Hungary’s 20 Years’ Participation in the UNFICYP Mission

At the beginning the HDF posted – under UN mandate – military observers, groups with some members to the crisis hot spots of Africa (Angola, Uganda, Mozambique) and the Middle East (Iraq, Kuwait), and joined in 1993 – with a four-member observer group – the UNFICYP mission guaranteeing peace in Cyprus.

The first larger Hungarian UN mandated peacekeeping force – precisely 105 soldiers – arrived in Cyprus in 1997, and took up their duties as the Hungarian company in the then Austrian-led Austrian-Hungarian-Slovenian Peacekeeping Battalion.

The Hungarian Blue Berets were stationed in “Camp Berger" (in the village of Louroujina) and in “Camp Izay" (in the village of Athienou), and carried out their duties in these districts. The Company and Platoon Commanders kept direct contacts with the opposing parties.

The Austrian Contingent handed over the lead-nation role of the 4th Sector to the Slovaks in 2001, but the Hungarians continued to take part in the Sector’s work as the second largest nation.

In 2004 the mission went under another transformation as a consequence of the issue of “Force 860" Directive, by virtue of which from 2005 the mission’s military strength was decreased from the earlier 1500 to 860. Of course, this also affected the Hungarians: their contribution changed from the company size force to platoon level unit, and their base became limited to Athienou, and to Patrol Base PB-91 located in the zone.

In addition to patrolling, the Hungarian soldiers have a role in the MFR and in the FMPU at the UNFICYP Headquarters in Nicosia, and fulfil different positions at Sector 4 Headquarters in Famagusta.

In 2005, the MOLOs (Military Observer Liaison Officers) have appeared, and the Hungarian Contingent had a considerable role in their task-execution. In 2010, 7 Serbian soldiers arrived in the mission, from whom six began their peacekeeping service together with the Hungarian soldiers, as part of the Hungarian Contingent, in the Athienou camp.

In the past 20 years over 3300 soldiers have performed service in the UNFICYP mission, and with their professional performance they have earned respect and appreciation for their Homeland, the Hungarian Defence Forces and of course for themselves.