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Smith: Some Allied Troops To Remain in Bosnia Past December
Announcement is first official confirmation
U.S. officials have previously indicated that some of the 60,000 NATO-led troops, which include 18,000 Americans, would remain beyond the scheduled end of the mission. But Smith will almost certainly not be in Bosnia at that time. U.S. officials announced Thursday that Smith will step down, probably this summer, to be replaced by Vice Adm. T. Joseph Lopez.
Current guidelines call for beginning to withdraw the NATO-led forces after national elections in Bosnia that authorities hope to stage by Sept. 14.
Smith denied there was any extension of the mission, saying forces would be withdrawing after the elections instead of continuing duties of implementing military provisions of the Dayton accord. He also said he had asked for changes in the NATO-led force, with a shift in priority from heavy equipment to a lighter, more mobile force to provide security during the election. While the plan had yet to be approved, Smith said he asked for some military police who would have riot-control training. "I think it’s probably the force shape and structure we need for the election," Smith said.
A major obstacle to free movement in Bosnia has been attacks, harassment and intimidation, sometimes including stone-throwing mobs. So far, NATO-led troops have avoided confrontations with such mobs, saying crowd-control was outside the mission and the duty of civilian police. Defense Secretary William Perry said Thursday that he expected more unrest in Bosnia in upcoming months as part of the runup to the elections, a key component of the Dayton accords.
Smith agreed Friday, saying the failure of Bosnian authorities on all sides to live up to their obligations under the Dayton plan caused continuing problems. The Dayton agreement calls for free movement in the former war zone. But Smith noted war refugees were in many cases unable to return to their homes and encountering other problems that the local police and officials should be solving. "We’re not where we needed to be and wanted to be ... in some of those areas that required the full cooperation of the parties," Smith said. "That’s disappointing. It really is disappointing."
U.S. officials announced Thursday that Smith, a four-star admiral, would be stepping down as head of the mission, to be replaced by Lopez. Smith rejected speculation he was being forced out or that personal reasons were involved. He said he first raised the idea of handing over command in January.
Perry praised Smith for a "first-class job" and noted Smith had agreed earlier this year to serve beyond the end of his two-year rotation in April as commander-in-chief of Allied Forces Southern Europe. |
SARAJEVO, June 7 (AP) -- The U.S. commander of NATO-led forces in Bosnia said Friday that foreign troops under Allied command would remain in the region past the end of the mission on Dec. 20. The comments by Adm. Leighton Smith were the first by NATO confirming that the mission would extend beyond the year-end mandate in the Dayton peace agreement. "On the 20th of December, I will have an effective fighting force," Smith told journalists during an interview in his office. "The mission after the 20th of December, it seems to me, will be more one of withdrawal."
Berserkistan, June 6 · Lopez Replaces Smith as NATO Chief
Berserkistan, June 5 · Perry Considers Extended NATO Role in Bosnia
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