(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Ninety additional British army personnel are being sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to support the EU mission, the Ministry of Defence announced in a statement on Monday.
Two reconnaissance platoons will be deployed to BiH for up to six months during the election period and will be based at the EUFOR Althea headquarters in Sarajevo.
Their deployment will strengthen the mission's capacity to foresee, monitor and prevent civil unrest across BiH, according to the statement.
Britain is a long-standing supporter of the EU mission and its role to ensure a safe and secure environment in BiH. The British Army has been contributing personnel to the mission since 2004.
Minister for International Security Strategy Andrew Murrison said: "The October elections are an important milestone in Bosnia and Herzegovina's journey towards long-term security and prosperity.
"This additional contribution from the UK will strengthen the mission to maintain stability over the election period.
"This is a further example of the UK's commitment to ensuring a secure and stable Bosnia and Herzegovinam," Murrison said.
"This additional support comes after a request from the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. A lessons-learned exercise, carried out after civil unrest in BiH in February of this year, highlighted the need for additional capability in EUFOR Althea, including situational awareness and operational planning," he added.
The EUFOR forces based in Bosnia are part of a long-standing EU mission to ensure the safety and security of BiH.
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