The Swiss Ministry of Defense states that Minister Viola Amherd will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo on September 8 and 9 together with members of her country’s security policy commission in order to familiarize themselves with the security situation on the ground and the country’s role in the peace-building operations of the Kosovo Security Force ( KFOR) and European Forces (EUFOR) Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The delegation will visit Swiss soldiers and talk with NATO and EU mission commanders, and Amherd will talk with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Bosnia and Herzegovina Defense Minister Sifet Podžić, and High Representative Christian Schmidt.
“The promotion of international military peace is the mission of the Swiss Army. The war in Ukraine further increased instability in the Western Balkans; the security situation has been worrying for some time,” the statement said.
Since 1999, Switzerland has participated in the KFOR mission led by NATO with a contingent (Swisscoy). In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland has been involved in the EUFOR Althea mission led by the EU since 2004 with a maximum of 20 military personnel.
It is said that Amherd will also discuss with Schmidt the upcoming elections and possible effects on the security situation and the future of the EU mission Althea. He will also meet with EU Mission Commander Anton Wessely.
In Kosovo, Amherd will talk with Kurti about the consequences of the war in Ukraine, current events in the north of Kosovo and the security situation in the Western Balkans. She will also discuss the role of KFOR and the contribution of her country with KFOR commander Ferenc Kajari.
