Operation Joint Guard

IFOR Follow-Up

To support further implementation of the GFAP, and responding to the resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the North Atlantic Council (NAC) authorized a NATO-led operation for an 18 month period to deter a resumption of hostilities and to stabilize the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B-H). The operation was designated Operation Joint Guard and was conducted by a Stabilization Force (SFOR).

Mission

SFOR's mission was to provide continued military presence to deter renewed hostilities and to stabilize and consolidate the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to contribute to a secure environment for the ongoing civil implementation plans.

Principle Tasks

SFOR's principle tasks included:

• Maintaining the Zone of Separation (ZOS) and keeping it free from armed groups.
• Ensuring heavy weapons remain in approved storage areas.
• That freedom of movement existed throughout the country for SFOR and civilian agencies.

SFOR promoted freedom of movement across the Inter Entity Boundary Line (IEBL) for all citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina but was not expected to guarantee the movement of individuals throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina or forcibly return refugees.

SFOR will:

• Maintain control of the airspace over B-H and of the movement of military traffic over key ground routes.
• Continue to use Joint Military Commissions.
• Give selective support to international organizations in their humanitarian missions.
• Assist in the observation and prevention of interference with the movement of civilian populations, refugees and displaced persons, and respond appropriately to deliberate violence to life and person.
• Assist in the monitoring of the clearance of the minefields and obstacles.

Primary Objectives

SFOR's primary objective was to ensure respect for the cessation of hostilities and the Zone of Separation. It strictly held the parties to compliance with the cantonment of heavy weapons and the demobilization of forces and took appropriate actions to prevent any new threats to the peace.

It removed impediments to freedom of movement and projected a sense of security throughout the country.

SFOR remained ready to support the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia. As the peace agreement stated, other organizations were responsible for tasks related to nation building. These included:

• conducting humanitarian missions;
• granting election security;
• police force duties;
• moving refugees;
• implementing arms control and regional stability measures.

Contributing to a secure environment and promoting freedom of movement was SFOR's main support to the work of other organizations which were primarily concerned with the civil aspects of the Peace Agreement. SFOR provided selective support for civil tasks within its
existing mandate, so long as this did not detract from its primary military mission. SFOR worked closely with the High Representative, the International Police Task Force, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). SFOR assisted their efforts in such areas as the conduct of elections, the return of refugees and displaced persons, the maintenance of law and order and the investigation of war crimes, tasks essential to the long-term consolidation of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Map shows boundaries as set in the Dayton Peace
Agreement as well as the NATO zones of operation

Conclusion

The NATO-led operation in Bosnia Joint Guard took over from 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 and other non-NATO countries. It demonstrated that the Alliance adapted its forces and policies to the requirements of the post-cold War world, while continuing to provide collective security and defense for all Allies.

It was tangible proof that, in addition to carrying out the core functions of defense of the Alliance, its military forces had the flexibility to be used outside the NATO area, for operations under the authority of the UN Security Council with clear political objectives and military tasks given by the North Atlantic Council.

NATO's own military capabilities and its adaptability to include forces of non-NATO countries were decisive factors in the Alliance's role in implementing the military aspects of the Bosnian Peace Agreement. This operation showed that the Alliance remained prepared to deal with the new, multifaceted security risks facing Europe with the end of the Cold War.