Countries Turn Their Attention Towards Multinational Solutions
Szöveg: László Szűcs | 2013. január 28. 9:03Last year we reorganized our relations in military diplomacy, the attaché office system is in harmony with the changes that have occurred in our security policy situation – Minister of Defence Csaba Hende stressed in Stefánia Palace, Budapest.
corps accredited to Budapest as well as the leaders of the Ministry of Defence and the
Hungarian Defence Forces. In his speech, he said the most important task for last year had
been to sustain and – as far as possible –, to improve the level of international cooperation
despite the global economic crisis.
“The crisis impacts not only on Hungary but also on almost all European countries, and
resources are withdrawn everywhere. Because of this, the countries are turning their
attention towards multinational solutions and forms of cooperation, which are aimed at joint
development, procurement or joint operation of certain defence capabilities", Minister Hende
said.
The Minister of Defence pointed out that the support to Hungary’s engagement in operations
continues to be the top priority, so “we are using all possible means to strengthen the force
protection of the personnel serving in missions abroad and to improve the efficiency of their
activity".
According to Minister Hende, an important task for the year 2013 will be to move back
home the Provincial Reconstruction Team which is currently deployed in Baghlan Province,
Afghanistan. At the same time, like before, special attention will continue to be paid to the
operations in the Western Balkans.
“In the future, besides the tasks of protecting Hungary’s airspace, the Hungarian Air Force
will also assume a role in the air policing mission conducted over Slovenia and the Baltic
states", the Minister said, adding that with regard to the cooperation within NATO, the
main emphasis will be placed on those areas which help support Hungary’s engagement in
operations and the capability development of the armed forces.
The Minister stressed that last December the government had approved the National Military
Strategy. The most important result of this newly prepared strategic plan for the period
between 2013 and 2022 is the government’s pledge not to further reduce the defence budget
under any circumstances. Indeed, starting from 2016 it will increase the defence spending by
0.1 per cent of the GDP.
In his answer, Col. Jacinto Romero, the defence attaché of the Kingdom of Spain and the
doyen of the Budapest Military Attaché Corps emphasized that 2012 had been a difficult
year not only for the Hungarian Defence Forces but also for the armed forces of the countries
represented here. The Hungarian Ministry of Defence has taken level-headed, systematic
and determined steps to create organizationally more flexible and effective structures in the
Ministry, the Hungarian Defence Forces and in military education as well.
“This was a year during which Hungary strengthened its role in regional cooperation in the
area of defence, launched significant initiatives together with the neighboring countries and
increased its role in other security and defence forums like NATO and the EU", Col. Romero
said.
He added that all this was possible because the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian
Defence Forces have personnel of extraordinary quality. They are made up of soldiers and
civilians who consider making sacrifices and professionalism as the meaning of their lives.
These people see the meaning of their lives only in the service of their homeland.
Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky
