The stability of the Western Balkans will remain a priority of strategic importance for the Euro-Atlantic security, Defence Minister Angel Tilvar said on Monday, when, together with Chief of the Defence Staff Daniel Petrescu, met with Romanian soldiers participating in the EUFOR ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the National Defence Ministry (MApN), the two met Commander of the EU force in this theatre of operations, Major General Helmut Habermayer, and with Commander of NATO Command in Sarajevo, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha. The discussions focused on the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the future prospects for the Romanian military presence in NATO KFOR and EUFOR ALTHEA.

"The stability of the Western Balkans region remains a priority for Romania, as it is of strategic importance for the Euro-Atlantic security. Romania's operational involvement in this region, both in the NATO KFOR mission and in the EUFOR ALTHEA mission is a proof of our firm commitment in the Balkans," reiterated the Defence Minister during the official talks.

Minister Tilvar pointed out that Romania is one of the main contributors to EUFOR ALTHEA. "We remain firmly committed to this operation, which plays a key role in supporting local authorities in maintaining a stable and secure environment," the minister said.

General Daniel Petrescu pointed out that "in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Romanian military represent one of the longest-standing presences in the international security effort and one of the most visible presences of the European Union force in this state."

During the second part of the visit, the MApN leadership met with Romanian military members of the EUFOR ALTHEA force structure.

General Petrescu also underlined that, through the increased level of troops deployed to theatres of operations, Romania proves that it honours its security commitments.

"We contribute to all assistance and training missions conducted under the aegis of the EU, having commanded such an operation in the Central African Republic and are at an increased level of contribution in the Western Balkans. The simultaneous deployment of two companies of the reserve forces to Kosovo and Bosnia, totalling almost 300 soldiers, within the terms and standards set out in the activation documents, is an important success for our army, which proves the maturity of the system of planning and conducting military operations," stressed General Petrescu.

The European Union's EUFOR ALTHEA operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched in December 2004 under a UN Security Council mandate. The mission is the successor to NATO-led operations SFOR and IFOR. Since 2012, EUFOR ALTHEA focuses on training and capacity building of the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, 22 countries are participating in EUFOR ALTHEA: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and Switzerland.

Since May, Brigadier General Ovidiu Lungu has been EUFOR ALTHEA Chief of Staff. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Adina Panaitescu, editor: Cristina Zaharia)