On January 18, Major General Helmut Habermayer took command of the EUFOR force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He replaces Major General Anton Wessely in the function of EUFOR commander. commander. Like his predecessors, Helmut Habermayer will lead around 600 soldiers from 20 countries.
This is the eleventh time in a row that Austria has been in command of the EU mission. The handover of command was made by the French General Hubert Cottereau, commander of all EU operations, at Camp Butmir in Sarajevo. Arnold Kammel, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, and Major General Martin Dorfer, Commander of the Austrian Land Forces and Special Forces, also took part in the handover of command during a visit to the contingent.
“I would like to thank Major General Anton Wessely for his excellent leadership qualities and his commitment to the EUFOR/ALTHEA mission. Through their deployment, our soldiers are making a significant contribution to security and stability in the region and in the Western Balkans, which also means greater security for Europe and its citizens. Major General Helmut Habermayer is now the eleventh Austrian to lead the mission. This shows that Austria’s participation and experience are highly recognized in the European Union. I wish Major General Helmut Habermayer every success and soldier’s happiness in his new function”, said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
The new EUFOR commander
Major General Helmut Habermayer brings with him troop and leadership experience. Born in Lower Austria in 1959, he was commander of all Austrian soldiers in Kosovo in 2001 and company commander in the UN mission on the Golan Heights in 1984 and 1985. He completed the Austrian General Staff Course from 1988 to 1991. Since 2002, he has held various positions in the Federal Ministry of Defense. Most recently, Major General Habermayer was program manager for strategic planning and its implementation in the Ministry of Defence.
Austria’s contribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With around 290 soldiers, Austria currently makes up a significant part of the EUFOR/ALTHEA mission. At present, 15 EU countries and five non-EU states are participating in the peacekeeping mission. The soldiers are helping the population to rebuild their country and ensure a safe environment. The Austrian Armed Forces have been participating in the international peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996. Since December 2004, the Austrian soldiers have been under the command of the EU. The headquarters are located in Sarajevo.
