Bosnia-Herzegovina
Feature stories and media releases
Captain Julia Leckey in Banja Luka, Bosnia
EUFOR: European Union Force (EUFOR), Bosnia
A ceremony marking the end of 15 years of New Zealand Defence Force assistance in Bosnia was held in Sarejevo on 29 June 2007.
Up until then New Zealand had provided defence personnel in varying numbers to assist peacekeeping efforts in the Balkan country. The final NZDF deployment to Bosnia included a contribution of three staff officers to EUFOR's HQ Multinational Brigade (Sector North west) in Banja Luka and an eight person Liaison and Observation Team (LOT) in Prijedor. The LOT engaged with local authorities to encourage the surrender of illegal military weapons in compliance with the Dayton Peace Accord.
New Zealand’s commitment to the Balkan states commenced in 1992 with UN Military Observers. In 1994 New Zealand committed the first of two Company Groups to the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR). When this commitment was withdrawn New Zealand continued to commit three Staff Officers to the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) until it was replaced by the European Union Force (EUFOR) in 2004. NZ assistance finished on 29 June 2007.
For more information: A History of NZDF involvement in Bosnia.
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