NATO approves initial Bosnia force

December 1, 1995
Web posted at: 7:25 a.m. EST (1225 GMT)

BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNN) -- NATO ambassadors have put their seal of approval on sending the first 2,600 of the 60,000 peace-keeping troops to monitor the peace accord in the Balkans.

In a statement released Friday, NATO said that the ministers had decided to "deploy theatre-enabling forces into Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina." The ambassadors delayed the decision on Thursday night over wording of the authorization document. Also, several ambassadors, including the U.S. envoy, wanted to consult with their capitals before giving the go-ahead.

The 2,600 troops, part of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Force (AARC) headquartered in Rheindahlen, Germany, could be ready to take up position as early as Sunday. The AARC, headed by British general Sir Michael Walker, is on 24 hours' notice to get moving. Small survey teams were already in Bosnia. The advance unit contains 700 U.S. troops and 500 British troops.

U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry told reporters after meeting with fellow alliance defense ministers Thursday that the military plan was "carefully crafted to send a solid, able force under NATO command to implement a peace agreement."

British Defense Minister Michael Portillo said all NATO nations were determined to adhere to the 12-month time limit for the 60,000-strong Implementation Force (IFOR) to remain in the former Yugoslavia.

IFOR will be a heavily armed operation and, unlike the U.N. peace-keeping mission, will have the authority to shoot first before being fired upon. The force is expected to leave for Bosnia after Balkan leaders sign a formal peace treaty in Paris on December 14.

The United Nations is expected to formally hand over charge to the NATO mission after the Paris pact is signed. Several NATO member countries will have to receive parliamentary approval for "Operation Joint Endeavour," as the mission has been named, before they can commit a large contingent of troops.

Related stories:

• Bosnia troop deployment: a quick guide
• 70,000 U.S. troops in mission
• Officials detail peace plan for panel
• NATO to keep peace in Bosnia, but not rebuild - Nov. 29
• Text of House Hearings on Bosnia - Part 1
• Text of House Hearings on Bosnia - Part 2
• Text of House Hearings on Bosnia - Part 3
• Text of House Hearings on Bosnia - Part 4
• Text of House Hearings on Bosnia - Part 5

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