’Russia Has Evolved Into A Strategic Player Indeed’

When we first met, there were two stars decorating the shoulder boards on your uniform, just like today. The difference is that back then you were a senior officer, not a general. We met in the park of one of the hotels in Naples. Since then, seven years have passed. From Naples, you moved to Moscow, and from lieutenant colonel, you have become major general. Has your military career always been so fast? Would you recall for us what happened to you in the past few years?

This is not easy, and what is more, it gets more and more difficult as the years are passing by since one encounters many things during a career in the military – fortunately -, there are a great number of challenges, new positions. But if I have to be specific, I could tell you that I started my career as an air defence rocket operator and I studied in the former Soviet Union. After my commissioning, I was immediately placed in a deputy commander position in Alcsútdoboz, where I was one of the troops defending the airspace above Budapest, similarly to the 11th National Air Defence Rocket Brigade of that time. Later the corps were reorganized into a regiment. Then I was teaching for a couple of years at the air defence rocket and artillery faculty of the former Bolyai military college. I think the turning point in my whole military career was that I was enrolled to an English language course at Bolyai. After the successful language exam, one event just came after the other, like on a conveyor belt. I got a position at the ministry in 1992, then I was serving in Angola, studying in America, then the ministry came again, and from there, Naples. I was given a position in Naples in 1998, as a peace partner senior officer and earned a NATO position after Hungary became a NATO member state in 1999. I took part in the planning of the Kosovo operations, and in the preparation of Kosovar forces. I have gained lots of experiences, as regards the structure, operation, and internal processes of NATO. After Naples, I was serving at the Office of the President of the Republic for more than six years as the Head of the Military Department. And after Hungary applied for the leading position of NATO’s Military Liaison Mission in Moscow and eventually got the position, I went to Moscow in May 2008, as the Head of the Liaison Mission.

Jumping back to Naples for a moment, how did you get in that NATO position?

After Naples, what was waiting for you at home?

With a bit of luck I got a position as a senior colleague at the Military Department of the Office of the President of the Republic. Then it just so happened that after three months, I was assigned to lead the department. I think I can say I’m lucky because I managed to win this position.

As the Head of the Military Department of the Office of the President of the Republic, what kind of tasks did you have?

I was assisting the constitutional work of the President of the Republic, the commander in chief of the armed forces and as of 2004, that of the Hungarian Defence Forces. In fields like for instance the harmonization of the plans for qualified periods, the coordination of the president’s tasks resulting from his authority regarding the personnel, and the organization of his regular briefing sessions. These sessions were held by the defence minister and the chief of defence staff for the president. My duties also included the formal representation of the president on the trips abroad and in the country and at national events, moreover the planning and organization of troop visits, and I was in charge of the presidential correspondence of military nature.

You have already mentioned it in a few sentences, still I have to ask you again: how did you get to Moscow?

I have applied for it. More specifically, it was the Republic of Hungary applying – through me – for the leading post of NATO’s Moscow-based Military Liaison Mission, and fortunately, we succeeded, therefore via me the opportunity arose to occupy, fill the post. It is worth knowing that the applicant had to meet substantial linguistic, professional, and other management requirements for this position is indeed the representation of NATO in Russia. Moreover, with special attention paid to NATO-Russian military relations. Seemingly there is no point in the fact that the position is of a military nature since on the Russian side the implementation of military tasks is always preceded by a political approval, therefore it can be admitted that the implementation of the tasks of military cooperation depends on political decisions. Another thing which has to be considered is that while Russia has an ambassador and a military representation in Brussels, NATO has only a military representation in Moscow. As regards the structure, or to be more precise, diplomatically, we belong to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, which is sort of a diplomatic umbrella for us, but we complete our tasks independently with directions from Brussels. Based on what I have experienced to date, I believe the biggest challenge in liaisoning work is the fact that beyond completing military tasks, we also have a very high level duty in military diplomacy. And diplomacy is not the kind of line of work where ’more’ work brings ’greater’ results. Therefore our military assignments must be completed to the maximum extent.

What are these tasks exactly?

We are in close contact even with the highest military command of the Russian Defence Ministry. The liaison mission was set up in 2002 in Moscow, and it is also one of the core tasks to promote the implementation of the annual Work Plan for Military Cooperation, approved by the NATO-Russia Council, and to support, monitor, and participate in the programmes specified in the work plan. The military cooperation between Russia and the NATO concerns various fields, a few of which are not always familiar to a Hungarian officer or a general. Such fields are for instance operational support, implementation of the interoperability programme – that is working towards the compatible deployability of NATO and Russian military capabilities -, airspace cooperation programmes, development schemes for rocket defence systems in theatres of operations, naval cooperation, logistics cooperation, and the tasks of education, training, and further education. But our duties also include the promotion of social and press publicity, and the organization of the official visits to Moscow paid by the highest level political and military leaders of the NATO.

Will the Russian–Georgian armed conflict of August modify these plans, or has it modified them?

I have to say yes, but we cannot specify yet what direction the military cooperation will take. What seems to be certain at the moment is that both parties – the NATO and Russia as well – will consider the tasks and projects suiting their respective needs as key issues. Among the programmes currently underway or to be launched in the future, such areas of cooperation can be the promotion of NATO’s commitment in Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, civil defence, arms control, defence reforms, maritime research and salvage, and last but not least, the continuation of the political dialogue.

Are there any other Hungarians working for the Mission?

In total, there are ten of us working in the bureau, officers and non-commissioned officers alike. We have a Russian interpreter and we also have a Russian female colonel colleague who is the liaison officer of the Russian MoD. Once we are talking about nationalities, there are Americans, Romanians, Germans, Italians, Russians, and of course, Hungarians among us. One of our senior officers is Colonel János Szabó, who is responsible for naval cooperation and scientific cooperation. It is his third period of duty in Moscow and he has also completed his joint forces and chief of staff studies here therefore he has a perfect knowledge as regards the Russian armed forces. The third Hungarian colleague is Sergeant First Class Zoltán Gacs, the IT manager and administrator of the liaison mission. In other words: he is kind of a factotum concerning our administrative liaisoning with Brussels. Since during his career he has spent a considerable amount of time in service abroad, in addition to his professional knowledge, he also has useful experiences of working in an international environment. And it is a great asset here. You must know that our country has always been interested in having stable and predictable allied relations with Russia, therefore it is not by accident that there have always been Hungarian officers serving for the mission. Hopefully, this trend will remain the same in the future, too.

What kind of results, experiences has your nearly half-year service in Russia brought?

If I consider solely my job, I have to admit that my most significant experience is that following a decade and a half of stagnation, Russia has evolved into a strategic player indeed. Russia is beginning to rebuild its strategic military contacts, it is a global player in the neighbouring regions such as Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Far East, and among others, China. As a result of that the nature, tone, content, and culture of political and military dialogues are different now. This is where the NATO Military Representation has to fit in – at least to the minimum extent. Our partners, which are the corresponding bodies of the Russian Ministry of Defence, assist us in this to the greatest possible extent, and taking into consideration the political dialogue as well, we make efforts to find the possibilities for the common interpretation of the political aspects together. Those who deal with Russia or the relations with Russia must admit that the attitudes of great powers are different than what we got used to in Europe and perhaps we still have some memories of the great powers of the cold war era. Today’s Russia is not the Soviet Union! It’s different. As regards our bureau, the professional approach of the staff was a very pleasant experience for me. Regardless of their nationality, the officers and non-commissioned officers serving here have tremendous experience of both NATO and Russia, and the Russian armed forces. Here everyone speaks Russian and English so it hardly makes any difference what working language we choose in our meetings. This preparedness greatly contributes to smooth liaisoning. I also have to mention that the impacts of internal and external policies resulting from the strategic role of Russia can be seen and felt in everyday life. Russia has changed considerably in the past fifteen years, and being kind of a great power in economy and energy policy, the country has got into the circulation of global economy and banking. Of course, it has also brought forth – unfortunately – that Moscow has become the most expensive city in the world, for example it is even more expensive than Tokyo.

How does your family cope with living in Moscow?

Fortunately, our children have grown up, they attend college now so they do not take part in this posting. They only came to visit us and to see Moscow and Russia. Of course, my wife is also here with me providing a calm background for me to complete my tasks. And she plays the major part in maintaining these two existences, she is the one who has to travel whenever our life in Hungary requires so. But her presence is needed here as well since in this relatively frequented position one has to live a busy diplomatic and military-diplomatic life. And in this, our partners are our wives, who have their own role in diplomatic life – similarly to us –, at the level they are responsible for, of course. In April, when I was introduced to the Vice President of the Military Committee, his first question to me was: ’László, your wife will also go with you to Moscow, won’t she?’ – to which I replied ’Yes, Sir’. Naturally, I miss my friends, relatives, colleagues, fellow soldiers at home, but fortunately enough, I can stay in touch with them on the internet and occasionally meet them when I go home.

But once your posting to Moscow will come to an end. What are your plans for the future?

For the time being, it is difficult to tell in advance what happens next, what can come after a position like that. I would like to be in a situation where all the experiences I have gained in this position can be utilized somewhere. The experiences which can be acquired here are highly extensive – military, professional, cultural, social, and above all, human. Russia has always been and will always be special for me since I have completed a part of my studies here. I do not know where the developments of global policy and economy are heading, but one thing is sure: Europe, the NATO, and Hungary as well have to consider Russia in the long run.