Edition #87, April/June 2014 INSIDE:

EUFOR Rescue Operations Where roads were passable, trucks from the Multinational Battalion transported supplies

Visit by EUFOR Operation Commander General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, the EUFOR Operation Commander, visited BiH on 9-10 June to gain an update on the progress of Operation Althea and to witness EUFOR troops assisting Armed Forces BiH in their flood-related disaster relief work.

Operation JOINT EFFORT EUFOR’s reserve companies worked together with Armed Forces BiH to conduct a number of tasks, including repairing water supplies, disinfection of streets, removal of garbage and transportation of aid COM EUFOR

Dear Readers, page to reiterate my thanks to every one of you who was involved in JOINT EFFORT. It made me im- mensely proud to see you working shoulder to shoul- Welcome to this edition of EUForum, which covers der with Armed Forces BiH to such great effect. I a very busy period for this headquarters. know that the lives of the people of BiH have been made a little easier thanks to your help. Over the last couple of months, you have compre- hensively planned an OPREH, before having to ad- While I am delighted with our output during just plans swiftly and effectively to facilitate JOINT JOINT EFFORT, the next step is now to conduct a EFFORT in response to the devastating flooding. All thorough analysis of lessons learned, so that both aspects of EUFOR, including the Multi-National Bat- we and Armed Forces BiH can identify room for im- talion and Intermediate Reserve Coys, assisted BiH provement, making our response to any other future during a very busy – and successful – period of flood- disaster even more effective. related disaster relief. All this, in addition to day-to- day EUFOR business. Once again, well done and thank you for your ex- cellent efforts over the previous months.

I addressed some of you during the JOINT EF- FORT Closing Ceremony but I would like to use this Commander EUFOR Major General Dieter Heidecker

2 Dear Readers, CONTENTS Welcome to this issue of EUForum, EUFOR Rescue Operations 4-5 the first for me as the new Spokesperson. As you will all be

Operation JOINT EFFORT 4-9 aware, the focus of the EUFOR EDITORIAL Headquarters over the last month has been JOINT EFFORT, the name given Memorandum of Understanding to the flood-related disaster relief tasks (MOU) signed between EUFOR and that EUFOR troops undertook with the BiH Ministry of Defence 13 Armed Forces BiH. So, you won’t be surprised to see that JOINT EFFORT (origin of the word) 18 is the focus of this edition of the Lieutenant Commander magazine. Alice Williams-Allden I must say a huge thanks to those of you who went to great lengths to send valuable information through to the PAO showing your hard work. We got some very positive press coverage in the local media. Now we need to keep up the momentum and keep the work of EUFOR in the press, so please do keep on sending us your material. Our Facebook followers have increased now to over 11000 and if you’re not following already, then take a look at www.facebook.com/ euforbih. And of course, you can still go to the website, twitter and flickr for more information. I will be in post until December, I look forward to meeting you all and hearing your news stories! www.euforbih.org www.facebook.com/EUFORBiH www.twitter.com/euforbih JOINT EFFORT www.flickr.com/photos/euforalthea

Commander EUFOR Submissions can be made via All copies must be submitted to: Major General Dieter Heidecker e-mail to [email protected] EUFOR Forum Press Office Building 200, Butmir Camp The EUFOR Forum is produced by EUFOR Public Affairs Chief Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Pehr HQ EUFOR. It is fully funded by Digitised photographs should be EUFOR, and authorised and pub- submitted in JPG format with a EUFOR Forum Staff: lished for the EUFOR forces in the minimum resolution of 200 dpi. Spokesperson: area of responsibility. Lieutenant Commander Alice The EUFOR Forum does not Williams-Allden The EUFOR Forum welcomes normally return materials and will Layout: submissions. For deadline assume no liability for material Mr. Jasmin Zeherović information phone the editor on submitted. Photographs contributed by: The contents are not necessarily Warrant Officer st1 Class +387 (0)33 495148, Herbert Pendl Fax: 495221; the official views of, or endorsed by, the coalition governments’ Printed in: IPN 941-5148, Fax 941-5221 Reprographics & Courier Service defence departments. (HQ EUFOR)

3 Flood-Related EFFORT Disaster Relief

JOINT Activity

Exercise Quick Response 14 was originally planned to take place in May and June. However, the situation changed rapidly due to the huge floods in the north of BiH. Initial EUFOR activity was carried EUFOR helicopters used in evacuations out by EUFOR aircraft and the Multi- National Battalion, including tasks On 16th May, four EUFOR helicopters operated in the areas of , , and Šamac to rescue dialysis such as evacuation of personnel patients, a pregnant woman and other people in severe emer- and transportation of aid. gency situations. The decision was taken to change “The most important thing is to save lives and to sup- the exercise to assist Armed Forces port the population in emergency situations. We will carry BiH and local authorities in their on providing support shoulder to shoulder with the AFBiH and the civilian authorities for as long as required”, EUFOR disaster relief work. The name given Chief of Staff Brigadier General András Szűcs said. for this activity was JOINT EFFORT. EUFOR immediately installed permanent liasion trough All air assets, the Multi-National liasion officers with Ministery of Security and other relevant Battalion and the Intermediate organizations to provide assistance. Reserve Companies from Slovenia, Ground troops with vehicles remained on standby in the United Kingdom and Austria Camp Butmir to provide further assistance within their were tasked to help. They provided means and capabilities when requested. supplies and moved rescue teams into position in a very short period Several hundreds of people rescued of time. Work continued alongside by EUFOR helicopters Armed Forces BiH, repairing water On 17th May, EUFOR rescue operations started with a supplies, disinfecting buildings, and medical evacuation and four more were executed during the clearing the huge amount of flood day. Around 200 civilians were evacuated in 30 lifts until debris. 4 pm that afternoon. “The older people, children and those who are already weakened and in a critical condition have You can read in the following pages priority”, said EUFOR Air Chief Lieutenant Colonel Chris- further details on the tasks carried tian Tesar. out by EUFOR personnel. While the main effort of EUFOR air operations initially was in the areas of Maglaj, Tuzla and Zenica, the focus of

4 EFFORT JOINT

evacuations shifted later to the EUFOR medical evacuation team, most affected municipalities in north of the country, namely to consisting of three doctors and two the north of the country - Orašje, Šamac, , Brčko District and flight rescuers, provided immedi- Brčko, Doboj and Odžak. Where Modriča. To increase the endur- ate medical aid on the evacuation roads were passable, trucks from ance and effectiveness of EUFOR flights of the EUFOR helicop- the EUFOR Multinational Battal- air operations an additional heli- ters. Some 41 civilians, including ion were used to transport a num- copter refuelling point was estab- children and the older people, re- ber of supplies including boats and lished in Zenica. ceived emergency treatment and engineering equipment. were transported to hospitals. On the 16th May, 291 civilians Reinforcement of air assets were evacuated in 72 lifts with On 20th May, European Forces EUFOR Alouette and Black Hawk Basic Supplies were the most in Bosnia and Herzegovina also re- helicopters. During the night essential ceived support from the Swiss Air trucks transported food, water and Force. The Swiss Armed Forces, clothes to Maglaj where they as- More than 200 flights were which also have troops deployed sisted in the dissemination. They performed by EUFOR helicop- to EUFOR Althea, transferred a returned to Camp Butmir ready to ter teams, rescuing around 900 Cougar helicopter from the KFOR further assist the BiH population. people. The EUFOR disaster re- lief operation continued with the mission to be involved in disaster transport of goods to affected relief in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Immediate Medical Aid areas all over Bosnia and Herze- The Swiss helicopter was coordi- saved lives govina. Food, water, pharmaceu- nated and tasked by the EUFOR Headquarters in Camp Butmir, Sa- Timely movement and care ticals, blankets and other supplies rajevo. 22 tons of sandbags were was provided by medical person- (in total around 15 tons) essential dropped to repair the river em- nel to injured and sick people. The for people in need, were trans- ported by EUFOR air assets to the bankment in Vidovići near Orašje. 5 Summary of EUFOR Reserve Coys’ work with Armed Forces EFFORT Land Tasks BiH Planned and executed

JOINT on request of Ministry of Security of BiH EUFOR’s reserve companies worked with Armed Forces BiH to conduct a number of tasks, including repairing water supplies, disin- Turkish Company (May): fection of streets, removal of garbage and transportation of aid. Transport of 3 boats and 16 passengers from The reserve companies deployed from Camp Butmir on Friday 6 to Rajlovac June 2014 to assist the Armed Forces of BiH in their flood-related di- Transport of blankets, saster relief efforts, commonly known as JOINT EFFORT. The UK sand bags and fire and Slovenian companies travelled to Dubrave, near Tuzla, while the fighting equipment from Austrian company deployed to Zenica. Sarajevo to Orašje, Brčko and Bijelina EUFOR’s UK reserve company from 1 SCOTS, the Royal Scots Borderers, repaired water network pipes in together with Transport of 8 tons of Armed Forces BiH. The teams salvaged water pipes that had been hygiene products flushed down the Gnjica River during the flooding. The commander Transport of power of the 1 SCOTS platoon, Lt Guy Ballantyne, and the AF BiH platoon generator to Civil commander, Lt Benudin Barjaktarevic, then worked together to ensure Protection HQ in Šamac that the pipes will be used again in the local water distribution network. Transport of 15 tons of humanitarian aid from EUFOR’s Slovenian reserve company also worked with Armed Sarajevo to Forces BiH to disinfect and remove garbage from the Doboj area.

Hungarian Company EUFOR and AF BiH Joint Ops Centre in Zenica (May): On 5th June the staff of the EUFOR Multi-National Battalion set Food, water and clothes up a joint forward operations centre in Zenica with staff from the 1st transport from Sarajevo to Misurići Battalion of the 5th Brigade of Tuzla. From there EUFOR’s Lieuten- ant Colonel Scharf controlled the tasking for EUFOR’s Multi-National Transport of 33 Battalion including the ‘over the horizon’ reserve companies from Aus- passengers and tria, Slovenia and the UK. equipment from Tuzla to The Austrian reserve com- Bijeljina pany mainly operated in the Transport of water and valley, including the baby food from Pale to areas around Doboj, Maglaj Vukosavije and Zavidovic, whereas the Transport of High work of the Slovenian and Energy Biscuits to Brčko, UK companies, stationed in Bijeljina, , Doboj Dubrave near Tuzla, was cen- and Šamac tred around the valley.

6 EUFOR Reserve Companies’ disaster EUFOR troops clean up Summary of Land Tasks relief work Doboj EFFORT Planned and executed on request JOINT of Ministry of Security of BiH

JOINT EFFORT (June)

Disinfection of schools and kindergartens in Doboj (Slovenia) EUFOR’s reserve companies worked with Water supply system Armed Forces BiH in Doboj, Maglaj, Lopare EUFOR’s Slovenian re- repair in Lopare (UK) and Žepče to conduct a number of tasks, in- serve company worked with cluding repairing water supplies, disinfection Armed Forces BiH to disinfect Road construction of streets, removal of garbage and transporta- areas of Doboj and remove near Zenica (Austria) tion of aid. The reserve companies deployed garbage as part of JOINT EF- Transport of waste from Camp Butmir to assist the Armed Forces FORT. from Doboj (Slovenia of BiH in their flood-related disaster relief ef- They also conducted a and UK) forts, commonly known as JOINT EFFORT. number of recces with the Transport of waste The UK and Slovenian companies travelled UK reserve company prior from Domaljevac to Dubrave, near Tuzla, while the Austrian to further tasks in Vučilovac, (Slovenia and UK) company deployed to Zenica. EUFOR local Krepšić, Gorice and numerous observation teams (LOTs) had spent the pre- other villages. Transport of aid to Šamac (Hungarian vious few days assessing the local situations Two Austrian recce teams Coy) with the Armed Forces BiH Civil-Military also performed a recce of Cooperation (CIMIC) teams, drawing up task Žepče to assess further task- Removal of waste in lists which were then prioritized. ing. Šamac (UK) Road construction EUFOR troops repair water pipes in Željezno Polje (Austria) EUFOR’s British reserve company (from 1 SCOTS) repaired water network pipes in Waste removal in Lapore together with Armed Forces BiH. Usora (Austria) Once EOD and medical teams had assessed Disinfection of the area as being safe to work in, the teams kindergarten in began to salvage water pipes that had been Bijelinja and Tuzla flushed down the Gnjica River during the (Slovenia) flooding. Removal of waste in The commander of the 1 SCOTS platoon, Lt Guy Ballantyne, and the AF BiH Kopanice (Slovenia platoon commander, Lt Benudin Barjaktarevic, worked together to ensure that the and UK) pipes will be able to be put to use again in the local water distribution network. And so on!

7 EUFOR assistance continues following

EFFORT conclusion of JOINT EFFORT JOINT

A farewell parade was held on demonstrated the ‘double use’ of maining EUFOR troops will con- Friday 20 June to thank EUFOR’s modern Armed Forces, acting in tinue to assist in the flood-related Reserve Companies for their par- a humanitarian role as well as be- disaster relief work, and EUFOR ticipation in JOINT EFFORT, ing a military instrument. will continue our capacity build- the name given to the disaster re- The parade was held at Armed ing and training programme with lief work conducted with Armed Forces BiH base, Dubrave, Tu- the Armed Forces of BiH.” Forces BiH. zla, to say farewell and thank Major General Heidecker also Slovenia, Austria and the you to the troops. It was attended praised the Armed Forces of BiH United Kingdom each contrib- by Commander EUFOR, Major for their efforts, saying that he uted approximately 120 troops, General Dieter Heidecker, the was delighted to see how Armed who were originally deployed to Minister of Defence, Mr Zekeri- Forces BiH responded quickly BiH to take part in Exercise Quick jah Osmic, and Chief of Joint and rose to the challenge. Response 14. However due to the Staff Armed Forces BiH, Major EUFOR will also now con- devastating flooding, the main ef- General Anto Jelec. duct assessments of lessons fort of both EUFOR and Armed Major General Heidecker took identified and lessons learned to- Forces BiH changed to conduct- the opportunity to thank the Re- gether with Armed Forces BiH, ing flood-related disaster relief. serve Companies for their hard so that they can build on the suc- Tasking included removing work but stressed that the EU- cesses of JOINT EFFORT. Thor- debris and waste from homes FOR work is not yet over. ough analysis will ensure that and businesses, transporting aid, “While we say goodbye to the the Armed Forces continue to disinfecting buildings and streets Intermediate Reserve Companies respond quickly and efficiently and reconstructing roads in the today, this is by no means the end to any future disaster to assist the north of the country. This activity of EUFOR’s involvement. Our re- population most effectively.

8 General Sir Adrian Bradshaw visits BiH EFFORT JOINT

General Bradshaw and Major General Heidecker at press conference

General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, the Deputy (CJOC) where Brigadier General Dragan Vuković, Supreme Alied Commander EUROPE Commander Operational Command of Armed Forces (DSACUEUR) and EUFOR Operation BiH, was present. General Bradshaw was briefed on Commander, visited BiH on 9-10 June to gain an the ongoing EUFOR tasks, the progress of his teams update on the progress of Operation Althea and and details of their collaboration with Armed Forces to witness EUFOR troops assisting Armed Forces BiH. BiH in their flood-related disaster relief work. Later, he met with a number of members of the On the morning of 9 June, General Bradshaw re- EUFOR UK Reserve Company from 1 SCOTS, and ceived an update in EUFOR HQ on Operation Althea the Slovenian Reserve Company. Their tasking has progress, with particular focus on the recent flooding. so far been focused around Lopare, where the team He spent the afternoon in Sarajevo visiting the Presi- has been repairing the water network and near Doboj, dency, the UN Development Programme office and where they have been assisting the Armed Forces the Ministry of Defence. BiH to clear flood debris. On 10 June, General Bradshaw was given an aeri- General Bradshaw said, al tour of flood-affected areas in the north of BiH in a “EUFOR’s Intermediate Reserve companies were EUFOR Black Hawk helicopter, where he was able to coming to BiH for a joint exercise with Armed Forc- see the extent of the flood damage first-hand. He was es BiH but due to the recent flooding, they were re- also shown where EUFOR troops have been work- tasked to assist the Armed Forces with the flood-re- ing as part of JOINT EFFORT, the name given to the lated disaster relief work. I have seen today, how this combined EUFOR and Armed Forces BiH flood-re- not only benefits the worst affected areas of BiH, but lated disaster relief work. also the ability of the Armed Forces of BiH in work- On landing at Tuzla, General Bradshaw was ing together with other nations’ soldiers in disaster then shown the Combined Joint Operations Centre relief work of this kind.” 9

EUFOR Chief of Staff begins a series of EVENTS visits to EUFOR’s Embedded Advisory Teams EUFOR

EUFOR Chief of Staff, Briga- plementing Lessons Learned doc- concludes his visit programme by dier General András Szűcs be- trines and systems for AF BiH. the middle of June. Their discus- gan a tour of seven visits to meet The other embedded team in sion also concerned the establish- with 10 Embedded Advisory the Joint Staff HQ consists of an ment of a joint working group in Teams (EATs) around BiH on Albanian and a Dutch senior staff the near future, to further improve 29 April 2014. These EATs are officer who work closely with the the work of the EATs. small groups of advisors who key decision makers in AF BiH on After the meeting, LTC Jan work in close coordination with different capacity building proj- Bogusz and LTC Hans Goedings, their counterparts from the Armed ects and tasks according to the both from EUFOR, gave Briga- Forces of BiH (AF BiH) in vari- Partnership Goals requirements as dier General Szűcs presentations ous organizations, embedded to a part of the Partnership for Peace on the current status of several of the force structure of AF BiH at Action Review Plan. the projects related to the Partner- Joint Staff level down to the bri- After a warm welcome, Briga- ship Goals that they are advising gades. They are part of EUFOR’s dier General Szűcs first met with and assisting on. EUFOR’s main main effort working on Partner- Brigadier General Tepšić, the focus will be to continue to assist ship Goals to build and improve Deputy Chief Joint Staff Opera- AF BiH to build their capacity the capacity of the AF BiH on a tions of AF BiH, to familiarize and incorporate robust and self- wide variety of military capabili- himself with the current situation sustaining systems to further their ties. at the Joint Staff level and to im- integration into Euro-Atlantic There are two teams at the AF prove the cooperation for future structures. BiH Joint Staff HQ in Sarajevo capacity building efforts for AF one of which is the so called ‘Les- BiH and they agreed to meet again by LTC Hans Goedings, Lt Cdr James Love sons Learned’ EAT, where two after Brigadier General Szűcs Polish staff officers work on im- 12 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed

between EUFOR and the BiH Ministry of Defence EVENTS EUFOR

On 16 April 2014, in Army said: “The signing of this MOU importance of EUFOR’s coop- Hall, Sarajevo, a Memorandum of will develop a self-sustaining eration with the MoD for the ten Understanding (MOU) was signed training system for the Armed years that EUFOR has been pres- between EUFOR and the BiH Forces which, along with EU- ent in BiH and he said: Ministry of Defence. FOR’s capacity building and train- “EUFOR’s capacity building This MOU is now the principal ing programme, will assist in the and training programme provides agreement that provides the frame- building of a more efficient multi- an enormous contribution to the work for co-operation between ethnic state institution and enable development of the independent EUFOR and the MoD / Armed further Euro-Atlantic integration and self-sustaining capacity of the Forces of BiH and it consolidates for BiH and its Armed Forces. Armed Forces according to the and streamlines 9 previous agree- And of course the Armed Forc- standards of NATO and the EU. ments between these two parties. es can be used, not only for con- This enables the Armed Forces to It has taken almost two years ventional military operations, but develop a self-sustainable training to reach this stage but should also for other domestic tasks, such system and to work together with bring immediate advantages to the as de-mining, medical evacuation, other Euro-Atlantic forces.” working relationship, especially disaster relief and other CIMIC On EU integration, Minister with EUFOR’s capacity building duties. This ‘double use of forces’ Osmić said: “We expect that an and training programme for the is the most economical way of agreement between BiH and the Armed Forces and the common running the military and further EU on the participation of the training serial ‘Quick Response’ contributes to a safer and more se- Armed Forces in EU crisis man- between EUFOR and the Armed cure BiH, which will in turn lead agement operations will be signed Forces. to greater economic development this year, which will enable BiH to in this beautiful country.” The Commander of EUFOR contribute to the Common Foreign Major General Dieter Heidecker Minister Osmić stressed the and Security Policy of the EU.”

13 CB&T Theoretical and Practical Advanced Ammunition Course

Weapons and Am- areas of visual inspections and chemical analysis of I saw very strong munition management is ammunition. Problems of moisture, temperature and one of the most impor- motivation, the similar environmental influences which may occur tant tasks for EUFOR’s logistic support during the storage of ammunition and the chemical Joint Military Affairs was perfect, the aging process of propellant charges increases the Branch (JMA) and EU- presentations risk of accidents in ammunition sites. FOR’s Capacity Build- were excellent One trainee, Samer Ćosovic said: ing and Training Division and the practi- “I was very satisfied with the course and I gained (CBTD). There is a major cal work was new knowledge which I never had before about effort to reduce the quan- on the highest chemical analysis.” tity of Weapons and Am- munition Storage Sites in level. The aim of One of the 5 trainers from AF BiH, Siniša Šegrt BiH, so it is necessary to the course was said: have and to train the best achieved and “I´m very satisfied with the trainees as every of professionals in this field. I´m very happy them passed the exam. I saw very strong motivation, To this end, a Theo- the logistic support was perfect, the presentations retical and Practical were excellent and the practical work was on the Advanced Ammunition highest level. The aim of the course was achieved Course was organised by EUFOR for Armed Forces and I´m very happy” of BiH (AF BiH) personnel in Ammunition Storage The training was carried out on the principles Site Gabela from 8 – 25 April 2014. of moderating, mentoring and monitoring which The training was conducted by AF BiH and a ensures the transfer of knowledge into the existing EUFOR mobile training team, under the leadership school structure of AF BiH. of the Austrian Armed Logistics School and with EUFOR CBTD’s mission is to assist AF BiH technical support staff from Armaments and Military in achieving a robust and self-sustainable training Technology and Operational Support Command. The structure, with appropriate staffing mechanisms, to topics of this course allow AF BiH to were “Visual ammu- provide capabili- nition inspection” and ty-orientated and “Chemical Stability trained personnel Tests of Propellants”. in line with inter- The main focus was national standards on safety in handling and able to partici- ammunition during an pate in Peace Sup- ammunition inspec- port Operations. tion. The content of by Capt Petr Filouš this training was di- and Lt Cdr James Love vided into the subject

14 AF BiH complete EUFOR-led CISCO CB&T Network Academy Course

One of EUFOR’s Mobile them to configure switched wired of this course, AF BiH now has Training Teams (Turkish) suc- and wireless networks within their its own trained personnel, and by cessfully delivered a 4-week CIS- organization. continuing with the upper level CO Network Academy Course to The main objective of the Ca- CISCO Network Academy Cours- 14 members of AF BiH, from 12 pacity Building and Training Divi- es they will have the competency May to 6 June 2014. sion (CBTD) is to assist AF BiH in networking to establish the AF This was the seventh CIS train- in achieving a robust and self- BiH INTRANET System. ing course of eleven planned for sustainable training structure. Fol- this year, and was held at the Tac- lowing the successful completion by OF-3 Ugur Urhan tical Support Brigade Barracks in Rajlovac. The Certificate Award Ceremo- ny took place on 6 June 2014. Col- onel Ahmet Ugur Gönel (DCOS CB&T) congratulated both the successful course members and the MTT. The aim of this course was to give the participants detailed train- ing about information systems, LAN switching, wireless concepts and configuration, and to enable

15 EUFOR medal parade takes EVENTS place at Camp Butmir

EUFOR A medal ceremony took place on 3rd July 2014 in the hangar at EUFOR Headquarters, with Commander EUFOR awarding Operation ALTHEA medals to over 100 personnel from numerous different nations. Major General Heidecker, addressed the troops and thanked them for their support to Operation ALTHEA.

New British Troops at Camp Butmir

One Recce Squadron from the Sarajevo, as well as holding an readiness as part of the Intermedi- UK will be deploying to BiH this Infantry Company in the UK at ate Reserve for EUFOR. month. The squadron consists of 4 rec- ce teams in wheeled vehicles (like the Jackal, right), and 3 Liaison and Observation Teams (LOT). The role of the troops will be to improve situational awareness around the country. This will strengthen EUFOR in its current mandate, improving its planning and awareness. The UK already contributes staff officers to HQ EUFOR in

16 To help where no one else can OPERATIONS EUFOR

Protecting people and providing relief is an impor- and so support our societies”, said Major General Di- tant task for Armed Forces. This can be done in vari- eter Heidecker, Commander of EUFOR. ous ways. Armed Forces have the necessary manpower, off- “What the Armed Forces of BiH currently do and road trucks and other equipment able to operate in what EUFOR does is a good example for the double difficult terrain and so be used in these kinds of situ- use of forces. We use our soldiers, our knowledge and ations. It is essential for them to be trained and main- military equipment to relieve the people of this coun- tain resources. try now from the consequences of a natural disaster

17 Bosnia and Herzegovina

HISTORY (origin of the word)

In history and sci- The most used meaning for the word Bosna ence there is no collec- is “running water” or the river, or even the pure tive agreement about water. The original name Bosna was connected the origin of the word with the river Bosnia, and originally territories of Bosna. Some historians Bosnia (as territorial units) in the 10/11/12th cen- connect the word Bosna turies were placed around the river Bosnia (Sara- with the name of the jevo-Zenica area). This meaning is commonly and ancient tribe Besa who the most frequently used when we talk about the left no trace of their ex- origin of the word Bosnia. istence in this area. An- Bosnia was for the first time mentioned in the other idea was that Bos- written documents of the Byzantine Imperia in na originates from the 958. The Byzantine emperor Constantinus Por- Illyrian word Bos and phirogenitus in his work “De Administrando Im- means “place of the salt perio” mentioned Bosnia as a separate territory. washing”. According This fact is used as a reference when historians to this theory, Bosnia talk about 1000 would be the “salt coun- years of Bosnia. try”. This theory is hard The origins to accept because there of the name was a neighboring area H e r z e g o v i n a to Bosna called Usora may be identi- and “Salt country” was fied with greater part of the Usora. precision. In the Another idea was Early Middle that the origin of the Ages the cor- word might be associ- responding re- ated with the name of gion was known Coat of arms of the Roman settlement as Zahumlje Dynasty Kosaca “Bistua Nova” (today’s (Hum), after or Zenica area) the Zachlumoi or Roman fortress “Ba- tribe of southern Slavs which inhabited it. In the sante” which was some- 1440s, the region - adjoined to medieval Bosnia where in the northern since the early 1300s - was ruled by the powerful part of the river Bosna Bosnian nobleman Stephen Vukčić Kosača. In a towards the Sava river. document sent to the later Holy Roman Emperor Another possible ori- Friedrich III, on 20 January 1448, Kosača styled gin could be the Latin himself “Herzog of Saint Sava, Lord of Hum and word “Bosina” which Primorje, Grand Duke of Bosnia”; Herzog being means “The frontier”. the German word for “duke”, and so the lands he So Bosnians were kind controlled would later be known as Herzegovina of the frontiersmen. Bosnian heraldry (“Dukedom”, from the addition of -ovina, “land”).

18 Here’s what you may have missed on Facebook – ‘like’ our page to get regular updates!

EUFOR medal parade takes place at Camp Butmir (7 photos) A medal ceremony took place at EUFOR Headquarters yesterday, with Commander EUFOR awarding Operation ALTHEA medals to approximately 180 military personnel who have reached the end of their tour.

Joint Effort 2014 disaster releif operation of @euforbih and the AF BiH ends today with the honour parade in Tuzla

EUFOR organises ammunition inspection training course

Written by Lt Cdr Alice Williams-Allden

Members of Armed Forces BiH have recently completed an advanced ammuni- tion course delivered by EUFOR personnel at the ammunition storage site in Gabela. The course took place for two weeks and covered topics such as how to visually in- www.euforbih.org www.facebook.com/EUFORBiH spect ammunition, and how to analyse the www.twitter.com/euforbih chemical content of ammunition to keep www.flickr.com/photos/euforalthea ammunition sites safe. 19