EUFOR CAN QUICKLY DEAL WITH ANY UNREST THAT MIGHT ARISE IN BOSNIA

BRUSSELS, Belgium (November 16,2007) - The European Union's force in Bosnia (EUFOR) can quickly deal with any unrest that might arise in Bosnia due to political instability or tensions in the region, the EU's top military advisor General Henri Bentegeat said yesterday.

"In 24 hours we can triple the number of soldiers in Bosnia without any problem," said Bentegeat, chairman of the EU's military committee, after talks in Brussels between the European Union's chiefs of defence.

"We will be very attentive to the evolution of the situation, and of course we are ready, if necessary, to reinforce our forces there, being by a shift of forces between Bosnia and Kosovo if necessary," Bentegeat said.

He said the EU could also use its "strategic reserve" - a stand-by battalion of around 600 troops stationed outside the Southeastern Europe.

The bloc's EUFOR ALTHEA force numbers around 2,500 troops. The EU has no force stationed in Kosovo, but member countries who are also part of NATO have soldiers serving there in the alliance's 16,000-strong KFOR contingent.

A NATO diplomat said, on condition of anonymity: "The two forces (EUFOR and KFOR) have reserves which could be sent to the place where things are hottest."

Benegeat underlined that "the current situation is stable and there is no immediate risk" in Bosnia.