On 21 January 2020, COMEUFOR, Major General Reinhard Trischak, and Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Johann Sattler, held a New Year’s reception at Camp Butmir for the key leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the International Community and diplomatic corps in BiH.
Among the honoured guests were Minister of Defence of BiH, Dr. Sifet Podžić, Minister of Security of BiH, Mr. Fahrudin Radončić, Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH, Ms. Ankica Gudeljević, Chief of the Joint Staff of the AF BiH, Lieutenant General Senad Mašović, and the ambassadors of many nations.
Addressing all those present, COMEUFOR said that the event was: “…an opportunity to thank all our partners in the common effort to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in ensuring durable peace and progress toward EU membership.”
Ambassador Sattler praised the: ”…excellent cooperation between EUFOR and my Office.” He continued: “I would also like to express my appreciation for EUFOR's support to and close collaboration with local authorities. These close working relations are an essential precondition for achieving concrete, positive results for the benefit of BiH citizens.”
During his address, COMEUFOR highlighted the successes of 2019: Exercise Quick Response 19 and its inclusion of law enforcement agencies in the Republika Srpska for the first time; work within the BiH Ammunition, Weapons and Explosives Master Plan for the disposal of surplus ammunition and weapons and the introduction of a sustainable life-cycle management; as well as building on the cooperation with the EU Delegation, consolidating monitoring and mentoring support to demining, with a sustainable Mine Action Strategy.
