A flag raising ceremony was held at Camp Butmir to mark the return of Belgium as a troop contributing nation to EUFOR. The Belgian flag was raised by a member of EUFOR’s Belgian contingent and Lieutenant Colonel David Lambeens, Belgian Defence Attaché.
During the ceremony, Mr Benjamin Sturtewagen Head of the Diplomatic Office of the Kingdom of Belgium in Sarajevo addressed the parade stating
“Belgium fully supports the EU perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Political and social stability as well as peaceful coexistence are an integral part of that perspective. It is also through that lens that Belgium’s renewed participation to EUFOR Althea must be seen”.
COM EUFOR Maj Gen Habermayer also addressed the parade stating that “The return of the Belgium flag to EUFOR’s Flag Park makes EUFOR a stronger and more diverse force. Your presence here, even in small numbers, symbolizes the continued interest of the Kingdom of Belgium and broader International Community in ensuring a Safe and Secure Environment for all the people of BiH."
The return of Belgium brings to 22 the total number of troop contributing nations in EUFOR Operation Althea.