Summary: March 7, 2005: Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP to sign an Agreement with Albania on participation in Operation ALTHEA Monday 7 March 2005 (Brussels)
Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), will sign an Agreement with Pandeli Majko, Minister of Defense of Albania, on the participation of Albania in Operation EUFOR - ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday 7 March 2005.
Operation ALTHEA is the first EU military operation in which Albania is participating. Albania contributes with a significant contingent comprised of 50 troops. It already participated in SFOR, from which ALTHEA took over in December 2004.
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On 25 November 2004, the EU Council adopted the decision to launch Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This decision follows the unanimous adoption on 22 November 2004 of UN Security Council Resolution 1575 and enabled the EU to launch Operation Althea on 2 December 2004. NATO decided to conclude its SFOR operation by the end of 2004.
Operation Althea is the largest in size ever launched by the EU, with 7,000 troops from 22 EU Member States and 11 third countries. It adds in a significant way to the EU's political engagement, its assistance programmes and its ongoing police and monitoring missions with a view to helping BiH make further progress towards European integration in the context of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
The EU force (EUFOR) has the main peace stabilisation role under the military aspects of the Paris/Dayton General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH. The force also provides support, within means and capabilities, to the efforts of High Representative Paddy Ashdown and of the international community, in fields such as the fight against organised crime and the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement.
General Sir John Reith, Deputy SACEUR, has been appointed Operation Commander. Major-General David Leakey has been appointed EUFOR Force Commander.
More information is available on the Council web site http://ue.eu.int under "ESDP Operations".
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