UNPROFOR was established in February 1992 as an interim arrangement to
create the conditions of peace and security required for the negotiation of an
overall settlement of the Yugoslavian crisis. The role of the UN troops was to
ensure that areas designated as UN Protected Areas (UNPA) became and
remained demilitarized and that all persons residing in these areas were
protected from fear of armed attack. The role of UN police monitors was to
ensure that local police forces carried out their duties without discriminating
against persons of any nationality or abusing any human rights. The force also
assisted the humanitarian agencies of the UN in the return of all displaced
persons who so desired. There were several extensions of the original
UNPROFOR covering the following purposes: reopening of the Sarajevo
airport for humanitarian purposes; establishing a security zone
encompassing Sarajevo and its airport; protection of convoys of released
detainees in Bosnia and Herzegovina as requested by the International
Committee of the Red Cross; monitoring arrangements for the complete
withdrawal of the Yugoslavian Army from Croatia; the demilitarization of the
Prevlaka peninsula and the removal of heavy weapons from neighbouring
areas of Croatia and Montenegro (Res 779,1992); monitoring compliance with
the ban on military flights (Res 781,1992); and the establishment of the United
Nations presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. UNPROFOR
also monitored the implementation of a cease-fire agreement requested by
the Bosnian Government and Bosnian-Croat Forces in February 1994. In
addition, UNPROFOR monitored cease-fire arrangements, negotiated
between the Bosnian Government and Bosnian Serb forces, which became
effective on 1 January 1995. On 31 March 1995, the Security Council decided to
restructure UNPROFOR, replacing it with three separate but interrelated
peacekeeping operations: UNCRO (United Nations Confidence Restoration
Operation in Croatia), UNPREDEP (United Nations Preventive Deployment
Force) under the joint theatre headquarters known as UNPF (United Nations
Peace Forces) located in Zagreb. Eventually, following positive developments
in the former Yugoslavia and the establishment of two new United Nations
Missions in Bosnia -Herzegovina and Croatia, UNPF-HQ was phased out in
January 1996. Awarded for 90 days consecutive service from 01 March 1992 to
19 December 1995.