2 Dec. 2004

NATO ends SFOR mission News 02/12/2004 - NATO NATO’s future role in Bosnia and Herzegovina 01/12/2004 - NATO NATO Secretary General to visit Sarajevo 29/06/2004 - NATO SFOR to be terminated at the end of the year Background NATO-EU: A strategic partnership Opinions 02/12/2004 - NATO Speech by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer 02/12/2004 - NATO Speech by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, M. Borislav Paravac 02/12/2004 - NATO Speech by M. Javier Solana, EU High Respresentative 02/12/2004 - NATO Press conference with M. Javier Solana, EU High Respresentative and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer Winter edition of NATO Review Historic change in the Balkans Multimedia High resolution photos of the ceremony NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina: 9 years of supporting peace .wmv/2785kb Transfer of Authority ceremony .wmv/2458kb 02/12/2004 - NATO Audio file of the speech by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, M. Borislav Paravac (MP3/2933kb) 02/12/2004 - NATO Audio file of the speech by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at the SFOR transfer of authority ceremony (MP3/3569kb) 02/12/2004 - NATO Audio file of the speech by M. Javier Solana, EU High Respresentative at the SFOR transfer of authority ceremony (MP3/2659kb) 02/12/2004 - NATO Audio file of the press conference with M. Javier Solana, EU High Respresentative and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (MP3/10819kb) December wallpaper: NATO ends SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina E-cards on the end of the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina PDF Library Nov. 2004 NATO Briefing: Bringing peace and stability to the Balkans (.PDF/1057 Kb) Links NATO Headquarters Sarajevo SFOR website A ceremony in Sarajevo on 2 December marked the historic conclusion of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the launch of the European Union’s follow-on EUFOR. SFOR has been brought to a successful end almost exactly nine years since NATO deployed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 in what was the Alliance’s first peacekeeping operation. The decision reflects the improved security situation in the country. “Today is truly a day for celebration – for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also for the wider international community,” NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer said in a speech at the handover ceremony. He said the progress the country had made was unimaginable in the early 1990s. People no longer lived in fear, state institutions had been established and there was respect of human rights. Goodbye to SFOR, but not to Sarajevo The successful termination of SFOR does not spell the end of NATO’s engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the European Union assumes responsibility for peacekeeping operations, NATO will maintain a headquarters in Sarajevo to assist the country with defence reform. It will also carry out some operational tasks, in co-ordination with the European Union. This will include counter-terrorism and assistance in apprehending persons indicted for war crimes. The handover was also proof of the “developing cooperation between NATO and the European Union”, Mr. De Hoop Scheffer said. The 7,000-strong EUFOR mission will be supported by NATO under the so-called ‘Berlin Plus’ arrangements that provide the framework for NATO-EU cooperation. The ceremony, held at SFOR Headquarters, saw the mission’s flag replaced by the flag of EUFOR and the formal establishment of NATO’s new headquarters in Sarajevo.