EUFOR is impartial and capable military force and will continue to carry out its function in an impartial manner, treating all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina respectfully and equally, said Major General Anton Wessely, the commander of the EU military forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The statement comes after Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency Milorad Dodik called his vote for extension of the EUFOR's ALTHEA mission a “mistake,” and after he said the EUFOR troops were parading “unnecessarily, trying to bring in some unrest or discipline.”

“As a soldier and Force Commander of EUFOR it is not my intention to participate in political matters, however I am very disappointed by certain recent public pronouncements regarding EUFOR,” Wessely said.

He stressed it was important to say that EUFOR remains “100 percent committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to a European future which will inevitably lead to a more prosperous future for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“EUFOR is an impartial, capable military force made up of soldiers from 19 nations, working together with our BiH partners. EUFOR will continue to carry out its function in an impartial manner treating all citizens of BiH respectfully and equally,” he underlined.

The EUFOR commander also said he decided to call up a part of the EUFOR reserve forces which were stationed outside the country as a reinforcement #given the deterioration of the security situation internationally” and that this was done “in order to give EUFOR the in theater capability to rapidly and more effectively support all our BiH partners in maintaining a safe and secure environment.”

“These personnel brought with them the necessary military equipment to enable them to effectively carry out their assigned mission and provides BiH citizens with greater confidence in the security situation in the country,” he said.

Additional EUFOR troops arrived at the Butmir base near Sarajevo beginning of March, as a “precautionary measure to strengthen stability in BiH by positioning sufficient, capable forces in-country to support the BiH Government efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment.”