EU’s Bosnia-Herzegovina operation to be led by Hungarian commander

Command of the European Union’s EUFOR ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be taken over by Hungarian Major General László Sticz from January 2024 for a one-year period, the defence minister said on Tuesday.

Preserving the stability of the Western Balkans region is a priority for the Hungarian government, as the countries there play a key role in halting illegal migrant waves, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in a statement.

Hungary has been part of the various regional military missions for decades, one of the most important of which is the EU’s EUFOR ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said.

Hungarian soldiers over the years have been recognised for their role in the military alliance by being put in charge of the regional missions, the minister said.

Sticz’s appointment as ALTHEA commander was also backed by the Military Committee of the European Union and EUFOR Operation Commander Lt. Gen. Hubert Cottereau, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

The Hungarian Armed Forces will also be contributing its helicopter transport, air evacuation and ROLE 1 medical support capabilities, a bomb disposal crew, explosive detection dogs and a military police unit to the ALTHEA mission from next year, he said.

Sticz currently serves as commander of the Armed Forces’ Force Modernisation and Transformation Command. He has served in the Western Balkans missions and at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

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