SFOR - Ovcarevo range handed over to VF-B

Ovcarevo range handed over to VF-B

Maj. Viktor Nikolla
First published April 18, 2003

An important event took place on March 27, 2003 at Ovcarevo shooting range. UK Brig. Gen. Barry, Commanding General of Multinational Brigade Northwest officially returned the responsibility and the management of this range to the hands of the Bosniac component of the Army of the Federation (Vojska Federacije, VF-B).

Travnik - Ovcarevo shooting range is located about 3 kilometres away from Travnik. It is located in a small valley surrounded by mountains on each side. Before the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) it was regularly used by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). The Past and the Future
Since Dec. 1995, when the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) was signed, IFOR (Implementation Forces) and then SFOR monitored this shooting range, along with many other military facilities. The GFAP states: "The IFOR shall have the unimpeded right to observe, monitor, and inspect any Forces, facility or activity in BiH that the IFOR believes may have military capability." And under UN Security Council Resolution 1088 of Dec. 12, 1996, SFOR was authorised to implement the military aspects of the Peace Agreement as the legal successor to IFOR.
Bosnian Maj. Jasmin Ganic, Planning and education officer at Combat Training Centre said: "After the war we did not use this shooting range because, according to the GFAP, it was observed and monitored by SFOR. All the activities of the Armed Forces were conducted in compliance with SFOR's instructions. So we never had the responsibility of this range. We had to get the approval of SFOR to train there."
"Sometimes they had to go far away from Travnik. They would go to Zenica, making a lot of expenditure, when in fact they needed support here," added Maj. Ruud Middlehoven, chief of Joint Military Affairs (JMA) of the Dutch Battle Group (NL BG).
Ever since March 27, Ovcarevo range belongs to VF. Its soldiers will be trained there. The flag of the Army of Federation has been raised over the installation and will never be lowered.
All are winners, there is no loser
In order to have a celebration with competition element, a shooting competition was organised prior to the ceremony. Bosnian Capt. Alman Kazumovic and Dutch 1Lt. Marc Van Der Broek initiated this idea. There were two teams from local Combat Training Centre (CTC) and four from the 17 NL BG who displayed their skills in shooting exercises. "We are all winners, there is no loser," said Lt. Col. Harald Jacobs, commander of the 17 NL BG. But as usually there was a winner, the Dutch HQ Company.
In such a good climate, Barry and Brig. Gen. Refik Lendo, commander of the 2nd corps Tuzla, signed the document and cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially marking the handing over of the range to VF-B.
"I would like to take the opportunity to thank the international forces for helping people of BiH in this region and for giving us the opportunity to keep using this range. Reserve forces, conscripts that are recruited can be together here during the exercise. As every army in peace the Army of Federation has to be trained and equipped. Together with you and all the other forces that are present in BiH we will try to be of use for the citizens of BiH. This shouldn't be the last, we hope to continue to co-operate in other places as well," said Lendo.
The transfer of this shooting range is a reflection of the success of SFOR's mission and of the progress of the Federation Army. This was not the end of an event, but the beginning of a future.