PHOTO Change of Command: NATO is Permanently Committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - "During my tenure in this country, I have learned a lot about many things, but most importantly, I have learned a lot about BiH, about the Balkans, resilience, professionalism, and freedom. I have learned that BiH is an incredible country, with beautiful mountains, endless vineyards from which excellent wines come, ripe tomatoes, warm bread, delicious honey, a country inhabited by kind and hospitable people who do not give up easily, who are educated and want the same as everyone else: a secure, prosperous country where they can raise a family and lead a fulfilling life," said Brigadier General Marti Bissell during the handover.

The change of command ceremony at the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo was held at the House of the Armed Forces of BiH in Sarajevo.

Brigadier General William J. Edwards (United States Army - US Army) took over the command of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, succeeding the outgoing commander, Brigadier General Marti J. Bissell (Army, USA).
The ceremony was also attended by Admiral James Foggo, Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, who paid tribute to the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo.

Edwards will be the commander of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo for the next year.

"To my newest friends and colleagues in the international community, the BiH Armed Forces, in NATO, EUFOR, and other organizations in Sarajevo, I say good day and I greet you. I have already had the opportunity to meet some of you through General Bissell last week. I want to thank you all for the warm welcome you have extended to me. I look forward to building on our relationships and hope to establish and maintain an open dialogue with all of you. And I promise you that I will show the same commitment that General Bissell has shown and that you have shown here in BiH.

I have heard it said that if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together," said Edwards.

Admiral Foggo stated that NATO is permanently committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

"This commitment is reflected in several ways and dates back to the initial deployment of 60,000 NATO multinational Implementation Force – IFOR in December 1995," Foggo pointed out.