United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation, commonly known as UNCRO is a completed UN Mission. It replaced the United Nations Protection Force
(UNPROFOR) in Croatia
.
and was deployed to the newly created Croatia. Additional forces were also deployed to Serbian-controlled Western Slavonia, the Krajina
region and Eastern Slavonia. Observers were additionally stationed in the Prevlaka peninsula.
and Operation Storm
, UNCRO reduced its activities only to the easternmost parts of Croatia.
After the Erdut Agreement
, the mandate of UNCRO was terminated on January 15, 1996.
United Nations Protection Force
The United Nations Protection Force ', was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. It existed between the beginning of UN involvement in February 1992, and its restructuring into other forces in March 1995...
(UNPROFOR) in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
.
Mission
UNCRO was established on March 31, 1995 in Security Council Resolution 981United Nations Security Council Resolution 981
United Nations Security Council Resolution 981, adopted unanimously on March 31, 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, the Council established the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia for a period terminating November 30, 1995.The...
and was deployed to the newly created Croatia. Additional forces were also deployed to Serbian-controlled Western Slavonia, the Krajina
Krajina
-Etymology:In old-Croatian, this earliest geographical term appeared at least from 10th century within the Glagolitic inscriptions in Chakavian dialect, e.g. in Baška tablet about 1105, and also in some subsequent Glagolitic texts as krayna in the original medieval meaning of inlands or mainlands...
region and Eastern Slavonia. Observers were additionally stationed in the Prevlaka peninsula.
Mandate
Their mandate stated:- Performing the functions envisaged in the cease-fire agreement of March 29, 1994
- Facilitating implementation of the economic agreement of December 2, 1994;
- Facilitating implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions;
- Assisting in controlling, by monitoring and reporting, the crossing of military personnel, equipment, supplies and weapons, over the international borders between Croatia and Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, and Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) at the border crossings;
- Facilitating the delivery of international humanitarian assistanceHumanitarian aidHumanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
to Bosnia and Herzegovina through the territory of Croatia; and
- Monitoring the demilitarisationDemilitarisationDemilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles to an agreed minimum. Demilitarisation is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict....
of the PrevlakaPrevlakaPrevlaka is a small peninsula in southern Croatia, at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor in the eastern Adriatic. The word prevlaka means portage. The cape Oštro, located at the tip of the peninsula, is the southernmost point of mainland in Croatia....
peninsula.
Forces
To make sure the operation would be successful 6,581 troops, 194 military observers and 296 civilian police served in UNCRO. These were supported by international and local civilian staff. During their presence UNCRO suffered 16 fatalities, all being military personnel.Termination
Following the Operation FlashOperation Flash
The Serbs in western Slavonia took part in the organized rebellion against the government of the Republic of Croatia that had just proclaimed independence in June 1991, by proclaiming the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia in August 1991...
and Operation Storm
Operation Storm
Operation Storm is the code name given to a large-scale military operation carried out by Croatian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gain back control of parts of Croatia which had been claimed by separatist ethnic Serbs, since early...
, UNCRO reduced its activities only to the easternmost parts of Croatia.
After the Erdut Agreement
Erdut Agreement
The Erdut Agreement , officially the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, was the agreement reached on November 12, 1995 between the authorities of the Republic of Croatia and the local Serb authorities of the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia...
, the mandate of UNCRO was terminated on January 15, 1996.