Earning International Recognition

It was for the first time in January 2024 that a Hungarian soldier took over the command of the European Union’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUFOR Operation Althea. Major General László Sticz PhD commanded the soldiers of 24 nations, including the reinforced Hungarian contingent.

The minister highlighted at the homecoming ceremony of the EUFOR personnel, closing the Hungarian Command Year, that the soldiers serving with EUFOR Operation Althea performed well in perhaps the most important region of Hungarian security interests, the Western Balkans.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky called attention to the fact that several wars broke out in this region, the stability of which is of key importance to Hungary and which is still burdened with ethnic, religious, economic and political tensions.

He recalled that the Hungarian soldiers appeared in the region immediately after the end of the Yugoslav War, first in the IFOR, then in the SFOR, both under NATO command. Besides the nearly three decades of military service, they also engaged in guaranteeing the stability of the region, for instance with humanitarian activities, infrastructural developments and flood control.

The minister called it a great honour that the mission had a Hungarian commander last year.

He pointed out that COMEUFOR László Sticz and the Hungarian soldiers have proved that Hungary is an outstanding, high-standard, absolutely unbiased, reliable, predictable, precise and determined ally and partner of this region.

Through this, they have earned international respect and recognition for Hungarian soldiers, he added.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky also told us that the Hungarian engagement in the region is not over; from May, a Hungarian senior officer will be the chief of staff of EUFOR Operation Althea and from March 2026, the deputy commander post will be filled by a Hungarian soldier.

The minister gave thanks for the soldiers’ service.

Major General László Sticz, the homecoming commander of EUFOR Operation Althea, said that based on the feedback from the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community, they performed their tasks successfully.

He added that the personnel did their best while contributing to the success of the Hungarian command.

At the ceremony, László Sticz handed over flags to Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of Defence, which were flying in Camp Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina until now.