In addition to the renewed increase in migration pressure in the Western Balkans, current NATO and European Union security policy issues and the military memorial in Nova Gorica were also on the agenda at Thursday’s meeting between Tibor Benkő and Slovenian Defence Minister Karl Erjavec.

“The mutually supportive military alliance between Hungary and Slovenia must be further reinforced”, it was stated at the meeting between the two defence ministers. According to Mr. Benkő, “with the revival of the migration routes aimed at Europe, the stability of the Western Balkans is in the fundamental interests of the two countries”.

According to Hungary’s position, the security of the Western Balkan region can be reinforced via the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region’s countries, with respect to both the EU and NATO. The Minister of Defence expressed his hope that the new leadership of the European Union will be accelerating enlargement processes.

The Slovenian Defence Minister declared: The Slovenian government remains a committed supporter of EU enlargement, but in view of the ongoing disputes within the European Union it is placing greater emphasis on regional cooperation, adding that in his view the new Hungarian Commissioner for Enlargement could play a significant role in this.

Mr. Benkő thanked Slovenia for its support and offers of personnel with relation to the establishment of a Regional Special Operations Command at the base in Szolnok, in addition to which he welcomed the announcement by his Slovenian counterpart according to which Slovenia wishes to undertake an observer role with relation to the Central European Multinational Division Command being established in Székesfehérvár. The ministers agreed that the security challenges of the recent period point to the importance of increasing special operations capabilities. The establishment of the headquarters in Szolnok will enable the provision of suitable responses to the challenges posed by hybrid warfare.

At the meeting, the parties resolved the issues relating to the military memorial to Hungarian soldiers who died in the first world war in Nova Gorica, and accordingly the statue is expected to be unveiled in the spring of 2020.

The ministers agreed that there is room for reinforcement with relation to defence cooperation between the two countries, as well as within the fields of the defence industry and military training. There is also firm agreement between Hungary and Slovenia concerning the reinforcement of the external Schengen borders.

The Hungarian and Slovenian defence ministers also discussed further opportunities within the framework of the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC). “The achievements of the Cooperation are proven by the successful holding of the COOPSEC19 migration crisis management exercises in Hungary, and by the signing of the CBRN SaaS PESCO project agreement, which has been joined by both Hungary and Slovenia”, Mr. Benkő said. According to the Hungarian Defence Minister, Slovenia will be shouldering major responsibility with relation to the reinforcement of regional defence cooperation next year, when it will be taking over the rotating presidency of the CEDC.

(MTI)