The ceremony lineup on the occasion of 15 years of participation of the Armed Forces of B&H in international peacekeeping missions was held today in the military barracks of the Armed Forces of B&H in Rajlovac near Sarajevo.
During 15 years of peacekeeping missions, B&H sent more than 1,000 soldiers and officers in the world, including 34 women. Also, the Armed Forces of B&H did not have any victims during the missions in endangered areas.
The Minister of Defence of B&H, Marina Pendeš, greeted the gathered soldiers who gave their contribution to world peace through the missions in Africa and Asia.
“Today’s anniversary is a result of missions which are demonstrating our commitment to the international effort to stop conflicts and establishing stability in crisis areas. B&H is demonstrating its responsibility as a member of the United Nations,” said Pendeš.
General Major Dragan Vuković recalled the origins of peacekeeping missions of the Armed Forces of B&H that started in the entity armies back in 2001.
“Back then, our first military observers left for Eritrea, Ethiopia, Congo and Mali. All our military observers who were on African land successfully performed the tasks in a very difficult environment. After the establishment of the Armed Forces of B&H, we sent a unit to Iraq, where our specialists showed great knowledge, skills and the ability to fulfill the extremely complex tasks. Later on, we sent the infantry unit that has developed new skills, after which followed a sending unit in Afghanistan, “said Vuković, adding that the soldiers showed that they have learn a lot and that they can be teachers as well.
General Colonel Ante Jeleč said to attendees that the lineup is a great opportunity to remember the men and women who are carried out a peacekeeping mission in the world, wearing the uniform of B&H.
(Source: klix.ba/ photo kus)
