Romania Joins NATO Headquarters Sarajevo

(Patria) - Brigadier General Pamela L. McGaha and Romanian Ambassador Anton Păcurețu hosted a flag-raising ceremony at Camp Butmir today to welcome the contribution of NATO ally Romania to the international military staff of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo in support of BiH institutions in reforming the defense and security sector.

During the ceremony, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha emphasized Romania's strong and active support for peace and stability in the region, including support for the collective defense of the Alliance and its partners.

"By raising another flag in support of our mission in BiH, we send a strong signal that our allies remain united, that we are much stronger together than alone, and that we continue to provide support to our partners and all citizens of BiH."

The Romanian Ambassador to BiH, Anton Păcurețu, emphasized that this support is a clear testament to Romania's strong commitment to NATO, especially in the context of the new security reality in Europe and the new challenges we all face.

"From our own experience, we know the enormous transformative effect of partnership with NATO, not only for the security and defense sector, but also for reforms in many other areas, for the benefit of citizens and with a positive impact on their daily lives."

I express my conviction that the new members of the international military staff from Romania at NATO Headquarters Sarajevo will contribute with their expertise and experience to strengthening the capabilities of both NATO Headquarters and BiH institutions, especially the Ministry of Defense."

The ceremony was attended by ambassadors of NATO countries in BiH, military attachés, and members of allied and partner countries at Camp Butmir.

Below, read the full speeches of Ambassador Păcurețu and Brigadier General McGaha:

Speech by Anton Păcurețu, Ambassador of Romania to BiH

(Camp Butmir, 19.07.2023.)

Dear Brigadier General Pamela McGaha,
Chief of Staff of EUFOR, Brigadier General Ovidiu Lungu,
NATO Contact Embassy for BiH, Ambassador of Norway Olav Reinertsen,
Excellencies, Military Attachés, dear guests,

It is my particular pleasure and honor to be part of today's flag-raising ceremony in honor of Romania's joining the International Military Staff of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo.

This is a clear demonstration of my country's strong commitment and concrete contribution to NATO missions, both in general and specifically in BiH. Especially in the context of the new security reality in Europe and the new challenges we all face, it is clear that no country can cope with them alone. Therefore, NATO is even more important than ever for allies, but also for its partners. At the same time, our presence here is a clear message about the importance we attach to the security, stability, and territorial integrity of BiH.

On the other hand, from our own experience, we know the enormous transformative effect of partnership with NATO, not only for the security and defense sector, but also for reforms in many other areas, for the benefit of citizens and with a positive impact on their daily lives. We remain committed to BiH's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The invitation to BiH to participate in the recent NATO Summit in Vilnius and previously at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest last November, was a clear sign of NATO's openness to further expand partnership tools with BiH, but also a recognition of the intertwined complexity of both the Western Balkan region and the Black Sea.

I would like to emphasize that Romania will continue to provide support to the Armed Forces of BiH through bilateral and multilateral projects and programs, including through the Defense Capacity Building Package. I express my conviction that the new members of the international military staff from Romania at NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Lieutenant Colonel Valeriu Radu and Sergeant Claudiu Sebes, will contribute with their expertise and experience to strengthening the capabilities of both NATO Headquarters and BiH institutions, especially the Ministry of Defense of BiH.

Finally, allow me to also convey my gratitude to the Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha, for her continuous efforts aimed at a more visible and stronger presence of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo in BiH.

Speech by Brigadier General McGaha

Good morning Your Excellencies, Brigadier General Lungu, distinguished guests and colleagues from NATO and EUFOR and members of our esteemed military profession,

I am grateful to all of you for joining us this morning to mark the expansion of our NATO team in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which now includes new defense advisors from a new ally: Romania.

Twenty-eight years ago, Romania helped establish peace in BiH. And since then, it has continued to be a strong and active advocate for peace and stability in the region. Since joining the NATO family nearly two decades ago, Romania has continued to embody the very spirit of NATO.

We cannot ignore the fact that war is currently raging on Romania's borders. Yet, Romania is still finding new ways to support the collective defense of our allies and partners and to tackle the threat that Russia continues to pose in other countries.

In ways such as:

Supporting partner countries including Georgia and Moldova;

Serving as the NATO Contact Embassy in several Partnership for Peace countries…

Serving in our multinational battlegroups…

And through the crucial military and humanitarian support it continues to provide to Ukraine.

And finally, through its solidarity with countries, especially our most vulnerable partners on the eastern and southeastern flanks of our Alliance.

So, Mr. Ambassador, I want to thank you and your team for the significant role you play in fulfilling these crucial advisory roles on my team at NATO Headquarters Sarajevo.

We all appreciate the dedication and professionalism of the personnel who are part of Romania's contribution to the EUFOR mission. Thanks to your efforts, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo will also be able to directly benefit from your expertise and skills. I know that these officers will further strengthen our military teams.

And, by raising another flag today in support of the NATO mission in BiH, we send a strong signal that our Alliance remains united; that we are much stronger together than we are alone; and that we continue to support our partners and all citizens in BiH.