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UK troops in Bosnia to be reduced UK to withdraw troops from Bosnia
(about 1 hour later)
Most of the UK's remaining troops in Bosnia-Hercegovina are to be withdrawn, defence minister Adam Ingram has said.Most of the UK's remaining troops in Bosnia-Hercegovina are to be withdrawn, defence minister Adam Ingram has said.
More than 600 troops, mostly Welsh Guards, will come home due to the improved security situation, he said.More than 600 troops, mostly Welsh Guards, will come home due to the improved security situation, he said.
The UK's military commitment will be largely reduced to a small number of staff officers based in a Sarajevo headquarters, he told MPs. A small number of staff officers will remain in Sarajevo, and Britain will contribute to the pan-Balkans Operational Reserve Force.
The troop withdrawal is part of a larger reduction of international forces from 6,000 to 2,500 troops.The troop withdrawal is part of a larger reduction of international forces from 6,000 to 2,500 troops.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Ingram admitted there were high levels of small arms and light weapons in the country, but there were international initiatives to reduce these.In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Ingram admitted there were high levels of small arms and light weapons in the country, but there were international initiatives to reduce these.
He added: "It is clear that the Bosnia-Hercegovina is becoming increasingly safe ... there have been increasing indications of a security situation approaching normality." 'Approaching normality'
On Wednesday, the European Union announced the cuts to its peacekeeping operation in the country, Eufor over the next three months. He added: "It is clear that the Bosnia-Hercegovina is becoming increasingly safe. In recent years there have been increasing indications of a security situation approaching normality."
Recently, UK troops have been based in the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka as part of the Eufor force. But he said military operations had not been without significant loss.
Stability and reform A series of commemorative events are to be held to honour the 55 British personnel who died and the thousands who served there.
Britain's troops have been supporting the 1995 Dayton Peace Accord in Bosnia. If Bosnia are incapable of taking more control of their own affairs at a political level, how confident are you that they can do it on a military level? Liam FoxShadow defence secretary class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6407847.stm">End of a long road in Bosnia
Initially they served with the United Nations, and then under Nato command until Eufor took responsibility for safeguarding peace in 2004. But shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said there was a suspicion that more troops were being freed up for Afghanistan. He said neighbouring Serbia was still unstable.
The chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic, said the country could now ensure stability and reform by itself. "How can you talk about the normality of the security situation? Where is the normality?" he said.
Around 250,000 died in the inter-ethnic war of 1992-95. Although the EU peacekeeping force Eufor is being reduced, the international community overseeing the 1995 Dayton Peace Accord said it was retaining the office of the High Representative until June 2008.
On Wednesday the EU said it had decided "to reduce Eufor's size but to keep an appropriate robust military presence".
The statement added that for six months the EU reserved the right to increase troop levels again "if needed".
On Tuesday, the international community overseeing the Dayton plan announced it was retaining the office of the High Representative until June 2008.
It said the reforms it wanted had not yet been fully implemented.It said the reforms it wanted had not yet been fully implemented.
Dr Fox added: "If Bosnia are incapable of taking more control of their own affairs at a political level, how confident are you that they can do it on a military level?."
Around 250,000 people died in the inter-ethnic war of 1992-95.
Initially British troops served with the United Nations, and then under Nato command until Eufor took responsibility for safeguarding peace in 2004.
The chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic, said the country could now ensure stability and reform by itself.
On Wednesday the EU said Eufor would be reduced but a "robust military presence" would remain and troop levels would be increased "if needed" over the next six months.