On 29 August 2017 General Sir James Everard, KCB, CBE the Operational Commander of EUFOR Operation Althea and NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, visited EUFOR HQ, Camp Butmir. He was welcomed by COMEUFOR, Major General Anton Waldner and an Honour Guard consisting of soldiers from the Multinational Battalion (MNBN).
General Everard presided over his first medal parade at the EUFOR HQ. He presented the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy Medal “Althea” to Service personnel from the mission. In total 162 personnel from 9 different nations were on parade and General Everard thanked them all for their dedicated service in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
General Everard said during his address: “Today’s medal parade is very important as it formally and publically acknowledges the contribution made, by everyone on parade, to the success of EUFOR”. He went on to also thank the personnel’s families “To your families we express our greatest appreciation for the sacrifice they have made because of your absence. I congratulate each and every one of you on parade. ”
EUFOR Operation Althea, currently made up of soldiers from 14 EU member states and 5 partner nations, works closely with NATO and the MoD BiH, conducting capacity building and training for the Armed Forces of BiH to contribute to the resilience of BiH and enable the AFBiH to successfully participate in international Peace Support Operations. EUFOR is fully committed to support BiH “on its path to a European future” and remains a vital enabling actor in the development and maintenance of a safe and secure environment, where the peace process can continue to move forward.
(Source: eufor)
