Peacekeepers Receive ALTHEA Medals

As yet the Hungarian troops have been serving in Sarajevo for no more than two months, still they have already earned the ALTHEA medal with the 12 stars on it. On August 27 the Hungarian soldiers serving with the MNBN received their decorations from the Hungarian Senior National Representative, Brig.-Gen. Péter Ernő Siposs. Maj.-Gen. Robert Brieger, COM EUFOR personally pinned the medals on Capt. István Baranyai, the commander of the infantry company and WO1 László Polereczky, the CSM of the company, which shows that the Hungarian soldiers’ work is recognized on the highest level in EUFOR.

On August 28 the EUFOR-11 HUNCON participated in two military ceremonies. Early in the afternoon, the personnel serving at the HQ of the contingent and the support element received the ALTHEA medals. They are about to complete their tour of duty in the mission and start their standby service at their home stations in early September. Brig.-Gen. Péter Ernő Siposs, the Chief of Staff EUFOR presented the medals to the 18 peacekeepers. Speaking at the parade in the presence of soldiers of from 14 nations, Gen. Siposs thanked everyone for their work and stressed the importance of the role played by international cooperation in creating and maintaining peace in a given country. The ceremony concluded with the anthem of the European Union.

Later that day, the personnel of the MNBN and the invited commanders of the contingent attended the change-of-command ceremony for the MNBN, where the outgoing MNBN commander handed over the colors of the battalion to his successor to the post. The COM EUFOR thanked Lt.-Col. Holzbauer for his excellent work and wished the new commander, Lt.-Col. Ömer the best of luck and military successes for the future.