Croatian soldiers operate an armored per

Croatian soldiers operate an armored personnel carrier or APC equiped with 3 heavy machine guns on September 26, 1991, during a battle with Yugoslav Serbian Federal forces. UN cease-fire Between Croatians and Serbian forces was arranged on January 2, 1992. The UN Security Council in February approved sending a 14,000-member peace-keeping force to monitor the agreement and protect the minority Serbs in Croatia. In a 1993 referendum, the Serb-occupied portion of Croatia (Krajina) resoundingly voted for integration with Serbs in Bosnia and Serbia proper. Although the Zagreb government and representatives of Krajina signed a cease-fire in March 1994, further negotiations broke down. In a lightning-quick operation, the Croatian army retook western Slavonia in May 1995. Similarly, in August, the central Croatian region of Krajina, held by Serbs, was returned to Zagreb's control. AFP PHOTO DAVID BRAUCHLI (Photo credit should read DAVID BRAUCHLI/AFP via Getty Images)