Speaking at the annual assessment and tasking leadership conference, Minister of Defence István Simicskó pointed out that the Hungarian Defence Forces guarantee the security of Hungarian people and families. He stated that today Hungary is among the most secure countries.

To be able to guarantee this security at the highest level, there must be a strong state and well-trained armed forces equipped with modern military equipment and high morale. But it is also important to make sure that every Hungarian citizen considers the defence of the country a national cause, the minister said.

We also need the civilian citizens’ attention, sense of responsibility and patriotism, which is not a mere feeling but also active caring, István Simicskó emphasized.

He said that the Zrínyi 2026 National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program is aimed at building a professional and effective military force with renewed equipment that consists of soldiers who respect its traditions and love their country.

“This is the token of the survival of our homeland”, István Simicskó said.

He added that the development of the Hungarian Defence Forces – which are celebrating their 170th anniversary in 2018 – has started and is progressing on schedule.

The minister also noted that last year too, the Hungarian soldiers protected the southern border of Hungary together with the police, while they also fulfilled their international commitments, serving security and peace in 14 countries on four continents.

At a press briefing held during the break of the tasking conference, István Simicskó was asked about the effect of this year’s parliamentary elections on the tasks of the Hungarian Defence Forces. The minister said that he had requested the commanders to implement the developments of the Zrínyi 2026 program, which are free of party politics and span governments’ terms of office. He added that the soldiers’ mandate is continuous, so they have to fully implement all the development goals formulated. 

He pointed out that a new era has begun in the Hungarian Defence Forces: the era of development and progress, which also manifests itself in salary raise and the procurement of modern military equipment. This work has already been started, and will be continued in the next period too”, he said.

At the press briefing, István Simicskó emphasized the opening of the Hungarian Defence Forces to society and to young people in particular. This aim is served by the national defence sport centers and the cadet program, in the framework of which the HDF have already concluded cooperation agreements with 55 schools.

Chief of Defence General Tibor Benkő said that the leaders of the Hungarian Defence Forces owe acknowledgement and thanks to their soldiers who successfully completed their testing tasks in 2017 too. By way of example, he noted that the Hungarian soldiers, besides their service in Hungary and foreign missions, have won the highest recognition form partner countries as well.

He stated that in 2017, the Hungarian Defence Forces have strengthened in terms of morale, strength and military equipment. He went on saying that soldiers are at the center of measures in the Hungarian Defence Forces, and accordingly, several measures have been taken concerning the soldiers’ pay increase and housing benefit. He also noted that earlier the number of those leaving the forces had been higher than those joining them, but by the end of 2017, the manpower had increased by more than 1000. Besides, in the recent period, several items of military equipment have entered service with the Hungarian Defence Forces, he added.

As an exemplary result, he also mentioned that five generals of the Hungarian Defence Forces are serving as high-ranking international commanders in EU and NATO positions as well as in the Pentagon, and one of them is Assistant Chief of Staff Cyber (ACOS Cyber) in Mons.

Held in the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History in Buda Castle, the tasking conference was attended by representatives of HDF units, and also, among others by László Szegő, Head of the Department of Defence of the Office of the President of the Republic of Hungary; József Kovács, Director-General, Military National Security Service;  György Bakondi, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister on Homeland Security; Szilárd Németh (Fidesz), Chairman, Committee on Defence and Law Enforcement of the National Assembly; and András Patyi, Rector, National University of Public Service.

(MTI)