Multinational Rapid Reaction Force for UN missions (SHIRBRIG) Reunion occurred in Bucharest between November 29 and December 1, 2005. The event included the reunion of the Working Group for creating an African peacekeeping capacity and the 26th Reunion of SHIRBRIG Director Committee.

Claudiu Degeratu, president of the Director Committee reviewed the SHIRBRIG achievements under Romanian presidency in 2005. Among them: re-evaluation of SHIRBRIG concept, establishment of requirements for creation of the African rapid reaction force for crisis management on African continent and initiation of new members and observers attraction.

Canadian Brigade General Gregory B. Mitchell stated that the Brigade efforts will especially be focused on creation and set at UN disposal of a staff nucleus able to plan at operational level and command a formation at a multinational brigade level deployed for up to six months period in a peacekeeping operation. Each SHIRBRIG member can contribute with 60 days self sustainable forces at the beginning of the UNmissions.

Participants in Bucharest at this Reunion were the representatives of the member states (Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Holland, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden) and observers (Czech Republic, Chile, Croatia, Egypt, Jordan, Portugal, Senegal, Hungary) and other states and international organizations (Japan, Latvia, African Union, Geneva Convention for Policy of Security, UN).

MoND Press Office