Public Information Adviser International Military Staff Press Backgrounder 20 Dec. 1996

At the End of IFOR's Mission An Account of Succes The end of IFOR's mandate, today marks an appropriate moment to take a retrospective look at the major accomplishments of Operation JOINT ENDEAVOUR. This operation was of course, NATO's first ever ground force operation, its first-ever deployment out of area, and its first-ever joint operation with NATO's Partnership for Peace nations together with 4 other non-NATO, non-PfP nations. 16 NATO and, with the recent inclusion of Bulgaria, 18 Non-NATO nations have contributed at one time or another, over 60,000 troops, and facilities. In the air, as many as 308 aircraft have been assigned from 11 NATO nations, and over 29,700 sorties flown, including NAEW support. At sea, in addition to some 20 ships from 11 NATO nations that were routinely involved on a day-to-day basis in the joint NATO/WEU embargo enforcement operation, SHARP GUARD, there were at any one time, up to 10 ships from 5 NATO nations involved in the IFOR mine-counter measures operation, DECISIVE ENHANCEMENT. Under the Dayton Peace Agreement, IFOR was set a series of demanding timelines for the implementation of the military aspects of the Agreement. The overall volume of IFOR activity this year perhaps causes us to forget the speed and efficiency with which IFOR achieved the initial requirements of their mission. However, perhaps their most important achievement was the fact that the cycle of Spring offensives among the warring factions was broken, thus allowing a breathing space for the first stages of consolidating a peace. In terms of enforcing compliance throughout the year it is interesting to note that: The number of illegal check points from an average of 70 incidents per week by late Mar dropped down to 2 incidents per week by early Dec. The number of ZOS violations also dropped down from an average of 25 incidents per week by early Feb to 1 incident per week by mid-Dec. The total number of weapons confiscation and destruction reached 2702. It is however, worth noting that in respect of weapons confiscation from police forces the number of weapons confiscated has increased significantly from 10 per week by late Jun to nearly 200 for the last week of Nov and the first week of Dec. These were the major achievements as far as the military tasks are concerned. But there is nothing to be achieved without effort and losses. Since the beginning of the Operation, IFOR has suffered a total of 265 casualties, of which 52 were fatal. Nevertheless, it is perhaps a tribute to the training, discipline and professionalism of the force that so few of these casualties have been caused through direct action by the former warring factions. In addition to its primary military tasks, IFOR has of course supported the civilian agencies and NGOs through the provision of a secure environment that has enabled the civilian agencies and the population of B-H to advance their differing programmes. But IFOR's physical contribution has gone well beyond a simple matter of security. After the cessation of hostilities, it was estimated that 90 percent of the population in the Federation and the Republic of Srpska were at least partly dependent on humanitarian food aid. There was extensive damage to the buildings, water supply, power generation, roads and telecommunication facilities. Once deployed, IFOR units has worked unceasingly, with local community leaders, to improve living conditions for families and to provide emergency humanitarian assistance for the most needy.Emergency food supplies and water have been delivered to hospitals and elderly. 70 % of the schools and the teaching aids were damaged and IFOR has helped the communities to replace text books, repair buildings and buy the basic equipment needed to run the schools. IFOR troops have reconstructed or supported the reconstruction and renovation of critical bridges and roads, damaged during the war. IFOR engineers have open approximately 2,500 km of roads, which spans the whole of B-H. 64 bridges projects are either operational or underway, and IFOR provided considerable assistance in opening up the railway system. The International Committee of the Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations were also assisted in critical construction projects, such as the repair and provision of water supplies. In the field of agriculture, in combination with the World Bank, IFOR has provided logistics, contract development, customs and tariff expertise and management training to help the 4000 farmers who lost their cattle as a result of displacement caused by ethnic cleansing and general fighting.IFOR troops have also worked closely with the OSCE in preparing for, and supporting, last September's national election process. Moreover IFOR has worked closely with the Office of the High Representative to help stand up the central government institutions, rebuild the parliament building and prepare for the return of an estimated 1.250.000 refugees and the reintegration of displaced persons. We should not forget that for this immense undertaking, IFOR civil-military support included more than 300 educators, public transportation specialists, engineers, agriculture experts, economists, public health officials, veterinarians, communication experts and lawyers. They provided technical advice and assistance to various commissions and working groups, and to parties, civil organisations, non governmental organisations, IFOR units and local authorities. Currently 645 CIMIC projects have been completed. They represent a value of 6.5 million Dollars. 255 new projects with a value of 6.3 million Dollars have been started. However, despite this enormous effort there remain major concerns that will be inherited by SFOR. There are still areas of potential ethnic tension that will need to be closely monitored. Restrictions to freedom of movement and resettlement continue to emerge, unpredictably and sporadically. Mine clearing by the FWF has not been conducted at a satisfactory rate and, according to the IPTF, all three factions have police forces which are three times larger than the usual ratios in western countries. This is an area that will be of particular concern to SFOR in the near future. In combination, these issues continue to provide major challenges to a return to normality and the pace of economic reconstruction.