The EUFOR Operation Commander, General Sir James Everard, visited EUFOR at Camp Butmir, from Sunday 3 to Tuesday 5 February.
The Operation Commander spent 2 days at Camp Butmir where he met with COMEUFOR, Major General Martin Dorfer, and COM NATO HQ Sarajevo, Brigadier General Marti Bissell.
General Everard was updated on the EUFOR mission and also presided over a medal parade for 157 soldiers from 10 different troop contributing nations. Commenting on the time he spent at Camp Butmir, General Everard said:
“The EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina has refocused on its core mandate, to support BiH authorities in maintaining a safe and secure environment. I am really please with EUFOR’s achievements over the last 2 years”.
General Everard attended office calls with the High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, and the European Union Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, early on Tuesday 5th February.
After his office calls General Everard had meetings with one of the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Šefik Džaferović .
Commenting on the EUFOR mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Presidency member Šefik Džaferović said:
“The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina views Operation Althea as very important in supporting our efforts to provide peace and stability for the country’s people”.
General Everard’s final official meeting of his visit was with the Minister of Defence, Marina Pendeš.
During the meeting Minister Pendeš said:
“Thanks to the Capacity Building and Training program that has been delivered by EUFOR, there has been a significant increase in the operational capability, and international interoperability, of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.