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- Title
Danish Peacekeepers in the Republic of Serbian Krajina (Croatia), 1992-1995.
- Authors
Brink Rasmussen, Jakob
- Abstract
This article examines how the existence of the unrecognized state, "Republika Srpska Krajina" (RSK), influenced a Danish infantry battalion during its deployment in Croatia between March 1992 and August 1995. Being a part of United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), and later United Nations Confidence Restoration Force in Croatia (UNCRO), the battalion was to protect the Serb-controlled parts of Croatia from further hostilities by demilitarization of these areas. However, the RSK-authorities' stubbornness in maintaining their unofficial borders, their wish for de facto recognition of their self-proclaimed state, and their general lack of trust in the international peacekeepers immediately collided with the initial intention behind the mission. Soon after its deployment, the battalion realized that the RSK authorities hampered its implementation of the peace plan, the so-called Vance-Plan. Through an analysis of a wide range of primary sources this article considers how the battalion responded to these changed circumstances in its distinct local conflict environment. Instead of just considering the Serbs as locals with whom the battalion had the most contact, the article considers the Serb "rebels" as representatives of an unrecognized state. This makes it possible to understand the reason for their hostile attitude, actions and allegations towards the Danish battalion. The article concludes that the RSK-authorities' intention of consolidating their state borders and basic state structures (most importantly their armed forces) played a major role for the Danish battalion. This not only materialized in the battalion's changed perception of the peacekeeping mission as such, but also led to a change in the way of doing things. Thus, it can be argued that the battalion followed a local strategy instead of placing its trust in the international political discussions, which neither the battalion nor the local Serb authorities found specifically valid in their everyday practices.
- Subjects
UNITED Nations peacekeeping forces; UNITED Nations Protection Force; MILITARY missions; PEACEKEEPING forces; UNITED Nations &; Armed Forces
- Publication
Baltic Security & Defence Review, 2014, Vol 16, Issue 1, p70
- ISSN
1736-3772
- Publication type
Article