UN- Nato involvement in Bosnia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

UN- Nato involvement in Bosnia - Essay Example The initial step in that direction happened in 1989 when Serbia overturned Kosovos independence by sending their troops. After Milosevic was elected president of Serbia in 1989, Serbia tried to impose its authority on the rest of the country. As a counter reaction, Slovenia and Croatia seceded and declared their independence in 1991. Fighting immediately broke out with the Serbian forces moving into Slovenia. Although, European Community (EC) delegation negotiated a ceasefire, with Serbian forces withdrawing from Slovenia, it did not last for long. Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina also declared its independence, thus completing the disintegration of Yugoslavia. However the Serbian forces led by Milosevic captured 65% of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territory, proclaiming it as the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina although, it comprised of just 30% of the population. The Croats for their part also seized a sizable portion of Bosnia, leaving the majority Muslim population only minor territory, including the capital Sarajevo. To seize the Muslim territories as well, the Serbian forces launched armed assault against the poorly armed Muslim and indulged in ethnic cleansing. With this conflict accentuating further, UN in association with NATO entered the scenario. â€Å"UN entered the Yugoslav crisis as late as in September 1991 when the UN Security Council adopted resolution No.713 imposing arms embargo on all territory of Yugoslavia† (CEEISA). At the outset itself, UN’s arms embargo did not provide the desired peace. Although UN was able to impose arms embargo on the sea, it could do it on the land, thus giving free hand to the already armed Serbian forces. While the Croatian and the Bosnian forces only had minimum light weaponry and lacked heavy weapons, tanks and aircraft which explained the Serb superiority in battlefield. (CEEISA). The next step UN took was the formation of United Nations