As part of the exercise, 250 soldiers of the strategic reserve forces of EUFOR from France, Italy, and Romania will come to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) next week, announced the commander of EUFOR in BiH, László Sticz, after a meeting with the Minister of Defense of BiH, Zukan Helez. and Deputy Minister for Policy and Plans Slaven Galic.
Sticz stated that the soldiers come to familiarize themselves with BiH and the procedures carried out in EUFOR, and all this so that they can quickly integrate into the composition of this military organization.
“French EUFOR strategic reserve forces will be deployed to BiH next week and will remain here for approximately one month. Together with troops from Romania and Italy, they will be fully under the command of EUFOR and will form a battalion-sized multinational element of the operation ‘Althea‘,” Sticz said, adding that it was a previously planned activity.
He emphasized that the process of deploying reserve forces is also a part of their training, stating that during their stay in BiH, these forces will conduct training and patrol together with EUFOR forces, which will enable EUFOR to practice the effective integration of reserve forces into its structure.
“They will train together with EUFOR forces and members of the Armed Forces of BiH (AFBiH), and in this way, the cooperation between EUFOR and the AFBiH will be improved,” Sticz said.
He pointed out that such activities are carried out every year, and the reason for this is to show that EUFOR is capable of providing a safe and stable environment in BiH.
BiH Defense Minister Zukan Helez said that the purpose of this exercise is to test and demonstrate EUFOR’s ability, by reserve forces from France, Romania, and Italy joining them, which are currently on standby.
“In the days before the actual exercise, the citizens of BiH can expect increased movement of troops and the transport of equipment of the EUFOR reserve forces upon arrival in BiH,” Helez announced.
He pointed out that Operation “Althea” closely cooperates with the Ministry of Defense of BiH, carrying out training activities of the AFBiH with the aim of improving their ability to provide assistance to the domestic population and contribute to international peace support operations.
“EUFOR has an important role in BiH, articulated in Annexes 1 a and 2 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and the task of EUFOR’s mission is to support the BiH authorities in maintaining security and a stable environment,” Helez concluded.
