COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Günter Giesa, with soldiers of the Bulgarian contingent.

On 8th March 2011, a Medal Parade was held for the EUFOR Bulgarian contingent in the International Gym Camp Butmir, Sarajevo.

The Parade also marked the handover from the 10^th to 11^th rotation of the Bulgarian Contingent. COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Günter Giesa was presented at the ceremony and he participated in the medal parade by awarding the medals to the Bulgarian soldiers.

The Bulgarians are responsible for the Force Protection of Camp Butmir but are also currently manning the LOT House in Bugojno. The LOT house system has allowed the EUFOR contingents to developed warm and professional relations with their neighbours and the local authorities. The LOT Houses form a vital part of maintaining situational awareness across the country.

Troops from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia light candles at the Camp Butmir memorial.

A short service was held on 12th January 2011 to commemorate the anniversary of the fatal crash of a helicopter operating for EUFOR in 2008. The helicopter from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia crashed as it neared it’s final destination of Skopje. The ceremony was led by COM EUFOR Major General Bernhard Bair and was attended by the Ambassador of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to BiH Mr. Rami Rexhepi, his Military Attaché, Colonel Donce Kuzmanov and a delegation from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The Senior National Representative of their Contingent, Captain Dr. Kostadinka Bozhinovski and senior representatives of other troop contributing nations also attended, along with countrymen and women living in BiH.

The commemoration took place in front of the memorial stone, erected in honour of the aircrew at the Memorial Park in EUFOR HQ Butmir Camp Sarajevo. COM EUFOR and the Ambassador then laid floral wreaths at the memorial stone.

Read more: Commemoration Held in Camp Butmir

COMEUFOR and the Hungarian Ambassador review the gathered Hungarian Contingent.

On 10th January 2011 the Hungarian contingent serving in EUFOR paraded for their EUFOR Operation ALTHEA medals.  COMEUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, was joined by the Hungarian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, His Excellency Dr. László Tóth, Deputy COMEUFOR, Brigadier General Nagy, and the EUFOR Chief of Staff Brigadier General Günter Giesa, for the ceremony.

Read more: Hungarian Medal Parade at EUFOR HQ

Official handover of responsibilities to AFBiH.

After the official handover of the former IPU Camp from NATO to the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 17^th December, the responsibilities of guarding the Camp were officially handed over on Tuesday, the 21^st December as well. The HQ Commandant, Lt Col Tony Bracken, officially relieved the Bulgarian Force Protection Company of their duties and handed the task over to the AF BiH Detail in a small ceremony. The Bulgarian Soldiers just took over from the Slovakian Platoon on 11^th December after their departure and are thanked for their dedication and additional effort.

Major General Heidecker and COM EUFOR.

The 1^st December 2010 witnessed the Change of Command of the Austrian contingent within EUFOR where Colonel (GS) Johann Lattacher handed over the leadership of the national contingent to Colonel (GS) Klaus Jenschik.

Major General Dieter Heidecker, Deputy Commander of Austrian Joint Forces, presided over the event attended by a number of honoured guests, including Lieutenant General Leandro de Vincenti (Head of EU Command Element, Chief of Staff of Joint Force Command in Naples), COM EUFOR Major General Bernhard Bair and Ambassador Dr. Donatus Köck (Austrian Ambassador to BiH). 

Read more: Austrian Contingent Change of Command

Polish Company Commander Receives Polish Colours from MNBN.

On 30^th November 2010, a ceremony was held to mark the formal end of the Polish contribution to the Multinational Battalion (MNBN). The Company of Polish troops had previously extended their tour in Bosnia and Herzegovina to allow time for the new Austrian leadership of the Battalion to be established.

COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, welcomed Lt Gen Gruszka (the Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces) to Camp Butmir to witness the ceremony and thanked Poland for their strong, continuing support to the EUFOR mission in BiH.

Read more: Polish Troops in Multinational Battalion Released