It is announced that, following a decision of the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence, Greece is taking over from Austria the Command of the Multinational Task Force North (MNTF-N) of the ‘’ΑLTHEA’’ Operation in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Greece will hold the command up to one year, depending on a possible decision by the European Union to assign these duties to the European Union Police.
In June 2004, NATO decided to conclude SFOR Operation in B-H, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), following Resolution No. 1551, dated 9 July 2004, asked the EU to continue the operation.
In this context, and in compliance with the «European Security and Defence Policy» (ESDP), the EU decided, on 12 July 2004, to undertake the Operation in B-H, under the code name «ΑLTHEA».
The mission of the Operation is to contribute towards the creation of a safe and secure environment in B-H, in line with the UN SC resolutions, under the strategic guidance of the EU Policy and Security Committee and within the DAYTON General Framework Agreement for Peace in B-H.
Fourteen states participate in the operation: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Turkey.
Greece has participated in the «ALTHEA» operation since it started, in December 2004. In 2006, Greece contributed with 46 cadres to the Task Force North, for manning the Headquarters and the multinational sub-units of Military Police, Logistics and Medical Corps. Greece also contributed with additional 38 cadres to the «ΑLΤΗEA» ΗQ, at BUTMIR Camp, in Sarajevo. A number of 34 more cadres are already in Touzla to assume the Command of Task Force North, under Brigadier General Emmanouel Sidiropoulos. The Multinational Task Force-North consists of about 1.300 personnel.
The Command hand over ceremony will take place in «EAGLE BASE» Camp, in Touzla, today, at 16.00 (Greek time).
LTC (Arty) G. Kalpogiannakis
Assistant HNDGS Spokesman