Ceremony of Remembrance

12th January 2010 - A memorial ceremony was held today in Camp Butmir for the 11 servicemen from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina with EUFOR, who were killed when their helicopter crashed on 12th January 2008. The ceremony was held in the memorial garden in the Camp, where there is a permanent monument to the victims of the crash, and was opened with the playing of the national anthem of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Candles were lit and a brief description of the event was provided by the senior representative of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia contingent, Major Zoran Karatasev. COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, then laid a wreath and made a speech in memory of the lost servicemen. Following a two minute silence, and the playing of the European Union anthem, the ceremony was then closed. 

Amongst the many personages in attendance were the incoming and outgoing Ambassadors of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Their Excellencies Mrs Ana Trajkovska and Mr Rami Rexhepi, who made an office call on COM EUFOR prior to the ceremony; DCOM EUFOR, Brigadier General Juan Diaz Cruz and COS EUFOR, Brigadier Gerhard Kemmler. An honour guard was provided by the Irish contingent.