“Hungarian Defence Force management groups will be appearing at the affected enterprises on Thursday morning”, Minister of Defence and head of the Action Group Responsible for the Security of Vital Hungarian Enterprises set up with relation to the coronavirus epidemic Tibor Benkő announced on Hungarian M1 current affairs television on the evening of Wednesday, 18 March. Mr. Benkő also spoke about the fact that there will be military personnel on the streets beginning on Friday morning.

“There are a few hundred Hungarian enterprises that according to the special legal situation represent infrastructure that could involve the Hungarian Defence Force (HDF). Our task is to facilitate the operations and security of these vital Hungarian enterprises”, Mr. Benkő told the press, citing as examples the energy, telecommunications and healthcare sectors.

In reply to a question, the Minister said that in view of the fact that maintaining info-communications is also one of the Action Group’s tasks, the Media Services and Support Trust Fund (MTVA) may also be affected.

He said that 140 enterprises have been selected so far, but noted that that there are many more that must serve the country’s secure operations. “An HDF management group made up of a few members will be sent out to the enterprises in question. I have sent an information letter to all of the CEOs affected”, he stated.

The Minister said the management groups, which will include both police and disaster management staff, will monitor and coordinate the work of enterprises. They will be providing regular reports to the steering group that has been set up within the Ministry of Defence, which will in turn report to the national operational command, he explained, adding that the HDR management groups have two tasks: to guarantee physical security and the conditions for normal functioning.

The Minister of Defence also announced that beginning on Friday morning large numbers of military personnel will be appearing throughout the country. “From the perspective of the HDF, we have split the country into seven patrol sectors, where the soldiers will be appearing on the streets. A major military presence can in general be expected in settlements in which the military is already present”, he stated.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that ten action groups will be set up within the framework of protecting against the coronavirus, one of which is the Action Group Responsible for the Security of Vital Hungarian Enterprises.

The task of the Action Group Responsible for the Security of Vital Hungarian Enterprises, which is headed by Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő, is to coordinate the operations of those service and production capacities, transport, energy and pharmaceuticals companies, whose functioning is of priority importance in Hungary during the current epidemiological state of emergency.

The full interview can be viewed (in Hungarian) via the following link.

https://honvedelem.hu/cikk/benko-tibor-csutortok-reggel-jelennek-meg-az-erintett-vallalatoknal-a-honvedelmi-iranyito-csoportok/

(MTI)