EUFOR today officially appointed Brigadier General Tibor Szabo of the Hungarian Armed Forces as the new EUFOR Chief of Staff at Camp Butmir. After distinguished service in numerous international operations, Brigadier General Szabo now joins the EUFOR Command Group, alongside Commander Major General Florin Mariano Barbu and Deputy EUFOR Commander Brigadier General Uberto Incisa di Camerana. He takes over the position previously held by Brigadier General Herbert Sailer of the Austrian Armed Forces.
In his address, EUFOR Commander Major General Barbu expressed his gratitude to Brigadier General Sailer for his exceptional commitment, clear objectives and exceptional leadership.
“General Sailer, I would like to personally thank you not only for your exceptional performance of duty but also for the camaraderie and trust you have shown throughout your time here. Your way of working will be a lasting legacy that will be remembered long after you are gone,” he said.
General Barbu also warmly welcomed Brigadier General Szabo to his new position, highlighting his extensive experience and the importance of his position within the EUFOR Leadership Team.
“General Szabo, you have my full confidence, and I know that the entire EUFOR team is ready to support you in continuing our work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, united, clear and with a common goal,” he emphasized.
In his farewell speech, Brigadier General Sailer thanked the EUFOR Leadership Team and staff for their support and expressed his gratitude to the Operational Commander for his guidance.
“Now, at the end of my mandate, I believe that I have managed to fulfill the promise I made a year ago, to continue the work started by my predecessor and to implement the intentions of Lieutenant General Cottereau, the Operational Commander of Operation ALTHEA, and the EUFOR Commanders. Today, the European Union Forces are better, more focused and more prepared than ever to continue implementing their role, mandate and mission – to support the local authorities in maintaining a safe and stable environment,” underlined Sailer.
The new Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Szabo, said that he was honored and grateful for his new appointment. He also thanked Brigadier General Sailer and his team for their support.
“Taking on the role of Chief of Staff in EUFOR ALTHEA is a great personal and professional honor for me. This mission represents not only the European Union’s ongoing commitment to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the collective responsibility we all have for maintaining security on the European continent. I am sincerely committed to cooperation with the Armed Forces of BiH and look forward to working closely with them. Through cooperation, we will show what can be achieved through partnership, and I am committed to contributing to this shared success,” he said.
The position of Chief of Staff strengthens EUFOR’s commitment to improving operational capabilities in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina. EUFOR remains an unwavering, capable and reliable partner in maintaining a safe and stable environment for all residents of BiH, EUFOR announced.
