EUFOR COS, Colonel ŽURMAN, COMEUFOR, Colonel Gulyas (Outgoing NATO HQSa COS)

On 25th November Major General Bernhard Bair, COMEUFOR, welcomed the new Chief of Staff for NATO HQ Sarajevo, during an Office Call.  Colonel Milan ŽURMAN, from the Slovenian Armed Forces, has recently taken up his post in the HQ and was fully briefed by COMEUFOR on all aspects of the OP Althea mission.

COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Günter Giesa, presenting a medal.

On 26th October 2010, contingents from several EUFOR nations paraded for their EUFOR Operation ALTHEA medals.
COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Günter Giesa presented the medals and praised the professionalism, loyalty and commitment of all the soldiers and thanked them for a job well done.

Colonel José Manuel Santiago Marin, the Commander of the IPU leads parade past gathered dignitaries.

Today, 20^th October 2010, saw a ceremony to mark the official end of the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the closure of the Integrated Police Unit’s (IPU) HQ in Camp Butmir.

COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair praised the long work of the IPU and EGF saying “When this country only knew conflict and despair you helped bring peace, stability and security to so many citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

COM EUFOR praised all those who were receiving their OP ALTHEA medals, reminding them to be proud of their hard work, their professionalism and their contribution to the country.

Read more: End of European Gendarmerie Force Mission in BiH

His Excellency Mr Raimondo De Cardona with Colonel Paolo Coletta.

On 20th October 2010, a Medal Parade was held for the EUFOR Italian Contingent in the International Gym Camp Butmir, Sarajevo.

Commander of the Carabinieri Contingent in BiH and Logistics Support Unit Cdr, Colonel Paolo Coletta and Commander of Italian Contingent, Lt Col Ernesto Acciarino were presented with their Operation ALTHEA Medals by His Excellency Mr Raimondo De Cardona, Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair. Colonel Edmondo Panaioli, Chief of the Information and Analysis Division (IAD) was also present at the ceremony.

Photo 1: Left to Right on front row: H.E. Alejandro Alvargonzález San Martín, Minister Cikotić, General Jose Julio Rodriguez Fernandez, Mrs. Carme Chacón Piqueras (on podium), Major General Bernhard Bair.

On 18^th October 2010, the Spanish Minister of Defence, Mrs. Carme Chacón Piqueras, visited EUFOR HQ with a high level delegation including the Chief of Staff General Jose Julio Rodriguez Fernandez, to meet with COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair. She was greeted by a Guard of Honour outside the EUFOR HQ building.

During the subsequent office call, COM EUFOR praised the contribution, sacrifice and the commitment of the Spanish Military and Guardia Civil to Bosnia Herzegovina and the EUFOR ALTHEA mission and thanked the Spanish for their ongoing commitment to the Capacity Building and Training Mission.

Read more: COM EUFOR hosts Spanish Defence Minister and Change Of Command of the Multinational Battalion

From left to right: Commander of the Austrian Joint Forces Command, Lieutenant General Günter Höfler; Charge d’Affaires Austrian Embassy, Mag. Brigitte Pfriemer; COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Günter Giesa; AUT NCC, Colonel Johann Lattacher; and Austrian Defence Attaché, Brigadier General Andreas Rotter.

On 18^th October 2010, the Commander of the Austrian Joint Forces Command, Lieutenant General Günter Höfler, met with COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, in Camp Butmir, Sarajevo.

 

During the office call, the two Austrian Generals shared their opinions on a variety of issues and COM EUFOR briefed Lt Gen Höfler on the current security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. COM EUFOR praised the continuing contribution of the Austrian Contingent of troops within the force.

 

Lt Gen Höfler main purpose for visiting the country was to attend the Change Over of Command of the Multinational Battalion where he saw the Austrian Lt Colonel Bernd Rott take over from Lt Colonel Spanish Marines Angel Herrezuelo Pérez.

Read more: Commander of the Austrian Joint Forces Command Meets COM EUFOR