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Withdrawal of Troops: General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Implementations

Withdrawal of Troops – 1995

The General Framework Agreement required all foreign forces to be withdrawn within 30 days of the signing of the agreement. The Bosnian government agreed to evict some 2,000 foreigners from Iran and Afghanistan fighting with Bosnian Muslim forces.¹ Information was not available on whether this provision was implemented. (Reviewer’s Comments: The provision was never fully implemented. Despite pressure from the U.S., a number of Islamist militants remained in Central Bosnia around the towns of Zenica and Tuzla, and in the village of Maoca. Some of the leading figures had been directly linked to organizing events leading to 11 September 2001 (for more on these links see US Congressional hearings regarding the events of September 11). In late 2001, eleven Algerians (former Army BiH soldiers) were arrested by the Government in Sarajevo, handed over to US forces, and incarcerated in Guantanamo. Nonetheless, a fairly small foreign Wahhabi community had remained active in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) up to this point.

However, the Muslim-led Bosnian government and Bosnian Serbs withdrew soldiers and weapons from 38 key points along the cease-fire line. The withdrawal was the first major test of compliance with the peace accord and the first test of NATO’s ability to enforce the agreement.²This complied with the withdrawal requirement of the agreement as mentioned in Phase I of the plan.

“Price of Bosnia peace increases,” St. Petersburg Times (Florida), December 1, 1995.
“Bosnia’s warring parties pull back from Sarajevo,” USA TODAY, December 28, 1995.

Withdrawal of Troops – 1996

On 7 February 1996, the US Senate passed Resolution 225 related to Bosnia and Herzegovina, calling for the compliance of Bosnia’s Moslem government to the provision which required the expulsion of all foreign volunteer fighters.¹

The withdrawal of Bosnian Serb and Bosnian Croat troops continued from their front-line and bunkers across central and northern Bosnia. The withdrawal came five days before Friday’s deadline (19 January 1996) for the creation of a 4-kilometre buffer zone along the former front lines throughout Bosnia. However, the withdrawal was said to have continued until Friday.²

The situation surrounding the eviction of foreign fighters from Bosnia and Herzegovina was not clear. NATO Secretary General Javier Solana confirmed that fighting groups completed the withdrawal of their forces from the agreed upon cease-fire zone of separation,³ complying with the Phase II withdrawal requirement of the accord. According to a news report, both Bosnian Serbs and Bosnian government forces completed pullback of most of their troops and heavy weapons on 19 January 1996.⁴ NATO’s 60,000 troops were deployed to enforce peace throughout the country even before foreign fighters withdrew.

“Congressional Record,” Senate Resolution 225—Relative to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Senate — 7 February 1996), accessed April 16, 2011, http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1996_cr/s960207a.htm, page S1085.
“Withdrawal in Bosnia beats treaty deadline,” The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), January 15, 1996.
“Bosnia Pullback on Time, But Prisoner Release Lags,” The Washington Post, January 20, 1996.
“Bosnia Foes Finish Pullback but Fail on P.O.W. Release,” The New York Times, January 20, 1996.

Withdrawal of Troops – 1997

Withdrawal of both Bosnian Serb and Bosnian Croat troops took place. Once withdrawal was completed, IFOR troops were deployed to maintain peace.