The first Antonov 124 plane with troops and equipment for EUFOR’s largest annual exercise, Quick Response 19 (QR19), arrived at the Sarajevo International Airport on Monday.

The exercise is “the annual test of EUFOR’s capability to rapidly reinforce its troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina with part of its reserve forces which are held at high-readiness in partner nations,” the EUFOR website said.

The QR 19 exercise will take place in various locations all over the country between October 7 and 10.

“This long standing annual exercise demonstrates to all the people of BiH the commitment that EUFOR has to helping maintain a peaceful environment. It is also an excellent opportunity for EUFOR to strengthen the close relationship we share with the Armed Forces BiH and Law Enforcement Agencies as we work together to deal with a broad range of exercise scenarios,” said EUFOR’s spokesperson, Lt Cdr Tim Leckey.

Exercise Quick Response 19 will allow EUFOR Headquarters to “exercise command and control in a large scale exercise and giving the troops the opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience of peace support operations,” EUFOR's press release said.