The Chief of Defence Staff , on official visit to the theater of operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Present in Sarajevo, on November 6-7, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, participated in the Women, Peace and Security (WPS CHODs Network) Conference and visited the Romanian soldiers participating in the EUFOR ALTHEA Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Intended for decision-makers of the UN member states’ armed forces, the conference aimed to identify and discuss ways to implement and consolidate national commitments to ensuring equal opportunities for women in the defence sector. Also, during the working sessions, examples of good practice of "Women, Peace and Security" (WPS) topical issue in the military field were presented.

The Chief of Defence Staff stated that at the level of the Romanian Military’s force structure, the percentage of female personnel is on an upward trend. "Women's participation in the entire spectrum of military activities is part of normality. In fact, the implementation of the WPS agenda is among the priorities of the defence institution", General Gheorghiță Vlad stated.

General Gheorghiță Vlad visited Camp Butmir, the military base where most of the Romanian contingent participating in the European Union's stability operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUFOR ALTHEA is deployed. The Chief of Defence Staff discussed with the soldiers about their tasks accomplishment, living conditions and operational challenges posed in this theater of operations.

The soldiers reported that their daily schedule included both conducting missions and training sessions alongside colleagues from the operation-contributing countries and those from the host nation's armed forces.

The Chief of Defence Staff emphasized the fact that, in the Balkans, Romania had a tradition of performance, carried out for over a decade of missions admirably performed by our military personnel. "Romanian consistency in EUFOR ALTHEA means that the responsibility with which you fulfill your missions is reflected, as a whole, in the performance of the operation," General Gheorghiță Vlad said.

As part of the visit agenda in Bosnia and Herzegovina, General Gheorghiță Vlad had bilateral meetings with the Commander of EUFOR ALTHEA, Major General László Sticz, respectively with the commander of the NATO Command deployed to this theater of operations, Brigadier General Matthew Valas.

Discussions focused on the security situation in the Western Balkans, a special emphasis being placed on the theater of operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, the perspectives regarding the presence of the Romanian soldiers within NATO KFOR and EUFOR ALTHEA were analyzed, including our country’s taking over the EUFOR ALTHEA command starting 2025.

"The active contribution to the stability missions in the Western Balkans is a strategic priority for the Romanian Armed Forces. The constant participation we have here is proof of our firm commitment to maintaining regional security and stability," the Chief of Defence Staff said.

The Press Office