Swiss Federal Councilor and Minister of Defence Viola Amherd is visiting Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 8 and 9 to find out about the security situation on the ground and the role played by the Kosovo Security Force (KFOR) and the European peacekeeping force (EUFOR) Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Ministry’s website said.

In addition to visiting Swiss troops and exchanging views with the commanders of the NATO and EU missions, the Minister will hold bilateral talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Bosnia’s Defence Minister Sifet Podzic and the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt.

“The international military peace promotion is a mission of the Swiss Army. The war in Ukraine has further increased instability in the Western Balkans; the security situation has been worrying for some time. Since 1999, Switzerland has participated in the NATO-led KFOR mission with one contingent. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland has been involved in the EU-led EUFOR Althea mission since 2004 with a maximum of 20 units,” the Ministry said.

The Swiss participation in EUFOR Althea is the country’s second-largest contingent in military peacebuilding operations after KFOR.

In addition to the bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Sifet Podzic, the Ministry said Amherd will also discuss the upcoming elections in BiH and possible effects on the security situation, as well as the future of EUFOR Althea with the High Representative, Christian Schmidt. Finally, Amherd will meet with the commander of the EU mission, Anton Wessely, at the end of her stay in Bosnia.