Brigadier General József Szpisják is the new KFOR Deputy Commander

Confined to quarantine due to his COVID illness, Brigadier General József Szipsják followed the events of the ceremony through a live online broadcast. Also present at the ceremony were József Bencze, Hungary’s ambassador accredited to Kosovo, Lieutenant Colonel Sándor Horváth, Commander, HDF KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion, Colonel Dr. Norbert Mohácsi, the commander of Camp Novo Selo, as well as the commanders and chiefs of KFOR subunits and the Senior National Representatives of KFOR troop contributing nations and countries supporting the international force of the mission.

COM KFOR Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia said thanks to Brigadier General Luca Piperni for his high-level professionalism and for the help he had provided during the KFOR change of command period.

At the event, the outgoing deputy commander received medals for his outstanding work done during the KFOR mission.

The handover-takeover of the NATO flag was a highly important part of the ceremony. Brigadier General Piperni first handed the flag to Major General Ristuccia, thereby symbolizing the end of his service with the mission. Afterwards, the COM KFOR symbolically handed over the flag to Brigadier General József Szpisják, to indicate the start of his service in the position of deputy commander.