Dayton Peace Accord (DPA)

International Information

International Operation Name: Dayton Peace Accord

International Mission Name: Dayton Peace Accord (DPA)

Mandating Organization: Dayton Peace Accord

Region Name: Europe

Location: Former Yugoslavia

Mission Date: 14 December 1995 - Present

The violence accompanying the breakup of the Yugoslav Federation in 1991 eventually spread to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Croatians, Serbs and Bosnian Moslems all laid claim to particular “territories”, almost all of which overlapped each other. Moreover, while the Bosnian government tried to foster an independent identity for the new state, the Bosnian Serbs did not wish to secede from Serbia. Despite UN efforts, violence reigned until NATO, on behalf of the UN, brought the belligerents to negotiations in Dayton, Ohio and, with the treat of further air operations always present caused the Bosnian Serbs to back down. 

Signed in Paris in December 1995, the Dayton Peace Accord brought some stability to the area. Introducing civil, military, and political annexes it called on the belligerents to withdraw behind cease-fire lines and create demilitarized zones, with NATO sending in the Implementation Force (IFOR) to ensure that the provisions of the treaty were met. 

Annex 1A of the accord also contained provisions for a regional arms control agreement under Articles II and IV. The former is a confidence and security building measure (CSBM), while the latter is designed to reduce major conventional weapons systems and equipment in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the Republic of Yugoslavia and Montenegro, similar to the CFE Treaty. This provision of the Accord came into effect in 1996.

Canadian Forces (CF) Information (MENTOR)

Name: MENTOR

Date: 1 July 1997 - Present

Canadian Task Force Name Mission Statement: To promote stability, transparency and openness in military affairs through the application of a range of confidence and security building measures, and the reduction of major weapons systems and equipment.

CF Mission/Operation Notes: Canada has been participating in the arms reduction verification and CSBM since 1997, under the rubric of Operation MENTOR. To date, Canada has participated in 22 individual mission of this type, with personnel drawn from National Defence Headquarters, J3 Arms Control Verification. As the number of weapons are reduced in the region, it is anticipated that Canada’s role will be reduced.