The multinational, multiethnic federation of Yugoslavia began to
crumble with the death of the long-serving President Marshall Tito in
1980. The disintegration of the state reached a climax in 1991, when
the republics of Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence. The
federal government, dominated by Serbia, rejected the declaration and
war broke out that year.
After European Union monitoring had failed to halt the progression of
the conflict, the UN intervened, first through the implementation of
multilateral sanctions, and then through the authorisation of a number
of peacekeeping operations.
The UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) that was in Croatia and Bosnia
between 1992 and 1995 was granted extended authority to deliver
humanitarian assistance and provide protection for so-called 'safe
areas'. NATO air forces (which included UK personnel) were also
mandated to provide support for the delivery of the peacekeepers'
mandate on the ground. However, the weakness of the UN mandate was
highlighted following the Srebrenica massacre of 1995, where UN
peacekeepers were left helpless under the limited terms of their
mandate to halt the unfolding slaughter of Muslims.
Exhausted by economic sanctions and under the threat of further action
from NATO, the combatants agreed to bring the war to an end under the
Dayton Peace Accords of 1995.
UK forces subsequently formed part of the post conflict mission
initially mandated under UN Security Council Resolution 1031 (1995) -
the military Implementation Force (IFOR) and subsequently the
Stabilisation Force (SFOR), the latter being provided with an
ambitious and broad mandate, ranging from the traditional conflict
prevention to the modern roles of institution building and
reconstruction tasks.
However, during 1998, conflict began to return in the Serbian province
of Kosovo, an area dominated by ethnic Albanians that was left out of
the Dayton settlement. International diplomacy - notably the
'Rambouillet Accords', failed, and brutal repression and widespread
displacement of ethnic Albanians followed.
The UN proved unable to act, and NATO threats against Serbia, led by
President Slobodan Milosevic, were ignored. In March 1999, the
Organisation began an air campaign against Serbia.
Following such a major blow to its authority, the UN was keen to
ensure the post-war situation was kept within its multilateral
framework, and in UNSCR 1244 authorised an unprecedented multilateral
peacekeeping operation (KFOR and UNMIK). In 2002 the UK was
contributing some 3,000 personnel to KFOR operations.
Peacekeeping in Macedonia also saw high levels of British involvement,
in the period of instability that almost broke out into full-scale war
between the government and ethnic Albanian guerrillas, still armed
from the Kosovo crisis, in 2001.
Controversies
The legality of the air strikes in Kosovo in 1999 is one of the most
controversial political and legal issues of recent years, challenging
the very core of the UN and international law.
This controversy was created by what some saw as the impotence of the
United Nations against the resistance of pro-Serbian Russia and China,
and then by the unabating slaughter occurring by the Serbian army in
Kosovo. NATO intervention in Kosovo was justified on the legally
dubious grounds of 'humanitarian intervention'.
The air strikes themselves proved highly controversial, with NATO
forces launching attacks within Serbia itself and killing many
civilians.
The need for the ongoing presence of British troops in the Balkans is
questioned in some quarters - as is the share of the burden for
peacekeeping between participating countries.
Also controversial have been claims that veterans of the Balkan
campaigns have been exposed to radiation from depleted uranium
ammunition. This ammunition, which is mainly used for piercing armour,
has been linked to leukaemia and mental health problems. Although the
British and US governments are on record as having known about the
potential health and environmental hazards of the ammunition, both
continued to authorise their use.
Depleted Uranium (DU) first emerged as a cause for concern in
association with 'Gulf War Syndrome'. During the Gulf War, British
tanks fired about 100 DU shells. None were used by British forces in
the Balkans. However, the US fired around 860,000 DU shells during the
Gulf War, along with 10,800 rounds in Bosnia and about 31,000 in
Kosovo.
Statistics
In 2002, the British presence in the Balkans was 4,900
British troops in Kosovo are based in the capital, Pristina. In
Bosnia, they are headquartered in Banja Luka
Statistics 1 and 2: (Source: Ministry of Defence, 2002)
Quotes
"The United Kingdom remains committed to the security and stability of
the Balkans and will continue to play its full role in achieving the
international community's objectives for the region."
MoD website 2004
"Since we first sent forces to the Balkans much has changed and
improved, and we are changing with them. What hasn't changed though is
our determination to work with the people of the region to build peace
and prosperity together. Make no mistake, these forces will still be
robust enough, tough enough and flexible enough to maintain a safe and
secure environment."
Lord Robertson, then NATO Secretary General, commenting on a new NATO
plan in the Balkans 2002
"It must be assumed that not only the interior but also the
surrounding area of an armoured vehicle destroyed by DU ammunition is
contaminated. There is a potential health hazard in the form of DU
exposure stemming from ammunition parts and destroyed DU-contaminated
vehicles. Long-term hazards may also result from drinking water and
soil contamination."
Regulations issued to German troops in Kosovo
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BalkanNews/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
