The handover of command of the Austrian EUFOR contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place a few days ago. In the presence of Major General Platzer, commander of all EUFOR soldiers, and the Austrian ambassador, Ulrike Hartmann, command was handed over from Colonel of the General Staff Paul Schönbacher to Colonel of the General Staff Christian Tesar.
In his speech, Colonel Schönbacher emphasized the international significance of the EUFOR/ALTHEA mission abroad. Colonel Schöbacher particularly thanked the medical personnel for their outstanding performance. In conclusion, Schönbacher commented on the commander’s responsibility of the Austrian contingent: “What you say is not important, what matters is what you do and the example you set.”
The new contingent commander, Colonel Christian Tesar, retired from Ortler in 1988. He is a former Saab Draken operational pilot and will act as Austrian contingent commander for the next six months. He has already completed several missions abroad, for example in Bosnia and Herzegovina as “Air Operations Chief” at the headquarters in Sarajevo or as “Special Operation Liaison Element” in Chad. In addition to his national duties as commander of the Austrian contingent, the contingent commander also acts as head of the internationally staffed Joint Military Affairs Department at EUFOR/ALTHEA headquarters.
