On 11 December 2017 members of the international diplomatic community in BiH met at the EUFOR Headquarters in Camp Butmir by the invitation of Commander EUFOR, Major General Anton Waldner. The meeting gathered the Heads of Mission from EU countries in Bosnia and Herzegovina headed by the European Union Special Representative in BiH, His Excellency Lars-Gunnar Wigemark.
Ambassadors and diplomatic staff from 19 different nations received briefings on the security situation, the mine action system in BiH and particularly on the Ammunition, Weapons and Explosives Masterplan developed by EUFOR and the international community (IC). This plan, owned by the BiH Ministry of Defence, assigns EUFOR a leading role in the coordination of BiH’s and the IC’s efforts to reduce the amount of dangerous surplus ammunition, weapons and explosives in BiH.
COMEUFOR Major General Waldner said: “EUFOR – as a part of the European Union’s comprehensive approach – is focused on supporting and working together with BiH authorities in maintaining a safe and secure environment. As a member of the EU Heads of Mission Meeting in BiH, it is EUFOR’s role to provide information for the overall assessment and particularly on relevant security aspects for the international community.”
EUFOR ALTHEA, currently comprising soldiers from 14 EU member states and 5 partner nations, works closely with the BiH Ministry of Defence, conducting capacity building and training for the AFBiH with the objective of enhancing their self-sustained ability to assist the local population and contribution to 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.
(Source: eufor, written by Major Nicolai Tschol)
