COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Gerd Bisschof, awarding a medal.

On 31st August 2010, contingents from several EUFOR nations paraded for their EUFOR Operation ALTHEA medals.

COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Gerd Bischof presented the medals. COS EUFOR praised the professionalism, loyalty and commitment of all the soldiers and thanked them for a job well done.

On 21st August 2010 COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair, together with the Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) 2 Chief, Major Ignacio Warleta, visited the Liaison and Observation Team (LOT) House in Trebinje. They were welcomed by the LOT commander who then  introduced the LOT personnel and gave an informative briefing on the current activities of the Liaison and Observation Team Trebinje.

On 23rd August 2010, the 17th German EUFOR contingent held its Medal Parade near Camp Butmir’s “Echoes CJ 10”. 75 soldiers were decorated for their service here in Bosnia and Herzegovina. COS EUFOR, Brigadier General Gerd Bischof, who is also the Commander of the German contingent, stated during his speech: “It is the International Community’s distinguished ambition to prevent the return of violence to this area. Just by serving as a soldier in Camp Butmir we give the people the justified feeling of security.”

Read more: German Medal Parade

The main SC prizes - Travels abroad: Slovenia, Hungary, Turkey and Austria

ECD Chief, Lt Col Svetlin Antonov, visited Sarajevo Airport to greet a group of two secondary school pupils coming back from Turkey.

Trip to Turkey

On Tuesday 10th August 2010 at 09:00 EUFOR ECD Chief, Colonel Svetlin Antonov visited Sarajevo International Airport to greet a group of two secondary school students as they were coming back from their 10 days visit to Turkey.

Five students of the High school “28th of June” East Sarajevo (RS), and three students of the Gymnasium Breza (Federation of BiH), together with their professors won the trip to Turkey on the EUFOR School Competition 2010. The group projects that these two schools have made were chosen as ones of the best on the last EUFOR School Competition 2010.

Read more: Winners of EUFOR School Competition 2010

COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair together with the Austrian Director General of Directorate General III (Assets Provision), Lieutenant General Freyo Apfalter. In the picture also the guide of the tour Mr  Bajro Kolar and his son Mr Edis Kolar

19 August 2010, COM EUFOR, Major General Bernhard Bair together with the Austrian Director General of Directorate General III (Assets Provision), Lieutenant General Freyo Apfalter and the EUFOR Austrian Senior National Representative Colonel Lattacher made an official visit to view the ‘Tunnel of Life’ that provided a logistical lifeline to the people of Sarajevo during the siege of the city.  The guided tour was led by members of the Kolar family.  COM EUFOR stated: “Learning the lessons of history, which is factually based and incorporates the views of all  parties, is a very important factor for understanding the past so that communities and a nation can develop and move forward together peacefully and progressively”.

On 18th August 2010, Dr. Heinz Vetschera lectured in Camp Butmir as part of the ongoing education of EUFOR and NATO personnel by the EUFOR Historical Department. Dr Vetschera was welcomed to EUFOR by the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Gerd Bischof.
Dr. Vetschera delivered an informative presentation to a packed auditorium on the topic of Security Issues in Western Balkans as seen from a historical perspective. After the lecture, Dr. Vetschera engaged in a lively question and answer session and finessed a range of issues. The Chief of Staff concluded the evening with a heartfelt vote of thanks on behalf of the military audience who had learned a great deal from Dr Vetschera’s insights and analysis.