NATO Headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted Alliance ambassadors on Friday at a meeting to discuss NATO partnerships with BiH.
The meeting also discussed the Alliance’s continued commitment to assisting BiH in its reform efforts.
NATO conducted its first major crisis response operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina when the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) was deployed in December 1995 to implement the military aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement and was replaced a year later by the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR). SFOR helped to maintain a secure environment and to facilitate the country’s reconstruction in the wake of the 1992-1995 conflict. The SFOR mission was officially ended on 2 December 2004.
In its place, a European Union-led force is deployed, known as Operation Althea. The Alliance is providing planning, logistic and command support for the EU mission, in the framework of a package of agreements known as “Berlin Plus”.
These agreements provide the overall framework for NATO-EU cooperation. The SFOR mission officially ended on December 2, 2004 and was replaced by NATO Headquarters Sarajevo. NATO Headquarters Sarajevo is a facilitator for reform in defence and security structures, which includes coordinating NATO programs and activities.
NATO Headquarters Sarajevo also supports the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina more broadly in their effort to build the capacities essential to achieving the long-term objective of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. NATO has an enduring commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
