Page 424 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

Today things are very different. One only needs to think of the Balkans, where
the UN is deeply involved, as is NATO itself. The two organizations have a
complex relationship - while at times their interests have been sharply at odds,
in the field they work side by side, often very productively.

Bosnia

The UN now has considerable experience peace-keeping in the Balkans.
Its initial mandate was for Croatia in 1992. But then came the war in Bosnia,
where its peace-keeping reputation was sorely tested as lightly armed troops
faced a difficult mandate, and ’no peace to keep’.

In 1995, following NATO airstrikes and the signing of the Dayton peace
agreement, NATO moved into Bosnia Herzegovina under a United Nations
mandate. For the first time in its history NATO's troops were playing the role
of peace-keepers. The UN meanwhile, has continued to play its role in the all-
too-painfully slow rehabilitation of Bosnia Herzegovina. The mission there is
responsible for the training of civilian police as well as establishing a
functioning judicial system.

Kosovo

Following the painful collapse of the peace-keeping mission in Bosnia, UN
Secretary-General told a NATO conference in June 1998 when the situation
was deteriorating in Kosovo, that
“all our expressions of determination to never again permit another
Bosnia; all our hopes for a peaceful future for the Balkans will be cruelly
mocked if we allow Kosovo to become another killing-field.”

But the NATO intervention which did follow in the spring of 1999 took
place without prior Security Council authorization, and by doing so it has
opened a Pandora's box, the effects of which will long be debated. Although
much effort was made to downplay this serious breach of international law, I
believe it is essential, not just in terms of Europe but also wider global security,
to review the full implications of the NATO action. We need to ask what risks
such a precedent poses to international order? What measures can be taken
against an organization which violates the UN Charter in this way? What
lessons should be drawn in terms of UN reform: in particular reform of the
Charter, and the Security Council, especially the question of the abolition or
expansion or the veto right in the Council.

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