Top EU Generals Visit EUFOR in Sarajevo

(Patria) - Lieutenant General Olivier Rittimann, Operational Commander for EUFOR Operation Althea, and Lieutenant General Antonio Vittiglio, Head of the European Union Command Element, visited the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 11 to 13 February 2020. EUFOR Commander Major General Reinhard Trischak welcomed Lieutenant General Olivier Rittimann in Butmir and briefed him on the latest EUFOR activities and the current situation in BiH.

During the second day of the visit, Lieutenant General Olivier Rittimann and Major General Trischak met with key military and political officials: Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Ankica Gudeljević, Minister of Security of BiH Fahrudin Radončić, Deputy Minister of Defence of BiH Mijo Krešić, and Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH Lieutenant General Senad Mašović. Topics discussed at these meetings included continued work on the Master Plan for safe management and removal of weapons, ammunition and mine-explosive devices, particularly the issue of marking small arms and light weapons in BiH, and support for the BiH Mine Action Strategy to make BiH a mine-free country as soon as possible.

In a statement given at the Ministry of Defence of BiH, General Rittimann said: “It is very important that we work closely with your ministry … for the mutual benefit of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union.”

He stated that EUFOR remains ready to provide support to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in preserving peace and stability.

On the last day of the visit, a briefing was held by representatives of the LOT house in Sarajevo on their work in the community, as well as a meeting with the parliamentary military commissioner. Lieutenant General Rittimann and Major General Trischak then attended a ceremony for the reception of the sixth class of officers into professional military service of the Armed Forces.