Strong Co-operation with the Members of the Attaché Corps

In his address the Defence Minister briefed the attachés about the organisational changes in the leadership of the Ministry and the Hungarian Defence Forces. The participants were assured that the leaders of the Ministry and the Armed Forces will remain ready also in the future to provide them with real information about the current events, while abiding with the relevant framework and forms, rules. Tibor Benkő added that the changes in the organisational and the management structure were also needed because the armed forces are undergoing an extremely intensive, quick and full-scale transformation and rearmament. "You are military attachés, so there is no need to explain to you what kind of expectations is required from the armed forces by the changes occurring in the world, in Europe. At the same time the changes taking place in the Hungarian Defence Forces and in other countries also require the establishment of an even closer co-operation between the military attachés and the representatives of the given country" – he pointed out.

The Minister thanked for the work of the attachés so far, and asked for a correct, forward-looking, close co-operation of the participants in the future, too. "I wish you every success, much health and strength in your career, and also wish that – in a very close relationship with the new leading personnel – you can conduct a sincere, forward-looking work. I wish you could have a good time in Hungary together with your family, and you could return home with good memories" – Tibor Benkő closed his greeting.

In his reply, Colonel Toma-Stefan Savu, the doyen of the Budapest Military Attaché Corps (BMAC) said that 2018 events did not strengthen security in the world, as we again witnessed new military conflicts, terror attacks, and a new arms race unfolded. In this situation the attachés, as the defenders of peace have to build many bridges between the nations. The colonel added that the military diplomats accredited to Hungary have still closed an eventful, good year, and are grateful for the efforts of the Ministry and the Hungarian Defence Forces. Colonel Savu also highlighted that they could closely observe the Hungarian military organisational reforms, and the large-scale acquisition activity, thanks to which the armed forces could acquire among others – new aircraft, helicopters, armoured fighting vehicles, self-propelled guns in the framework of the National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program. The doyen of the Attaché Corps expressed his thanks to Hungary, the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Armed Forces for their work, their time, their openness and for their friendship with the members of the Corps. Also, he has confirmed his commitment to an even stronger, even better spirit of co-operation even in 2019.

Photos of WO Lajos Szabó