ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some operational lessons learned which may be relevant for the new context of European security after the Cold War. North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s support for UN-led United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) was initially requested by the United Nations because the UN had several military capability gaps arising from the fact that UNPROFOR was being deployed in the midst of an evolving war. To observe strict impartiality is one of the most important rules in peacekeeping. Traditional peacekeeping did envisage the possibility of troops contributed by members of the Security Council and powers with interests in the area of operation. Looking at Implementations Force (IFOR)/Stabilization Force (SFOR) compared to a traditional peacekeeping force, in practice, IFOR's approach is close to the principles applied by UN peacekeeping forces. IFOR/SFOR officers perceive their mission according to questionnaire interviews, as a great success with respect to the implementation of the military provisions of the Dayton Agreement.
