LONDON — Canadian troops are scaling back operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina this weekend, but their commanding officer says their presence over the last 12 years will leave a lasting mark on the Balkan country.

"They know personally the difference that they have seen here and they all take pride that we have served this country," says Col. John Tattersall. "We've helped stabilize the peace and imposed peace, to a large degree."

Since 1992, Canada has rotated more than 40,000 troops through this country torn apart by civil war. Twenty-three soldiers have lost their lives while serving in Bosnia, the causes of their deaths ranging from traffic accidents to mine strikes.

Their work has included seizing illegal weapons, monitoring weapons-storage sites, helping the United Nations repatriate refugees and promoting awareness about the dangers of landmines.

Clearing mines planted in fields and around factories remains a massive job. It's estimated that at the current rate, it will take more than 80 years before Bosnia can be declared mine-free.

The pace of de-mining almost mirrors the state of change here, nine years after the Dayton Accords ended a war that began when Bosnian Serbs balked at referendum results accepted by Muslims and Croats that called for the republic's secession from Yugoslavia.

"I would describe the environment now as stable and secure, it's fragile, though, because the ethnic tensions are still there," Tattersall said earlier this week in an interview from Canadian headquarters in Velika Kladusa.

The peace agreement reached in Dayton, Ohio, in 1995 split the country into two ministates: a Bosnian Serb republic and a Muslim-Croat federation that are linked by joint institutions in one country.

Situation improving

Since then, life in Bosnia-Herzegovina has improved but it still has a long way to go.

"I would not describe it right now as self sustaining, in other words if the international community and militaries left this country, I think this country would spiral back toward conflict, so we need to stay engaged," said Tattersall.

Things have improved to the point that Canada, which started peacekeeping missions in the region under United Nations authority, doesn't need as many troops.

The 1,200-strong Canadian contingent in Bosnia-Herzegovina is being cut to 650 soldiers. They are part of what is now a NATO-led peacekeeping mission known as SFOR.

The latest six-month rotation in Operation Palladium will be marked on Saturday with a change in command ceremony as 2 Brigade Group from Petawawa, Ont., is replaced by soldiers based in Quebec from the Valcartier Garrison.

The scaling back of Canadian operations is in proportion to cuts being made by others countries in the multinational peacekeeping force.

The reduction in troop levels is intended to reflect the changing situation as Bosnia tries to cope with political corruption and economic problems rather than security issues.

In March, Bosnia's parliament appointed its first defence minister, a significant step because it puts the country's two armed forces under joint leadership.

The level of corruption was highlighted in the European Commission's most recent review of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro.

"The continuing prevalence of organized crime and corruption in the region delays political reform, holds back economic development and puts into question the rule of law," said the annual review, released last month.

Tattersall said corruption is the biggest problem facing Bosnia-Herzegovina because it is holding back the economy. The unemployment rate hovers around 40 per cent.

"It's a corrupt economy, a black market economy, and until that is turned around it is going to prevent progress," he added.

Tattersall is completing his first tour of Bosnia. Some soldiers have been back as many as six times on different troop rotations.

Conflict reminders remain

In an eerie reminder of the conflict, many bomb-shattered buildings throughout the country have never been rebuilt, said Tattersall.

"When you are driving through this area you can very easily see battle positions," he explained.

"They still have a tank overlooking one city. Lots of minefields left and destroyed houses and buildings like you wouldn't believe. When you look down sniper alley in Sarajevo, it looks like the fires were just put out."

For soldiers on their first trip to Bosnia like him, Tattersall said the damage can be disturbing considering how long it has gone untouched.

"It certainly is a very poignant reminder of what happened here," he said.

Tattersall believes it is safe to reduce troop numbers because progress has been made on defence and security, especially in rooting out military officers with tarnished backgrounds dating back to the war.

"The Bosnian government can start taking responsibility for its own internal defence matters, but we're not so far advanced that we can leave them alone right now," he said.

The drop in troop numbers will also give the Canadian military some needed respite.

"You know we're stretched thin right now," said Tattersall. "This is going to provide us some bit of relief in terms of those pressures."

Canadian soldiers have taken a leadership role in Bosnia-Herzegovina, controlling the northwest section of the country, an area slightly larger than Prince Edward Island.

But because of the length of the mission and a greater focus on operations in Afghanistan and Haiti, Bosnia has sometimes felt like the forgotten mission to soldiers serving there.

"Certainly the soldiers feel to a certain degree that they've been forgotten," said Tattersall. "We're proud of what we've done, but all of us would, naturally, like to see a little bit more recognition."