prijava
BANJA LUKA, November 16 (FENA) - In the presence of high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH), the British Embassy in BiH, EUFOR and NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, the development of the AFBiH Combat Training Center, achieved through the partnership and support of the Government of the United Kingdom (UK), was presented to the public today at Manjača.
The United Kingdom has secured the procurement of innovative equipment such as automated targets for combat shooting, a mobile training village for urban combat and smart video surveillance, as well as professional training of instructors.
This will enable greater security and more realistic training of members of the AFBiH and help the AFBiH to better apply the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda in its exercises and operations, making this military site unique in the region, the BiH Ministry of Defense said.
In addition to BiH Defense Minister Sifet Podžić, the presentation was attended by British Ambassador to BiH Matt Field, Chief of the Joint Staff of the AFBiH Colonel General Senad Mašović with his deputies Ivica Jerkić and Gojko Knežević, Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo Brigadier General Eric Folkestad, Deputy EUFOR Commander in BiH Brigadier General Szilard Gerofi, assistants of the Minister of Defense of BiH and members of the General Corps of the AFBiH and other officials.
In his address, Minister Podžić pointed out the long-term assistance provided by the Government of the United Kingdom to the Armed Forces of BiH, both in the recruitment and training of young personnel and support in the development of military ambulances, and the introduction of some new skills and methods.
“The new funds will make it even easier to achieve high professional and combat standards in defense against various modern threats, interoperability with NATO troops, but also even better preparation for participation in international peacekeeping operations,” said Minister Podžić.
He underlined that the help of the United Kingdom is even more important when it is known that due to various political circumstances in the country, support for achieving a sufficient military budget is not stable, "and our members work in circumstances of very low funding".
“The United Kingdom is a long-term partner of the Armed Forces of BiH and today I would like to thank them once again for their top professionalism and service in the public interest. They represent the best that this country has,” said Ambassador Field on that occasion.
Head of the AFBiH Joint Staff, General Mašović, emphasized that investing in the AFBiH is an investment in a better future.
Commander of the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, Brigadier General Folkestad, also addressed on this the occasion, emphasizing that the new capacities of the Combat Training Center represent a significant contribution to building the capabilities of the AFBiH.
“This is a reminder that the international community is committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina and its unified Armed Forces. Congratulations to friends from the British Embassy on this support. As a country of the Partnership for Peace, BiH enjoys the full support of NATO and its 30 allied countries,” said General Folkestad, said the Press Service of the MoDBiH.
(FENA) A. B.
