Four-Star General in Budapest

Following the meetings a plenary session was held in Hotel Hadik, where the participants discussed i.a. topics such as current issues of NATO’s transformation, the Hungarian Defence Forces’ participation in operations and the activities of NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs). The distinguished guest visited the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (NATO MILMED COE) where he got a briefing about the activities of the organization.

The NATO general was on a tour in Central Europe, the next leg of which was Hungary, as the activities of NATO COEs are coordinated by the NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT).

At his meeting with NATO MILMED COE Director Col. (Med.) Dr. István Kopcsó and Deputy Director Col. (Med.) Dr. Thomas Harbaum, Gen. Bieniek explored the opportunities for a closer cooperation between the COE and the NATO ACT in the future. The DSACT emphasized that COEs are doing a very valuable work in the area of standardization and concept development, and underlined the unique nature of the NATO MILMED COE. He concluded that the work of the Centre is indispensable, for soldiers’ chances for survival are determined by the first minutes of medical evacuation, therefore he highly appreciates the professional expertise and competency of NATO MILMED COE. Finally the general assured the organization of his unwavering support.

On July 13, General Mieczyslaw Bieniek, who comes from Poland, presented Maj-Gen. (Ret.) (Eng.) Dr. János Isaszegi, the head of Zrínyi Media’s Book and Periodical Editorial Office – as the general said, his “comrade and friend" – with the commander’s medal bearing his name. Gen. Bieniek and Maj-Gen. Isaszegi served together 15 years ago in Bosnia–Herzegovina and in 2004 in Iraq.

The 60-year-old Polish general, who was the commander of the Cracow Corps, among others, can boast several thousands of parachute jumps and in recent years he was military advisor to the Afghan Defence Minister. He has been serving in the United States of America, in Norfolk, Virginia for a year as DSACT. It was his first visit to Hungary since his appointment.

  Photo: Gábor Galovtsik

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