The Association

CFIVA is the officially recognised veterans' association of foreign combatants, known as International Volunteers, of the Croatian and Bosnian Armed Forces and the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK), who served and fought in the wars for the independence of those nations, 1991-95 and 1998-99.

Founded in 1995 by several International Volunteers, we realised we could relive the sense of comradeship and deal with the shared experiences that those who did not fight in those wars could never hope to understand.

Any would be mercenaries or weapons fanatics are not welcome. We are not some kind of paper army or mercenary recruiting service waiting for a war to happen.

We are a multi-national, multi-ethnic, non-political organisation that holds reunions, participates in remembrance ceremonies and parades, puts veterans in contact with one another and spreads awareness of what help and advice is available to them.

In Croatia, we hold privileged War Veteran status, enjoy free access to all veterans' clubs and gymnasiums.

Association ties, plaques, sports shirts and membership certificates are available. We produce a quarterly magazine Za Slobodu. We have a barjak (standard, or flag) bearing the names of thirteen battles and campaigns in which a significant number of International Volunteers fought.

Aims and Objectives

• The maintenance of a free, democratic Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Kosova, where all live without terror or oppression, regardless of nationality, personal politics or religion
• To publicize the selfless gesture made by the International Volunteers
• Support injured comrades and bereaved families by organising ourselves, raising funds and pooling resources
• To obtain the military rank, citizenship, war disablement pensions and disabled veterans' apartments for International Volunteers remaining in Croatia, as is their right under law
• To redress the adverse media coverage and Serb propaganda that has printed so much rubbish about us since the war began and from time to time continues to do so
• To obtain the military decorations and medals due to each International Volunteer as well as to lobby for the institution of a separate International Volunteers' Medal by each of the governments of Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and the protectorate of Kosova
• To compile a conclusive statistical database of International Volunteers that served, were injured and were killed in the cause of freedom
• Forge closer links with the governments and veterans' organisations in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Kosova

Our Achievements

• Obtained citizenship, war disablement pensions and disabled veterans' apartments for International Volunteers living in Croatia
• Led and participated in twenty humanitarian convoys from Britain to Croatia, Bosnia and Kosova since 1992
• Participation in the British Fire Service's Operation Florian; we have delivered fire-fighting appliances to Mostar (3), Sarajevo (2) in Bosnia and Vukovar (1) in Croatia

Damaged by shellfire, a Humanitarian Aid truck rescued by one of our members, Bosnia 1993

• Two of our members have worked as mine clearance specialists in Bosnia and Mozambique
• Providing a free consultancy service for humanitarian relief efforts in Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Kosova as well as providing material and logistical help on a regular basis
• Through our widespread network of contacts, in four cases we were the only agency able to provide two bereaved British, a French and American families with details of the deaths of sons and daughter killed in the wars, including locating and providing photographs of their graves where all other agencies (UNHCR, ICRC, OSCE and embassies) had failed
• Provided material and administrative assistance to Croatian, Bosnian and Kosovar refugees and medical evacuees living in Great Britain
• Provided photographic evidence and witness testimony to the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague
• Provided intelligence reports and tactical assessments to the British Ministry of Defence, particularly during the Kosova War 1998-99
• Provided evidence to police enquiries in Great Britain
• Provided advice and assistance to the Royal British Legion
• Secured financial assistance for disabled members from former regimental associations in their home countries
• Represented our members as plaintiffs in civil actions
• Provided social support, help and advice to Croatian, Bosnian and Kosovar refugees in other countries, including repatriation assistance, tracing missing persons and relatives
• Established the world's most accurate database of International Volunteers who served, were taken prisoner, injured and killed in the cause of freedom
• Assisted with historical research, writing books and articles on the war
• Donated the world's largest photographic record of the Bosnian war to the Imperial War Museum, London
• Campaigning to obtain the correct decorations and medals due to our members