Arms Control Inspectors in Hungary

The 71-strong international delegation is on a visit to Hungary in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document 2011 on confidence and security building measures (CSBM). Under this agreement, each state will arrange for representatives of all other participating states one visit to an air base and the military facilities of a land force unit in any five-year period.

Col. Gyula Anderjcsik, Head of Arms Control Department, Hungarian Defence Forces Training and Doctrine Centre told us that “this process started with the Helsinki Final Act in 1975 and has been going on to the present day, although in a changed format. By the early 1990s – the period of major transformations –, almost all European countries had set up their own arms control regimes. It was at this time that the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) was signed in order to ensure military transparency. “The first Vienna Document itself was issued in 1990, and since then, its text has been changed and revised on a regular basis due to development of armaments and military structures. The document currently in force was adopted in 2011, but it is expected to be reissued with updates in 2106", Col. Andrejcsik added.

The inspections carried out under the provisions of the document are basically aimed at providing the visitors with opportunities to observe the daily military activities in the given units of the host state and to learn about their structure and role in the armed forces, giving them briefings on the training programs and supplying them with information about defence capabilities. Deputy Chief of Defence Lt.-Gen. Dr. Zoltán Orosz told us that Hungary is nearing the end of a five-year period, so it is now fulfilling the obligations undertaken in the Vienna Document. “During the five-day program, in accordance with their daily program schedule specified in the agreement, the arms control inspectors sent by the participating states are inspecting an army unit and an air force base, and are given general briefings, facts and figures on the Hungarian Defence Forces", the lieutenant-general said.

At a meeting held in Stefánia Palace – Military Cultural Centre in Budapest on Monday, 27 June, the foreign inspectors attended several presentations related to their visit. The one given by Dr. István Balogh, Head of the Department for Security Policy and Non-proliferation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was on Hungary’s security policy. Péter Siklósi, Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence lectured on Hungary’s defence policy; Lt.-Gen. Dr. Zoltán Orosz on the set of tasks and structure of the Hungarian Defence Forces, and Brig.-Gen. Dr. Zoltán Mihócza, Acting Chief of Staff, HDF Joint Force Command (HDF JFC) on the functions of the HDF JFC as well as its organizational structure and subordinate units.

On 28 June, the official program of the inspection team continued in the Hódmezővásárhely garrison of the HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade. On Thursday, 30 June, the inspectors visited the HDF 59th Szentgyörgyi Dezső Air Base.

This year’s inspection marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hungarian arms control organization. On Wednesday, 29 June this event was commemorated with a ceremonial staff meeting in Stefánia Palace, Budapest, where the representatives of partner organizations cooperating in the field of arms control and former staff members of the arms control organization were also present.

Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky