New Chief Of The Defence Staff To Head The Hungarian Defence Forces

Prior to the formal ceremony held in Szent György (Saint George) Square in the Buda Castle, László Sólyom, the President of the Republic of Hungary officially appointed Lieutenant General (Eng.) László Tömböl Chief of the Defence Staff in the Mirror Room of Sándor Palace. And at the same time, he promoted him general. There was also another promotion: the president promoted Major General Tibor Benkõ – who had officially taken over the commanding position of HDF Joint Forces Command a day earlier – lieutenant general.

The resolution of the president of the republic on the handover of the position of the chief of the defence staff was read to the honour battalion lining up in Szent György Square and the soldiers invited to the formal event, then General András Havril handed over the unit flag of the Ministry of Defence – and with that, symbolically his position as well – to General László Tömböl. Who, in line with military traditions, waiwed the colours.

At the event – which was also attended by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Speaker of the Parliament Katalin Szili, Dr. Bertalan Kaposvári, Vice President of the Supreme Court, and Defence Minister Imre Szekeres – President László Sólyom gave an address.

The head of state said: General András Havril had lead the general staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces – first as deputy and later as leader – for eight years. And during this period, there had been significant changes in international security policy. The risk of a global armed conflict has dropped to a minimum level, and at the same time, many new threats to security have emerged. The more and more frequent breakout of regional crises, the spreading of international terrorism, and environmental catastrophes knowing no country borders have called attention to the necessity of rapid response capability development.

– At the same time, the changes in the international order have considerably influenced the international political and military position of Hungary as well. Our country has became a full member of NATO and the European Union. Therefore there is a growing and a more and more definite demand that Hungary, too, should participate in the crisis management and peace support operations of the international community – told the president of the republic, adding: in addition to the substantial and deep changes, a set of values have been adopted by the Hungarian Defence Forces, the basis of which is their obligation stipulated in the Constitution: it is the obligation of every citizen of the Republic of Hungary to defend the country. In addition to that, the military profession and set of values have strengthened as well, regaining their national features and returning to the national symbols sanctified by history.

– Consciously creating a vision of the future is essential for stability. For this, it is not only necessary to strengthen the career path model, or rather the armed forces’ ability to retain the troops, but also such attentive and prepared changes in the command structure are needed like the establishment of the Joint Forces Command was in 2007. In launching this medium level command and executive structure, but especially in filling it with content, General László Tömböl has acquired a major merit. Therefore I am convinced that the change that is about to happen in the position of the chief of the defence staff will serve stability in the life of the Hungarian Defence Forces – said László Sólyom, who also thanked General András Havril for his more than forty years of service in the Hungarian Defence Forces. And the president has announced that as of this day, the chief of the defence staff is General László Tömböl.

– After my four decades of career in the military the moment has arrived when I am handing over my position, born with responsibility, to my successor. In these minutes there is nothing else left for me than to thank all those who were there to help me in completing the profession I had chosen. They helped me in completing a successful career path – emphasized General András Havril, the leaving chief of the defence staff in his farewell speech. He added: being the number one soldier of a country is a wonderful and honourable task. But in order to be able to live up to that, he needed trust and support.

Addressing the president of the republic, General Havril thanked László Sólyom for the attention and support he has shown for the Hungarian Defence Forces. As he said: the military personnel have highly appreciated the interest the head of state has shown for the outcome of the ’Dialogue’ process.

Following that, Andás Havril thanked Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány for the government acting with a responsible care towards the Hungarian armed forces and for providing for the conditions of deployability and the necessary capabilities even under more and more difficult financing circumstances.

Turning to Defence Minister Imre Szekeres, General Havril thanked him for the successful representation of the interests of the Hungarian Defence Forces, and for providing for the conditions of structural and operational stability in the military, in the name of the personnel.

– Thank you for being able to leave the first position of the Hungarian military with dignity, after having reached the maximum age limit, and continue to serve my country in another important area. Here I must mention the enormous piece of work the personnel of the Hungarian Defence Forces have completed in recent years, in order to establish the capabilities and confidence of the military. Now, when my military career has come to an end, I thank my wife, Mariann, who made a marriage vow to a young lieutenant, and who is still my partner today – said András Havril.

The leaving chief of the MoD defence staff emphasized: he is handing over his position with a good and clear conscience, and he believes it was an especially fortunate turn of events that he could be a part of the challenge of establishing the organizational and operational stability of the Hungarian Defence Forces and setting the military off on the road of quality improvement and changing military culture. In the past few years, the system of training has been modernized, the methodology of military command has been developed, service culture has been renewed, and a new content has been given to strategic thinking. And this development has contributed to the improving social recognition of both the armed forces as an institution and military service as a profession.

– Nevertheless, the results we have achieved cannot make us overconfident – there are still a number of tasks waiting for the armed forces and their leaders. I honour and respect my successor, General László Tömböl, who is going to be responsible for the military representation of the interests of the Republic of Hungary as of today. I wish him state, governmental, and social support – General András Havril closed his speech.

– For a soldier who likes his profession there is not a more honouring feeling then being promoted to a higher position as a result of his senior colleagues’ trust. It is especially true when this higher position is the position of the chief of the defence staff, the peak of a career in the military. In this significant moment I say thank you with an honest heart to the leaders of the country for having entrusted me with this responsible position – said General (Eng.) László Tömböl, adding: he is thinking of his predecessors respectfully and thankfully, under whose command the Hungarian Defence Forces have got to their current status in the past two decades.

He has especially thanked General András Havril for the military to achieve stability after a long period during which there had been many changes. Like he said: the achievements of his predecessor are an example for him to follow and also a serious challenge. He shares the style and method with which his predecessor could make himself understood with the commanding and the general staff, and even the soldiers serving in the most simple position. He is committed to continue this tradition, which does not regard the personnel of the armed forces subordinates only but participants.

– I owe a thank you to all those who had directed me to a career in the military. First and foremost my father, who cannot be here with us today, unfortunately. I say thank you with a grateful heart to my family, my wife Loretta for her understanding and support. I believe these celebratory moments can be complete only with her – said General László Tömböl, who then talked about his most important intention for the day, the day when he is taking over the position of chief of the defence staff: to continue the work which makes the Hungarian Defence Forces the depositary of national defence and a reliable fulfiller of our allied commitments.

In addition to the abovementioned, he wants to pay special attention to the training of the troops and their equipment. And he will bring into effect the requirement in line with which soldiers should only be deployed – either within the country or on a task abroad – equipped and prepared.

– I am not deceived by the opportunity that comes along with this high position. When preparing to make my decisions, I will not fail to listen to the opinion of well-prepared experts – promised the new chief of the defence staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

Following the parade of the honour unit, the celebration continued in the Marble Room of MoD Institute of Military History, where Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány proposed a toast. The head of government highlighted: the Hungarian Defence Forces, celebrating their 160th anniversary, have undergone a very deep transformation process in recent years. And the Hungarian Defence Forces have an unique and especially important role in serving the country.

– Let me thank General András Havril for the work he has done in the leading position of the Hungarian military. For the government of Hungary has never felt even for a minute that the Hungarian Defence Forces would not do everything they can. A comradely, trustful relationship has evolved between the general staff of the armed forces and the government, and General Havril has had a major part in that. I wish he took pleasure in his new task – said Ferenc Gyurcsány, who presented the leaving chief of staff with a book on the military published in 1843, titled ’Military Grammar’.

– As a citizen of Pápa, I did not know General László Tömböl. As you probably know, he is from Pápa but he went to secondary scool three years earlier, therefore we did not meet. We only met when he was the commander of the Joint Forces Command. General! I wish you to be a straightforward and at the same time, a humane commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces, since there is a need for both – emphasized Ferenc Gyurcsány in his toast.

Following the formal state ceremony General László Tömböl as the newly appointed Chief of the MoD Defence Staff laid a wreath on the Memorial Stone of Hungarian Heroes in Heroes’ Square.