US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS5030

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 005030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, BK, MOPS, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION LAUNCHES OPERATION 
ALTHEA 
 
REF: USUN 2630 
 
1. (U) Under the provisions of the Treaty of the European 
Union, the Council of the European Union on November 23 
launched Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The EU 
Operation Commander was authorized to release the activation 
order (ACTORD) in order to execute the deployment of the 
forces and start execution of the mission on December 2, 
2004.  The decision will remain in force until the Council 
decides to end the mission.  (NOTE: UNSCR 1575 (see below) 
has given the mission a mandate for "an initial planned 
period of twelve months." END NOTE.) 
 
2. (U)  The launch of Operation Althea is based on a Council 
Joint Action (decision of Heads of State and Government) from 
July 2004.  The UN Security Council on November 22 
unanimously adopted UNSCR 1575 authorizing an EU-led military 
mission and a residual NATO Headquarters presence (reftel). 
High Representative Solana will be in Sarajevo December 2 to 
participate in ceremonies celebrating the end of SFOR and the 
beginning of the EU's European Security and Defense Policy 
(ESDP) mission "Operation Althea." 
 
SCHNABEL