CNN Mission: Peace

U.N. hands Bosnia mission to NATO

replaced sign

December 20, 1995
Web posted at: 2:10 p.m. EST (1910 GMT)

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (CNN) -- NATO launched its Bosnian mission Wednesday with a ceremony marking the official transfer of military authority from the United Nations peacekeeping force to the NATO Implementation Force.

The ceremony clears a path for the deployment of 60,000 NATO troops to enforce the Dayton accord.

Lt. Gen. Janvier

Wearing the blue scarf of the U.N. peacekeepers, Gen. Bernard Janvier, head of UNPROFOR, the U.N. force that has been in Bosnia for three and a half years, delivered a passionate speech

"Let me assure Admiral (Leighton) Smith of our full cooperation and hand over to him not a trembling flame but the bright torch of newfound peace," Janvier said after the signing of official transfer documents. (English: 238K AIFF sound or 238K WAV sound or French: 298K AIFF sound or 298K WAV sound)

Janvier praised U.N. peacekeepers who laid the groundwork for the NATO mission. "As soldiers of peace you have made peace possible against all odds," he told his troops. "You have selflessly taken on the delicate missions accepted by the United Nations."

Adm. Smith

Smith, commander of the NATO force, dubbed IFOR, said the transfer of authority represents an "opportunity to move from the ravages of war to the benefits of peace." (85K AIFF sound or 85K WAV sound)

Wearing simple military fatigues and speaking in a more plain-spoken manner than his U.N. counterpart, he defined the NATO mission and laid out the ground rules for the operation. NATO troops are in Bosnia to create a secure environment for the changes that are to occur under the Dayton accord, he said.

As for the moral imperative, he said, "The great majority of all the people of this land are saying, 'Enough.' Enough of this conflict. They are sick of tragedy and they are ready now to make this peace work. We are here to help." (170K AIFF sound or 170K WAV sound)

He concluded his remarks simply. "Gentleman," he said, "it's time. Let's get on with it."

The United Nations peacekeeping mission began in February 1992. Since its inception, Janvier noted, 25,000 soldiers served in Bosnia distributing humanitarian aid to more than 2.5 million people.

During that time, 110 peacekeepers lost their lives and 831 were wounded.

NATO forces have been preparing for the transfer for the past two weeks. The familiar white United Nations vehicles have been painted military green, and the blue caps of the United Nations peacekeepers have been replaced with camouflage caps and helmets.

In Tuzla, soldiers replaced a sign identifying the UNPROFOR air base with a sign labeling it the IFOR air base.

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