Hungary’s history of over a thousand years has proved that we can only survive if we have an army, a defence force, Defence Minister Csaba Hende pointed out in his welcome speech delivered at the military inauguration ceremony held on 20 August at Kossuth Lajos tér outside the Parliament Building.
A country which has a good army is able to negotiate on the international scene, the Minister said, adding: it is able to ask for assistance, and is likewise able to render assistance.
Mr Hende said: the budget of the military will increase in the future in the interest of defending the country and meeting our international obligations. The Government is committed to improving the country’s military capability, and major technological developments will commence. The Minister also said that a new era began in the history of the Hungarian Defence Forces as of the first of July: the military career model was launched, as part of which salaries in the military will increase by 30 per cent on average as of July, and by some 50 per cent in total on average by January 2019.
The Hungarian Defence Forces take part in joint, international defence efforts, Mr Hende said. Within the framework of this commitment, members of the Hungarian military are taking part, inter alia, in the defence of Slovenian, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian air space, seek to improve the stability and security of the nations of the Balkans, and also help the people of Afghanistan and Kurdistan to find peace.
The Minister reiterated that he said at the military inauguration ceremonies in the last two years as well: “we do not know what the year ahead will hold”. We have been compelled to face changes year after year which we could not imagine before, he continued, and mentioned as an example that there is a civil war going on east of the country, while we are observing a terrorist state “running amok in religious fanaticism” further to the south.
The Defence Minister also spoke about the problem of illegal migration. “This is our country, not some transit corridor”, he pointed out, adding: there are legal ways of applying for asylum. The country will provide shelter for those in need, and will also assist their return to their homeland in the future, the Minister said, and highlighted at the same time: we shall not allow gangs of human traffickers to launch masses of people on their way to the West through Hungary with “fraudulent promises”; this is something we cannot tolerate. These gangs do not respect the laws and borders of Hungary, and have no respect for the Hungarian people either, he added.
Mr Hende said thanks to all the soldiers who were building the border fence at the time of the longest heat alert, in temperatures peaking at 38-40 degrees Celsius at times.
The Minister emphasised before the young soldiers about to take their military oaths that working, and if necessary fighting, for the Hungarian people and the nation is a worthwhile effort.
Ninety-four military officers have taken their oaths this year. As part of this, in continuation of the “Ludovika” tradition relaunched in 2011, they confirmed their oaths with the drawing of their swords and the cry “For the country to the death!”.
The programme of the officer inauguration began with the orchestra of the 32nd National Defence Force Ceremonial Unit of the Vitéz Szurmay Sándor Budapest Garrison Brigade, and continued with a special parade drill. After this, the flag of Hungary was raised to the notes of the National Anthem before the Parliament Building.
In addition to President János Áder, László Kövér, Speaker of Parliament, and Defence Minister Csaba Hende, the ceremony was also attended by several members of the Government, dignitaries and public figures, members of the diplomatic corps, and military attaches.
The sky was overcast and it rained initially during the ceremony held before the Parliament Building. In spite of the inclement weather conditions, members of the public in large numbers also attended the military inauguration, in addition to the invited guests and relatives.
(Ministry of Defence)
