Hungarian–Armenian Ministerial Talks

Seyran Ohanyan’s visit was aimed at reviewing the current international and regional issues in security and defence policy and the scope of bilateral military cooperation together with the ongoing preparation for the 2011 Hungarian EU presidency.

Dr. Csaba Hende received his Armenian counterpart with military honors outside the Ministry of Defence on Balaton St. in the afternoon of Tuesday, November 23. In what followed, the two ministers held plenary talks.

At the talks it was stated that Hungary welcomes Armenia’s efforts to ensure cooperation with European and Euro-Atlantic institutions and is willing to promote the development of these relations as far as possible. Dr. Csaba Hende noted that by sharing the relevant lessons learned Hungary can make a major contribution to the implementation of the reforms aimed at a democratic transition in Armenia. Hungary considers Armenia’s participation in the NATO PfP program important because it significantly strengthens peace and security. As a NATO member country Hungary is following the Armenian reform processes with attention and is looking forward to the results of the Strategic Defence Review.

After the discussion the Defence Minister and his Armenian counterpart signed an MoU on bilateral military cooperation in the Manfred Wörner Hall of the Ministry of Defence.

On November 24, the second day of his stay in Hungary, the Armenian Defence Minister paid a visit to the Vice-Chairman of the Defence and Law Enforcement Committee of the National Assembly and to the Armenian National Self-Government in Hungary. Within the official program, Seyran Ohanyan laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Heroes’ Square and the Armenian cross-stone monument, and visited the Miklós Zrínyi National Defence University.