Operation HARMONY

February 1992-December 1995

Operation HARMONY was Canada's contribution to the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), which was created in February 1992 to ensure the protection and demilitarization of three "UN Protected Areas" in Croatia. Its mandate was soon expanded to include observation activities elsewhere in Croatia: monitoring the demilitarization of the Prevlaka Peninsula, and monitoring the implementation of various cease-fire agreements in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. During its existence, UNPROFOR was also responsible for ensuring the security and functioning of the airport at Sarajevo, the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Sarajevo and throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina, the protection of convoys of released civilian detainees, the monitoring of the "no-fly" zone in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the "UN safe areas" established by the Security Council around five Bosnian towns and the city of Sarajevo, and the monitoring of the border areas of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. On March 31, 1995, UNPROFOR was restructured to form three separate but linked peacekeeping operations.

More than 2,000 Canadian Forces personnel served in the Balkan region with UNPROFOR and one of its successor missions, the United Nations Peace Forces Headquarters (UNPF). The Canadian contingent comprised two major units and a logistics battalion; it also included United Nations Military Observers and staff officers employed in various headquarters. Brigadier-General Lewis MacKenzie of the Canadian Forces served with UNPROFOR as Chief of Staff from February 1992 to April 1992, when he was promoted Major-General; and from May 1992 to August 1992 as Commander, Sector Sarajevo. Canada also provided the Deputy Theatre Commander, UNPROFOR, from September 1992 to March 31 1995, and the Deputy Theatre Commander, UNPF from April 1995 to January 1996.

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