The Spanish Verification Unit participates in a Vienna Document 2011 event in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• A member of this unit, under the authority of the Defence Staff, attended this event alongside delegates from 26 countries

A representative from the Spanish Verification Unit (UVE) participated in a Vienna Document 2011 (VD11) event in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This event consisted of a visit to Rajlovac Air Base and the military installation that the Tactical Support Brigade has in the same base. No new types of weaponry were presented by Bosnia and Herzegovina, but emphasis was placed on future donations from various countries, notably Turkey and the EU, which will provide the Bosnian Armed Forces with better resources.

In total, 46 delegates from 27 countries of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) attended, along with one representative from the Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) and another from the mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, both from the OSCE itself.

The delegates attended lectures at each of the units visited. They had the opportunity to learn about the facilities, staff instruction and training, the different equipment used, and the daily activities of the units visited, as stipulated in DV11. They were also able to talk to staff from the different units and attend static and dynamic exhibitions.

Before the event ended, attendees carried out an evaluation, which was satisfactory as the requirements stipulated in agreement DV11 were more than met.

The Spanish Verification Unit is responsible for ensuring compliance with the conventional weaponry control treaties and agreements signed by Spain within the framework of the OSCE, in order to contribute to the development and strengthening of international peace, stability and security. In this regard, DV11 determines that participating States must organise, at least once every five years, a visit to an air base and a military installation. These visits are known as ‘DV Events’.

Spain plans to hold its event next November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where participants will visit the Gando Air Base and the XVI Canary Islands Brigade, where the CASTOR will be presented.