Ämari Air Base welcomed Hungarian ambassador to Helsinki and designated ambassador to Estonia Kristóf Forrai, who attended the visit of the Gripen fighters of the Hungarian Air Force on 10 December, 2014.

Ambassador Forrai expressed the firm commitment of Hungary to take part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission. He stressed that Hungary considers the security and peace of Estonia and the entire Baltic region extremely important. The presence of the Hungarian Air Force Gripens assures the Estonian people that they can rely on their Hungarian friends and relatives. The Hungarian airmen will patrol the Baltic sky for four months in 2015. The pilots and the support staff will consist of approximately 90 men and women.

Ambassador Forrai reminded that around 140 soldiers of the Hungarian „Bocskai Infantry Battalion” took part in November in a joint exercise of the NATO troops in Lithuania with the same mission of protecting the Baltic region.

Ambassador Forrai also praised the activity of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn. Estonia is a perfect location for this institution as Estonians are rightly proud of their achievements in the field of IT and e-solutions, he added.

Ambassador Forrai met the Chief of Staff of Estonian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Riivo Valge and the Commander of Ämari Air Base Lieutenant Colonel Rauno Sirk. Lt Col Valge expressed the gratitude of Estonian Air Force for the arrival of the Hungarian Air Force unit that will take part in the Baltic Air Policing Rotation next year. He said that “Estonia is glad that the South European part of NATO is participating in the NATO mission in Northern Europe. We appreciate that the Hungarians are aware of the threats in the recently changed security situation in Europe and that they care for our problems”.

Ämari Air Base is a recently renovated air base in Estonia. It has already demonstrated the capability to receive and serve various NATO and other friendly aircrafts. Currently it is home to a German Air Force deployment equipped with Eurofighters that participates in the Baltic Air Policing Mission.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)