Štic hands over command of EUFOR to Major General Barbu

(Patria) - Outgoing EUFOR Commander Major General Laszlo Sticz handed over the command of EUFOR today at the Butmir base to his successor, Major General Florin Barbu.

The handover ceremony was attended by the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, and the Operational Commander of Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lieutenant General Hubert Cottereau, as well as high-ranking domestic and international officials, and the Minister of Defence of BiH Zukan Helez.

Addressing the media, Sticz said that the people in BiH have always been aware of EUFOR's activities. He expressed hope that EUFOR has thereby managed to deepen trust and understanding among the population in BiH, in order to effectively support local authorities in maintaining a safe and stable environment.

- Today, I wanted to share my experiences in BiH. My goal was to present EUFOR as a reliable and impartial partner to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as a force capable of dealing with all potential scenarios and having the strength to deter and – if necessary – defend against anyone ready to disrupt the stable environment in BiH – stated the Major General.

He added that some of the goals during his mandate were to strengthen military and other forms of cooperation between EUFOR and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to provide support to the local population in times of need, such as during natural disasters and other calamities, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and heavy snowfall, and on several occasions in search and rescue missions.

He noted that EUFOR had close cooperation with members of the international community in BiH, with a special emphasis on the European Union Special Representative and the High Representative, whose political guidelines are of key importance to EUFOR.

He added that he tried to spend as much time as possible in the field with his troops, in order to personally assess the situation on the ground, which included contacts with representatives of domestic authorities, starting from the Presidency of BiH down to municipal mayors and all others who support the EUFOR mission in any way.

- Likewise, we paid attention to the youngest, who are the future of this country, by organizing several events intended for them. I hope that EUFOR's actions have sent a positive message to the citizens of BiH. I see this country moving closer to the European Union in the future – concluded Sticz.