FEDERATION B&H AND ITS DEFENCE

Law for the Politicians, Weapons for the Army

AIM Sarajevo, July 11, 1996

Adoption of the Law on Defence of the Federation Bosnia & Herzegovina in the beginning of last week, marked disappearance of the last barrier set up by the United States of America for the Bosniacs and the Croats from the former central Yugoslav republic as a condition for having their armed forces armed and trained. At the same time, a large burden was taken off the chest of leaders of the two nations, because negotiations about the law on defence lasted for more than a year and in time turned into a key obstacle in the process of construction of federal administration.

According to allegation of analysts, the United States of America will benefit the most from the finally adopted law. The leading world super power is now enabled to effectuate one of its most significant obligations from Dayton Accords - to arm the Army of B&H and the Croat Defence Council (HVO) and enable the Federation to establish a military balance with Republika Srpska. This move, in a broader context, will result in establishing military balance in the entire former Yugoslav space, pursuant the agreement on control of armament signed in mid June in Florence.

Just a day after the parliament of the Federation had adopted the Law on Defence, President of the USA Bill Clinton gave his consent to delivery of arms to this part of B&H. It is already known how much money had been collected and what type of armament the USA will give to the HVO and the Army B&H. It is 100 million dollars' worth of equipment, i.e. 45 M-60 A3 tanks, 80 M-113 armoured transporters, 15 transporting helicopters, 43,100 M-16 rifles, 1000 M-60 machine-guns, 840 anti-tank rocket launchers, and 4,100 communication system devices.

In the initial phase of supplying the army of the Federation, 140 million dollars' worth of assistance provided by Saudia Arabia, Malesia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey was also announced. Experts, however, believe that the first deliveries of arms will not significantly modernize the Army of B&H and HVO. The listed arms have been in use for a long time, and that is the reason why much more hope is placed in the process of training of soldiers. A professional firm from the USA has already been engaged for the job, which consists of retired American generals, and which can begin work any day.

In view of the fact that less than half a year is left until the expiry of IFOR's mandate, there are conjectures whether this period is sufficient for completion of training of the federal army. The Americans will certainly do everything in their power to do so, because they have taken upon themselves that after their departure from B&H, the federal army would be ready for defence.

Reasons why the White House has insisted so much on the adoption of the Law lie between this promise and the pressure exerted within the USA not to prolong the mandate of American soldiers in B&H for a single day. In the end of May in Washington, a principled agreement was reached between the Bosniacs and the Croats, but soon it proved to be unacceptable to either of the two parties. In the end of June, Forum of the Federation met in Sarajevo, and John Cornbloom, special assistant of the American Secretary of State, conditioned that the law had to be completed by July 5, or the USA would have withdrawn from effectuation of the program of training and supplying the army.

Strong diplomatic pressure on the Croats and the Bosniacs exerted by the Ambassador James Perdew, American Minister of defence William Perry, and even the head of the CIA, resulted in a compromising solution. Partners in the Federation could not reach an agreement concerning civilian command of the joint armed forces. The Croats had insisted that it should result from the institutions of the Federation, which was interpreted by the Bosniacs as a denial of the continuity of the republican authorities. A compromise was found in temporary combining of these two forms of power, so that President of the Presidency of the Republic Alija Izetbegovic commands the Army, and President of the Federation, Kresimir Zubak is the commander of the HVO. This formula will be valid until the elections, and federal partners have taken upon themselves to agree about the final form of civilian command of the joint army in the next three months.

The provision "temporary" significantly diminishes the value of this law. In the past year the Croats and the Bosniacs have plainly proved that they are not capable of reaching an agreement about civilian command and it is highly improbable that they will resolve this problem by September. Especially because they are starting new negotiations from completely opposite starting points. The Bosniacs believe that it is possible to create some kind of armed forces on the level of Bosnia & Herzegovina outlined in Dayton, which would include the Serbs. For leaders of this nation, it is a step towards creation of a united state.

On the other hand, the Croats firmly insist on the view that just the army of the Federation is possible, within which the interests of this nation will be protected. Involvement of the Serb army for them means revival of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), and in the final outcome, a step towards creation of some kind of a new Yugoslav community. They are in favour only of a firm bond between the Federation and Croatia.

On the political level, obviously, no step ahead had been taken. But, the Americans do not think that this is essential. Thy have got what they wanted and can meet their obligations. As far as they are concerned, the army of the Federation will have the permitted armament. And how that armament will be divided between the HVO and the Army of B&H, they will probably leave it to the Croat and the Bosniac politicians to decide.

SEAD LUCKIN