EUFOR Commander Major General Maurizio Fronda met today in Sarajevo with BiH Defense Minister Zukan Helez and deputy ministers to discuss the improvement of cooperation and joint activities.
During the meeting of Major General Maurizio Fronda with the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez, Deputy Minister for Policy and Planning Slaven Galić and Deputy Minister for Resource Management Aleksandar Goganović, issues of common interest and further strengthening of the existing cooperation between EUFOR and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina were discussed.
The interlocutors emphasized their common commitment to continue strengthening professional standards and ensure that the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina remain capable, ready and aligned with the best international practices.
Special attention was paid to the continuation of joint training, with a focus on the planning and execution of the upcoming annual combined exercise in April, aimed at further improving interoperability, operational readiness and mutual trust.
Minister Helez expressed his gratitude for EUFOR’s continuous support in training, capacity building and the implementation of routine daily tasks. He emphasized the importance of the presence of EUFOR and the partnership for maintaining a stable and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and referred to the progress that BiH achieved in the previous year in cooperation with NATO, including the adoption of several changes necessary for further alignment with NATO requirements.
Major General Fronda congratulated the Ministry of Defense of BiH on the progress of BiH’s cooperation with EUFOR and NATO in the previous year, stressing that thanks to this progress was achieved on many plans and the best international practices were ensured. He reiterated that cooperation with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains the basis of EUFOR’s mandate and expressed EUFOR’s full commitment to provide support in the process of building capable, professional and flexible armed forces.
He reminded that the joint exercises are a visible demonstration of the unity of efforts and the division of responsibility for maintaining a stable and safe environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in coordination with the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo. He also emphasized that close coordination contributes to both EUFOR and the Armed Forces of BiH and opens space for cooperation at all levels of command, with the aim of improving interoperability and ensuring operational readiness.
The interlocutors agreed that the continuation of a strong partnership and continuous joint training activities are key to preserving stability and strengthening trust throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this context, they committed themselves to the future continuation and strengthening of this relationship, the common goal of which is for Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve membership in the European Union and NATO.
Deputy Minister of Defense for Policy and Plans Slaven Galić and Deputy Minister for Resource Management Aleksandar Goganović thanked EUFOR for its role as a guarantor of peace and security in BiH, and expressed their gratitude to all 25 countries participating in the EUFOR operation. They assessed that maintaining regular dialogue between EUFOR, the institutions of BiH and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina is of key importance in order to preserve stability and strengthen self-confidence within the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The EUFOR commander once again emphasized the strong and permanent cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasized the unwavering and impartial commitment to support the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in achieving a safe and stable environment for all people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with EUFOR’s mandate.
