The movement of armored vehicles belonging to different countries is a routine activity and is carried out regularly either for administrative reasons or maintenance, EUFOR told Fena news agency after the media reported that a convoy of the Hungarian Army with armored personnel carriers was spotted at the entrance to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
EUFOR emphasizes that the current number of countries participating in the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 22 and that EUFOR remains committed to providing support to local authorities in maintaining a safe and stable environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Earlier, the Austrian newspaper Der Standard announced that, for the first time in 15 years, Austria is handing over command of the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Hungary next year. The new Major General should be Laszlo Sticz, who will succeed Major General Helmut Habermayer.
According to Der Standard, Hungary won the contract for the EUFOR command in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it committed to provide four to five helicopters for EUFOR for at least three years starting in January 2024.
In its analysis of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Der Standard states that the arrival of Hungary at the head of EUFOR could lead to uncertainty due to “the orientation of the illiberal and autocratic government in Hungary” and the support of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity Republika Srpska to Milorad Dodik.
The paper reminds that Hungary strongly opposes the introduction of sanctions against Dodik, even though he is under American sanctions. At the same time, Germany has suspended projects with Republika Srpska due to Dodik’s policy, and international donors are delaying the provision of financial assistance.
The member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, in an interview with Der Standard, also spoke about the deterioration of the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to Dodik’s anti-constitutional and anti-Dayton actions, emphasizing the importance of the role of EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the ALTHEA mission in preserving peace, security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the region of the Western Balkans.
Since 2009, Austria has had command responsibility over the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 11 major generals were from that country.
Prior to that, command responsibility was held by Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany, Fena news agency reports.
