Ten-Year Work of the Association for our Home Defence

After the entry of the Association’s flag and the singing of the Hymn (National Anthem), the guests were welcomed by the Chairman of the Association Ottó Czuprák. Ottó Czuprák, who has occupied the Chairman’s post since 2009, and was now re-elected, in his welcome address said that the present day, October 4, is of historical importance for the Hungarian reservist soldiers, because the 10th anniversary of the Association’s foundation is commemorated on the Jubilee Day of Lajos Kossuth’s recruitment speech, delivered 163 years ago, in 1848, in Szeged.

In what followed Gen. Dr. János Deák, founding and honorary Chairman in his speech reminded the audience that ten years ago the forming of the new association was vital and necessary; this was also justified by the changing social circumstances. With the accession of the Hungarian Defence Forces to NATO, the Matasz became the partner of the Alliance’s reservists. The General pointed out that the association is neither paramilitary, nor an umbrella organisation, and it does not depend on party politics.

The Matasz is an independent, civil, social association, which works in harmony with the objectives of the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces, and its mission is to directly support the cause of national defence, to be a connecting link between the defence forces and the population, to strengthen faith, confidence and unity. The conditions for this are provided by the defence portfolio and the armed forces, and the Matasz is striving to undertake thevoluntary participation in home defence, and the deepening of the knowledge on defence – General Deák closed his speech.

In his festive speech Ottó Czuprák summed up the 10-year history of the Matasz, which was guided by one goal, to be followed in the future, too: the committed, modern, loyal service of the defence of Hungary in compliance with the expectations of the government of the day, and the defence leadership. Adjusting to this the association’s profile is continuously renewed – he declared. He added that the spectrum of the Matasz’s activity is extremely wide-ranging, many-sided and rich, ranging from the recruitment of reservists, through the theoretical trainings, and the involvement in disaster relief to the sports activities, and the free-time programs.

MoD State Secretary for Public Administration Lajos Fodor said: the same way as our Homeland and the Hungarian Defence Forces, the Matasz has also undergone several changes in the past decade, but one thing has remained unchanged: the good relationship with the old comrades, whose meaning of life was the defence forces, and are still working for the cause of home defence.

“I wish to make it clear – the State Secretary said – that the defence portfolio could always count on the Hungarian Reservists’ Association. This esprit de corps has not been broken; its members had set an example for all civil social organisations of initiative, activity and taking civil responsibility, they justified the reasons for their existence many times."

Lajos Fodor underlined: Matasz has acted from the very beginning of its existence as a connecting bridge between the citizens and the soldiers. It is a firm link, which is especially important today, when we speak about the all-volunteer defence forces. “We know that without the reserves there is no military force – the State Secretary emphasized -, therefore we are firmly resolved that until the end of this governmental cycle we shall set up a well-organised, and well-operating Volunteer Reserve System (ÖTR) relying on a firm foundation. Considering the past years, this is one of the largest scale force development projects of the Hungarian Defence Forces."This will provide the “hinterland" of the smaller size, well-equipped and well-trained voluntary defence forces – he added.

During the celebration arranged on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the foundation of the association, Lajos Fodor announced: Minister of Defence Dr. Csaba Hende declared October 4 the Day of the Hungarian Reservists.

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