NR-04.074 - October 1, 2004 OTTAWA -- Task Force Banja Luka , the most recent Canadian Forces (CF) contingent to serve with the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR), was declared operationally ready today in Banja Luka , Bosnia - Herzegovina . Deployed under Operation BRONZE , Task Force Banja-Luka is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel David Laderoute and comprises about 80 CF members . The mandate of Operation BRONZE is to maintain support to SFOR during the transition of the Bosnia-Herzegovina mission from NATO to the European Union, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2004. Operation BRONZE includes a Liaison and Observation Team and various positions at Multi-National Task Force North-West Headquarters in Banja Luka and SFOR HQ in Sarajevo . "Canada continues to support our NATO commitment and our allies at this important time of transition in Bosnia-Herzegovina," said Defence Minister Bill Graham. "We are working closely with SFOR to ensure it continues to receive the support it needs during this process." "The men and women serving on Operation BRONZE will continue to make a significant contribution to maintaining a safe and secure environment in Bosnia-Herzegovina," said General Ray Henault, Chief of the Defence Staff. In addition to Operation BRONZE , the final rotation of Operation PALLADIUM , known as the Mission Close-Out Team (MCT), will take over from Rotation 14. Next week, Lt.-Col. John Frappier, commanding officer of Task Force Bosnia-Herzegovina on Rotation 14 of Operation PALLADIUM , will transfer command authority of the 260-strong MCT to Lt.-Col. Richard Préfontaine of the CF Joint Operations Group in Kingston, Ontario . The MCT will be responsible for returning equipment and finalizing the closure of the last two Canadian camps in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The MCT is expected to complete its mission by mid-December. On June 28, 2004, NATO announced that its operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina would be turned over to a European Union Force (EUFOR) by the end of 2004. As part of this transition, and in concert with our NATO and European allies, the Canadian contingent to SFOR has also been reduced. -30- NOTE TO THE EDITORS: Photos and video footage of CF operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina can be found at www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca or by calling the Media Liaison Office at (613) 996-2353/2354.
