Defence Forces Review 2008

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Balkan Dilemma I am aware that the Croats are waiting to see how the Republika Srpska will react and of course there is an argument that if Kosovo is recognised and allowed to establish itself as an independent state, then why not Republika Srpska The Croats, in turn and in particular the Croats of Western Herzegovina will pose the same question and it will not matter very much to them that a somewhat artificial Federation exists which many of them see as having been imposed on them. This possible scenario is not theoretical, but actually represents the thinking of nationalists in both the Republika Srpska and Croat nationalists. The interesting point here, of course, relates to the fact that the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina may well be quite willing to remain within some form of federal state, but they will almost definitely want the security of having their own constituent republic within that State; the Serbs may not be as accommodating. Right now, it may well be too late to re-think the position regarding the recognition of Kosovo, but if Kosovo Albanians succeed in attaining a separate state, then the consequences not alone for Serbia, but for Bosnia and Herzegovina could well be far more serious than proponents of an independent Kosovo might have had cause to expect. The problem is almost upon us now but there remains the opportunity to avert any form of conflict even at this late hour. Right now we all have to ‘wait and see’ in regard to the possible spin-off effects of the Kosovo problem. While it is easy to be negative about the Balkans, not everything was dark and sometimes, the people of a post-war region can put war behind them to some degree without any assistance from anybody other than themselves. I will finish by relating a short account of such an instance. During the course of 1997, I was travelling on the road from the town of Stolac, in Western Herzegovina on route to the town of Lubinje in the Republika Srpska. When we reached the Inter Entity Boundary Line (at that time effectively a border between the Fedreration of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska), I noticed two automobiles parked on the roadside. I was surprised to see that one automobile had registration plates from the Republic of Croatia and the other had registration plates for the Republika Srpska; I wondered vaguely what dealings the occupants of these cars might have had with each other. Within about two weeks, a market had sprung up on that same stretch of road; the market was mainly for the sale of agricultural produce, including cattle, sheep and vegetables. Of course the market was illegal, as many members of the international community, including the UN International Police Task Force pointed out to me. People reminded me that it was part of my function to prevent the establishment of such markets. I had no intention of interfering with the market, my view being that if people were trading with each other, they were far less likely to fight. Within about two months the market stretched over about seven kilometres of road and was frequented mainly by Serbs and Croats and by now a number of ramshackle café bars had been put in place and small numbers of Muslims had started using the market and were even selling goods there. My view was that as long as the facility was not used in order to deal in arms or drugs, then why interfere; people were showing that it was possible to try to return to some form of normality. At this point, the General Officer Commanding the France-German Division expressed reservations to me in view of the fact that the presence of the market might impede the rapid movement of troops and especially armoured vehicles on the route if it became necessary to deploy forces into Srpska. This French officer, General Pierre Lang was a man who was always more than willing to help as much as he could and he always recognised the importance of the long-term objectives of the peace process and he agreed to allow matters to rest. Within a couple of weeks, the people responsible for the 105
Defence Forces Review 2008 establishment of the market commenced widening the road and the generals fears were allayed. This market was the first indication that peace might just be working and I noted that the market was also frequented by troops from General Lang’s Division; people in the market informed me that the troops came regularly to buy local cheese and that their visits were both appreciated and welcomed. 106
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Óglaigh na hÉireann Defence Force
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Editor’s Note On 28 June 1958 Iri
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Punching Above Our Weight Punching
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Punching Above Our Weight was now c
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Punching Above Our Weight attacks o
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Punching Above Our Weight It is the
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Punching Above Our Weight 17 Statem
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Ireland’s first engagement in Uni
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Lessons from The Congo Lessons from
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Lessons from The Congo antagonistic
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Lessons from The Congo When McKeown
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Lessons from The Congo The besieged
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Lessons from The Congo The biggest
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At-Tiri, or Bosnia Avoided : The Ir
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Healer of the Nation Healer of the
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Healer of the Nation The Irish food
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Healer of the Nation I have given t
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‘Bullets, Bacteria and Boredom’
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‘Bullets, Bacteria and Boredom’
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Page 68 and 69: ‘Bullets, Bacteria and Boredom’
Page 70 and 71: The Nobel Lecture - 9 January 1989
Page 76 and 77: Boots on the Ground and the Complex
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Page 92 and 93: Lessons from Kosovo Lessons from Ko
Page 94 and 95: Lessons from Kosovo responsibility
Page 96 and 97: Lessons from Kosovo The Brahimi Rep
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Page 100 and 101: Lessons from Kosovo There is now be
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Page 104 and 105: Lessons from Kosovo 17 R. Murphy,
Page 106 and 107: Balkan Dilemma Balkan Dilemma Antho
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Page 112 and 113: Balkan Dilemma During the entire co
Page 114 and 115: Balkan Dilemma consider the UN and
Page 118 and 119: ‘New’ versus ‘No’ World Ord
Page 126 and 127: UNMIL - A UN Success Story UNMIL -
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Page 134 and 135: UNMIL - A UN Success Story The prov
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Page 138 and 139: The Process of Reform in United Nat
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Page 162 and 163: The Future of Peacekeeping The Futu
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The Future of Peacekeeping multilat
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‘Carlsberg don’t do Peacekeepin
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Short Biographical Statement Short
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Short Biographical Statement 11. Co
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Defence Forces Review 2008

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