Lt Gen de Vincenti (2nd from right) with LOT House Personnel and COM EUFOR (last on right)

On 17th September 2010, COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, and Lieutenant General Leandro de Vincenti, Head of EU Command Element and Chief of Staff of Joint Force Command in Naples, visited Mostar.  Upon arrival, they paid a visit to Regional Coordination Center (RCC2) in Mostar.

Read more: Visit to Mostar by COM EUFOR and Lt Gen de Vincenti

Left to Right: Outgoing COS Brigadier General Bischof receiving his Operation ALTHEA medal from COM EUFOR. In background is new COS Brigadier General Giesa.

On 17th September 2010, COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair presided over a ceremony to mark the Hand Over / Take Over of his Chief of Staff. The majority of those employed in the EUFOR HQ, along with a number of guests from the NATO HQ Sarajevo, formed up outside the HQ building to witness Brigadier General Bischof handover the important position to Brigadier General Giesa.

Read more: Handover of Chief of Staff

Lieutenant General de Vincenti (EUCE), Dr Valentin Inzko (OHR), General Sir McColl, COMEUFOR Major General Bair.

On 16^th September 2010, General Sir John McColl, the Operation Commander of EUFOR Althea, paid another official visit to Sarajevo.  During his stay, General McColl, accompanied by Lieutenant General Vincenti, head of the EU Command Element, met with COMEUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, the High Representative, Dr Valentin Inzko and the head of the EU Police Mission, Stefan Feller.

Read more: Op ALTHEA Operation Commander Visit to Sarajevo

COM EUFOR with Lt Gen de Vincenti.

On 15th September 2010, Lieutenant General Leandro de Vincenti, Head of EU Command Element and Chief of Staff of Joint Force Command in Naples, visited HQ EUFOR in Camp Butmir, Sarajevo.  He was welcomed by COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, who briefed the esteemed guest on EUFOR activities and the current security situation within BiH during their office call.

Afterwards, the two generals visited the Liaison and Observation Team (LOT) in Sarajevo.  The LOT commander, Captain Botticelli, welcomed Major General Bair and Lieutenant General de Vincenti and introduced the LOT personnel to the two generals.  The subsequent briefing provided an informative update on the current activities of the Liaison and Observation Team.  The LOTs are stationed in various towns around BiH and enable EUFOR to maintain a presence throughout the country.

The day was concluded with a visit to the old part of Sarajevo and a walk around all the major historical landmarks of the city.  Lieutenant General de Vincenti is on a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Left to Right: Outgoing COS Brigadier General Bischof, Lieutenant General Glatz, COM EUFOR, new COS Brigadier General Giesa.

On 15th September 2010, Lieutenant General Rainer Glatz, Commander of Bundeswehr Operations Command, met with COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair in Camp BUTMIR. Lieutenant General Glatz is visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the German elements within EUFOR.

During the visit, COM EUFOR was able to update Lieutenant General Glatz on EUFOR activities and the professional contribution made by the German contingent based throughout BiH. The General will review the German forces on parade and witness the Change of Command from Brigadier General Bischof to Brigadier General Giesa.

On 15 September 2010 Lieutenant General Glatz, Chief Joint Operations Command, handed over command of the German Deployed Contingent from Brigadier General Bischof to Brigadier General Giesa.
During the ceremony in the Helicopter Hangar of Camp Butmir, Lieutenant General Glatz contemplated the successful past and future cooperation of the European forces within the EUFOR Althea mission. The outgoing Chief of Staff, General BISCHOF, looked back on almost seven months full mutual assistance and fulfilling duty. He addressed the German soldiers and thanked them for their consistent professionalism. The ceremony was accompanied by music from the Bosnian Music-Corps.