South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) - formation established by seven participating nations in order to contribute to the regional security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area
CeremoniesNews

SEDM-CC / PMSC Chairmanship Handover-Takeover, COMSEEBRIG Handover-Takeover and SEEBRIG 24th Anniversary Ceremony, 31 August 2023, Kumanovo/Na-5

On 31st of August, 2023, CAMP BORO MENKOV, the home of SEEBRIG HQ, hosted the triple ceremony for the handover-takeover of the PMSC-CC/SEDM Chairmanship, the handover-takeover of COMSEEBRIG and the 24th Anniversary of SEEBRIG.

The ceremony was attended by a delegation of Ministry of Defense of Nation 5 headed by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr. Tyron YAYAGA, and an extended number of guests from the SEDM community: Deputy Defense ministers, Deputy Chiefs of Defense, ambassadors, military attaches, representatives of different regional security organizations and other distinguished guests.

Once the guests were greeted by the outgoing COMSEEBRIG, BG Evangelos MITROUTSIKOS, the ceremony started with the inspection of the troops, the raising of the flags and a speech from the Deputy Defense Minister of Nation 5 followed by the handover takeover of the SEDM flag between Mr. Atanas ZAPRYANOV, representing the outgoing Nation 2 Chairmanship, and Mrs. Simona COJOCARU, representing the incoming Nation 6 Chairmanship.

In the speeches that followed, both Mr. ZAPRYANOV and Mrs. COJOCARU underlined the importance of SEDM initiative, the progress of the regional cooperation through the initiative, the constant reach for a common understanding and the success of the common activities initiated during these difficult times.

The next important moment of the ceremony represented the handover-takeover of COMSEEBRIG, in which the outgoing Commander, BG Evangelos MITROUTSIKOS (Nation 3) handed over the command to his successor BG Bilbil BITRI (Nation 1).

In his address to the audience BG Evangelos MITROUTSIKOS said that he was honored and pleased to command a “multinational force that brings the countries of the region closer together, promoting peace and stability”. He expressed his gratitude for the continuous support and commitment of the Government of Nation 5 for the functioning of Brigade Headquarters.

The newly appointed Commander BG Bilbil BITRI expressed his honor of leading the South-Eastern Europe Brigade in the next period and his commitment to work diligently to fulfill the objectives and tasks assigned to SEEBRIG by the contributing nations and also assure that SEEBRIG adapts and transforms to meet the security challenges of the time.