Chief of General Staff met EUFOR Commander

During the talks they exchanged views on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the problem of surplus munitions and military facilities in BiH and in general the process of joining the Euro-Atlantic integrations of countries in the region. Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric stressed the importance of the stability of neighbouring Bosnia for the region, and emphasized the logistical support provided by the Republic of Croatia to EUFOR Operation. General Lovric then invited General Bair on the 15^th Conference of Chief of Staff of A-5 Member States, which will be held in December this year in the Republic of Croatia.

EUFOR Commander, Major General Bernhard Bair stressed the importance of Croatia as an important factor of stabilization in the region, especially due to the fact that Croatia has been a full member of NATO and soon of the European Union.

The European Union launched on a 2 December 2004 its military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, called EUFOR ALTHEA in the frame of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy and giving support to BiH. The goal of operation is to contribute to a safe and secure environment in BiH through the military presence, to prevent a resurgence of violence and to facilitate the implementation of the remaining aspects of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. United Nations Security Council has appointed EUFOR ALTHEA mission as a legal successor of SFOR, the previous mission led by NATO.