The Friends of PSOTC Conference was held at the Hollywood hotel on 19^th October 2022. The Conference was attended by more than 50 participants coming from 21 partner countries (AUT, BGR, BIH, DEU, FIN, GRC, GBR, HUN, HRV, ITA, MKD, NORV, NDL, POL, ROU, SVN, SRB, SVK, SWE, TUR and USA), 4 international organizations (OSCE, EU, NATO and UN), Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Recognizing the significance of cooperation with partners in maintaining international peace and security throughout the world and the role and weight of relevant education and training for future Peace Support Operations, on annual basis the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized a Conference with existing and potential partners of PSOTC willing to support the Center throughout the partnership. The purpose of the Conference was to inform partners on PSOTC achievements in 2022, to discuss the plans for 2023 and consider the concept of future cooperation in terms of educational and training function of PSOTC in the field of Peace Support Operations. In addition, this year conference was also focused on the training and education of young officers of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and how PSOTC can contribute more to the overall training and education of this target group.

The conference was chaired by the Assistant Minister of Defence for International Cooperation, Mr. Zoran Šajinović, and the PSOTC Commandant, Colonel Elvedin Omic. Opening ceremony was augmented by presence of the Chief of the Joined Staff AF BIH Lieutenant general Senad Mašović, NATO HQ SA Commander, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha, and EUFOR Commander, Major General Anton Wessely. The main topics for this year Friends of PSOTC Conference were exchange of information on the results that PSOTC achieved in the previous period and plans for 2023, as well as discussion on the establishment of mechanisms for cooperation and support to PSOTC. The conference was an opportunity for the partners to declare their intent to support PSOTC as well as their commitment to participate in various forms of projects delivered by PSOTC.

The Assistant Minister for International Cooperation Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Zoran Šajinović, expressed his appreciation for participation on this event and emphasized the importance of the conference for the PSOTC but also for the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. PSOTC Commandant, Colonel Elvedin Omić, summarized the work for the period from the last Friends of PSOTC Conference highlighting importance of partner’s involvement in PSOTC’s projects in 2023.