Yesterday on, 24 October, EUFOR held the Distinguished Visitors Day and official Opening Ceremony for Exercise EUFOR Quick Response 2022. Attended by dignitaries from across BiH and the international community as well as the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of BiH, the event brought all 20 EUFOR nations together to officially launch the exercise.
The event consisted of a military ceremony, a static meet the troops display and a dynamic display.
The ceremony was presided over by COM EUFOR Major General Anton Wessely accompanied by the Minister of Security of BiH, Dr. Selmo Cikotić, Deputy Minister of Defence of BiH, Mr. Mijo Krešić and Ms. Aurelie Valtat, the representative of the EU Delegation.
The static display was an opportunity for dignitaries and international representatives to meet their countrymen and women who are deployed as part of Operation Althea and based in Camp Butmir. The dynamic display was a capability demonstration with members of the Multi National Battalion working together with the Aviation Detachment.
In his speech, Major General Anton Wessely said;
"exercises are not only necessary, they are mandatory to reach and finally maintain the highest level of interoperability and cooperation.
Soldiers have to show flexibility, competence, braveness and above all dedication to the demanding job they have chosen. We will train all the tactical principles of the different levels and we will go on with the real operation".
