The first Croatian contingent participating in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission on the Golan Heights assumed its duty on Friday, June 6 2008. The delegation of the Republic of Croatia to the handover ceremony was led byCroatian Defense Minister Branko Vukelic.
The first Croatian contingent participating in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission on the Golan Heights assumed its duty on Friday, June 6 2008. The delegation of the Republic of Croatia to the handover ceremony was led by Croatian Defense Minister H.E. Branko Vukelic.
Commander of Croatian Ground Forces General Mladen Kruljac and Croatian Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic seated in Cairo Dražen Margeta were among the prominent members of the Croatian delegation.
At the ceremony, Minister Vukelic told Croatian soldiers that they were expected to responsibly resolve all duties ahead of them and show their expertise, as well as Croatia's wish to spread world peace.
The mandate of the UN peacekeeping forces on Golan Heights is maintaining ceasefire between Israel and Syria, monitoring of the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces, and monitoring of separation line as agreed in the Agreement between Israel and Syria on the 31st of May 1974. Following countries provide forces for the UNDOF mission: Austria, Canada, India, Japan, Poland and Slovakia – now replaced by Croatia.
The 1st Croatian contingent with total of 95 soldiers, commanded by Major Miroslav Wagner, will perform its duties as part of an Austrian military contingent and UNDOF Command. Croatia sent for the first time a unit of level of company in some UN peacekeeping mission. Croatian contingent left for Golan Heights upon invitation of the UN and after agreement of Israel and Syria.
UNDOF mission is of medium risk, since there were no conflicts for longer period of time. It was established by the UN Security Council Resolution no. 350 from 31st of May 1974. By the aforementioned resolution a separation line was established between Israel and Syria after the Jom Kipur war in 1973. Little more than one thousand soldiers participate in the mission nowadays.
During the visit, Croatian Defence Minister Branko Vukelic paid a courtesy call to his Syrian counterpart, Minister of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic H.E. Hassan Ali Turkmani.
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