Serving in the Bosnian War

The Bosnian war involving the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in 1992 was a violent and bloody affair. The nations of the world under the banner of the United Nations decided to deploy humanitarian relief and armed forces to enforce a peaceful solution. I felt privileged to serve in this noble mission along with around 40,000 other people from many nations, including a good number from the New Zealand army.

New Zealand has a proud record of involvement, leadership and success in the realm of the United Nations. Helen Clark was the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017 and was a candidate for the top job of Secretary General last year. 

The whole United Nations show in The Bosnian War was lead by a very experienced, clever Japanese diplomat called Yasushi Akashi and the military chief was a short, fit, tough Frenchman called Lieutenant General Bernard Janvier who spoke little English, had a scar on his cheek, and had spent most of his life leading his legionnaires in active combat. I was proud to serve alongside him as his ‘Air General,’ arranging and advising on all matters of airpower and support, on behalf of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The challenges were immense and there were some very dark times but, eventually, the conflict was suppressed and the warring factions came to a pretty much peaceful agreement which holds today.

Stationed at the UN headquarters in Zagreb, I have many memories in that role. But one evening stands out in particular.

I was the only non-Frenchman in a military tent on Mount Igman (home of the winter Olympics in 1984), overlooking war-wrecked Sarajevo. The other 30 or so were foreign legion officers, hosting a formal dinner in honour of General Janvier. It was bitterly cold, pitch black, and howling.

The evening started with great drama as the youngest officer smashed off the top of a bottle of champagne with a razor sharp sabre. After the meal the officers sang mournful songs about comrades who had died in combat and they also sang about women, both real and imaginary,  loved and long lost. Later Janvier gave a short speech and said of the singing, "tous les chansons des soldats sont tristes." (all soldiers’ songs are sad). I told him later that should be the title of his memoirs. The evening was moving, eerie, and beautiful.

I have worked in the military and later as a businessman in multinational organisations. It carries much in the way of frustration, challenge and, to a degree, inefficiency, when compared to single nation institutions. But I can say with conviction that working with others on big challenges in the end produces better, more durable and more satisfying outcomes. The big portion of my teenage life growing up in New Zealand taught me that the ability to work with other cultures is very much part of the Kiwi values and skill set. And I am grateful to have acquired it in this great country.