On night of 24 February 1995, I was on duty at the UNPROFOR radar console assigned by the Yugoslav authorities at Belgrade’s International Airport Area Control Centre (ACC). At about 02H00 in the morning, four large targets pumped-up flying over Bosnia, with a separation between radar contacts of about 10 Km (some 20 minutes betweenContinuar lendo “Birds violating the Bosnian No Fly Zone (1995)”
Arquivos da tag:UN
Balkans – people with more History than they can hold.
Once, a Yugoslav intellectual told me that, the people in the Balkans would always be fighting each other, because they had more History they could hold. –“You’re Portuguese; you will never understand the Bosnian problematic, because you’re the cultural result of “one single tribe in one same territory”. Here, people are from different tribes inContinuar lendo “Balkans – people with more History than they can hold.”
To Be seen or not To Be seen, that is the Question.
“Visibility” is the basic difference in the attitude of a tactical combatant and that of a peacekeeper. It may even be the same person, using the same hardware; but the behavior changes considerably. Acting with “visibility” is an important part of that change. – “The combatant wants to see without being seen, while the peacekeeperContinuar lendo “To Be seen or not To Be seen, that is the Question.”
Taliban’s budget
Back in 2012, when I started a long mission at the United Nations’ mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), I couldn’t help wondering how much money had the Taliban to support all the activities they sponsored. Not only how much, but also where was it coming from. The reason for my questioning was because I learned theContinuar lendo “Taliban’s budget”
Afghanistan’s biggest political problem: – The Durand Line
Historical Background: In ancient times, many borders were not clearly defined lines, but rather fortified neutral zones called Marchlands – or Marzbān in Old Persian (frontier protector) – where tribal allegiances to emperors defended the core territory of the Empire from rival powers. Such was the case of Marzbān Kabul – Afghanistan – between theContinuar lendo “Afghanistan’s biggest political problem: – The Durand Line”
Croat Independence War – Operation Storm
On the 4th of August 1995, at 05H00, on the very same morning I was supposed to drive a new UN vehicle from Zagreb to Sarajevo via the South Krajina, the Croatian Army and Special Police Forces launched Operation Storm – Operacija Oluja – and attacked Knin. The Serbs had already lost the Sector WestContinuar lendo “Croat Independence War – Operation Storm”
Sarajevo Tunnel
During the Bosnian conflict (1992/95), Sarajevo was a besieged City, with Serbian forces (VRS) dominating al the surrounding hill tops around the City. All but one: – Mount Igman. Like all other hilltops, Mount Igman had also been under Serb domination, but during the conflict it changed hands to become a Muslin (ABiH) stronghold. TheContinuar lendo “Sarajevo Tunnel”
Maybe Airlines
Upon arriving to Pleso Airport to catch my inaugural flight to Sarajevo, I saw myself sanding in a line with other UNPROFOR fellow soldiers, in the open, next to a counter with a gate-barrier operated by a CIVPOL policewoman. Beyond the gate-barrier, standing alone in the middle of the snowy apron, there was an oldContinuar lendo “Maybe Airlines”
Crocodile repellent
In a Peace Support Mission, each person has a role to play and a Job Description to fulfill. However, there’s always a myriad of little other things to be done, that are assigned to no one in particular and everybody has got to do. Such was the case of collecting water in the Luena River,Continuar lendo “Crocodile repellent”
Blue UN versus Black UN
Not many people have noticed that there are two UN(s): – “The Black UN and the Blue UN”. At least; that’s how many of the autochthones of the missions’ host nations see us, when we pass by in our UN vehicles. The reason for this distinctive appearance resides on the UN lettering exposed on theContinuar lendo “Blue UN versus Black UN”
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