“A Soldier On Mission Is An Ambassador Of His Country”

Dr. Ágnes Vadai was received with military honours Friday morning at the HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base. The state secretary of the Ministry of Defence paid a visit to the city on the banks of the Tisza River to attend the welcome back ceremony for Hungarian and Slovakian peacekeeping troops who have recently returned from Cyprus, from the UNFICYP mission.

The event – attended by General Lubomír Bulik, Chief of Defence Staff, Slovakian Armed Forces, General László Tömböl, Chief of Defence Staff, MoD, and Lieutenant General Tibor Benkõ, Commander, HDF Joint Forces Command, among others – began with the Slovakian and the Hungarian national anthem, and continued with the presentation of the awards and recognitions of the defence minister, the chief of defence staff, and the JFC commander.

In her address State Secretary Ágnes Vadai said: every day, as a part of the international forces, one thousand soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces ensure that there is peace, or at least a situation close to peace in nearby and distant countries alike. – With the military presence, in Cyprus they have managed to achieve that Turkish and Greek Cypriots – although they are separated – live in peace, or even work in the lands of the other.

There were a few occasions when it seemed that they were close to reaching an agreement on reunion but since 1974, the standpoints have come closer then moved away from one another several times. There are only a few crossing points on the 180-km demarcation line that crosses the capital as well – said the state secretary, who also mentioned that Hungary has been present in Cyprus with observers since 1993, and with a company since 1997. Ágnes Vadai announced: we will support the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus until 2016, in accordance with the contract, but in case it is necessary, we will continue our support.

The state secretary emphasised in her address: in Cyprus they count on the Hungarian soldiers, their expertise, the Hungarian mentality. The commander of the international forces, the leader of the local security forces, and the commanders of partner countries have also confirmed this in their statements.

Ágnes Vadai also told the guests that since 2001, Hungarians have been serving in Cyprus with a Slovakian-led contingent. This joint work is a nice example of cooperation, the result of which is that the Slovakian-Hungarian battalion of the UNFICYP has received this year’s ’Good Neighbourhood Award’. The presentation of the award was the joint decision of the ministers for foreign affairs of the two countries in order to honour the two nations’ soldiers serving in Cyprus, who have set an example to everyone.

– Since 2004, peacekeeping and crisis management have been priority national tasks for the Hungarian Defence Forces. Our soldiers have undertaken a mission with which they can express their values, their commitment to democracy, peace, and freedom. A soldier on mission is an ambassador, a diplomat for his country. You have proven that you deserve this honourable title – the state secretary of the Ministry of Defence closed her speech.

At the standing reception following the ceremony that ended with a parade, General Lubomír Bulik emphasised in his address: it is important that troops returning from a mission transfer their experiences. And not only to those who are currently preparing for their service abroad, but to everyone who will carry out similar tasks in the future.

In the opinion of the Slovakian chief of defence staff, in the past five years it has become a tradition that the leaders of the armies of the two countries receive the soldiers returning from the Cyprus peacekeeping mission together. And it is also a tradition that the two chiefs of defence staff visit the blue beret troops serving in the island together.

General László Tömböl pointed out: for a commander, it is always a pleasure to see that every soldier has returned safe and sound from a mission.

– We have been cooperating with our Slovakian comrades in the Cyprus mission for nine years. This cooperation is exemplary, it is a model for the entire alliance. We have created a tradition and we would like to continue it. For there will be a need for the UNFICYP mission for quite a while – said the Hungarian chief of defence staff.