GREEK, ARMENIAN CONTINGENTS TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY

US State News
June 23, 2009 Tuesday 8:17 PM EST

BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 23 — NATO Kosovo Force issued the following
news release:

In the evening of 16 June 2009, the hand over/take over ceremony for
Greek and Armenian contingents in Multinational Task Force East (MNTF
E) took place in the Camp Rigas Fereros. The ceremony was attended
by MNTF E Commander Brigadier General Keith D. Jones, some of senior
national representatives and national contingent commanders of KFOR
troop contributing nations, and local authorities. Having appealed to
all attendees, MNTF E Commander General Jones in his speech thanked
outgoing soldiers of Greek and Armenian contingents for excellent
service during the mission. He also expressed an expectation;
soldiers of the incoming 525th Greek mechanized infantry battalion
would be a worthy replacement for their predecessors. For recognizing
his service, outgoing Greek contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel
Spiros Touzopoulous was awarded a California National Guard medal
of merit. The flag of incoming 525th Greek mechanized infantry
battalion was hailed and his commander Lieutenant Colonel Dimitrios
Boudouris assumed authority for Camp Rigas Fereros and his force
area of responsibility. After the ceremony everyone was invited to
the Greek multifunctional building, where they had an opportunity
to partake in Greek hospitality, enjoy traditional Greek meals and
drinks, and to speak to each other in laid-back atmosphere.