* As posted on http://www.globeandmail.com

Canada could pull out of Bosnia by November, 2004

Canadian Press (Kabul):  Canada could pull out of Bosnia completely before
November 2004, Defence Minister John McCallum said Thursday.

Discussions are ongoing...on an urgent basis to switch over the
responsibility (for Bosnia) to the European Union, Mr. McCallum said as he
answered questions from soldiers during a visit to Camp Julien in
Afghanistan. I'm hoping that will allow Canada to have a total or near
total withdrawal within a year.

Plans are already in place to reduce Canada's troop commitment in Bosnia by
50 per cent before April. The reduction is part of an overall NATO strategy
to turn over policing of the state to European control.

The 50 per cent reduction is for sure. The total withdrawal within a year
is not for sure, but it's something that we very much want to happen, said
Mr. McCallum. We, as a country, I believe, have had enough of (Bosnia), and
I clearly am trying to get us out as fast as I possibly can.

The minister called the slow departure from peacekeeping in Bosnia a
success, not a failure. NATO isn't abandoning Bosnia, but rather the
security situation there has stabilized substantially and Canada and other
nations can afford to withdraw without sacrificing the country, argued Mr.
McCallum. He described a growing fatigue among soldiers assigned there.

Canada has about 1,200 troops in the Balkan country and another 2,000 in
Afghanistan. Taking soldiers out of Bosnia would free them up for the
longer-term reconstruction in Afghanistan. Canada is currently committed to
a one-year operation in Afghanistan ending in August 2004. Another rotation
of about 1,800 soldiers is expected to begin arriving in February when
Canada is scheduled to take over control of ISAF, the 5,500-soldier
International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

However, there has been talk in military circles that best-case scenario
plans are being developed to have Canada remain in Afghanistan for up to
five years.
NATO has also been under intense pressure to provide more troops to help
secure areas of the country outside the capital, Kabul. Much of Afghanistan
remains lawless and under the control of rival warlords.

This week's visit is Mr. McCallum's third to Afghanistan since late 2001.
He took the opportunity Thursday to thank Canada's soldiers for their work
in Kabul, before visiting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Defence
Minister General Fahim Khan.


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