Students of UK Defence Academy Visit Hungary

During their stay in Hungary the guests paid a visit to the Parliament where they learned about the work of the Defence and Law Enforcement Committee. In the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence they were briefed on some topical issues in defence and security policy concerning the Republic of Hungary, and the geostrategic interests that determine the foreign relations of our country. The delegation also visited the HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base and the MoD Military History Institute and Museum where they saw two permanent exhibitions. During their visit the students also had an opportunity to learn about the cultural assets of the country. The head of the delegation, Colonel Giles Vosper-

Brown, and Lieutenant-Colonel Phil Osment, Defence Attaché, MoD (UK) were received by Péter Siklósi, Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning on February 2. A representative of the HDF Defence Staff and the deputy dean of the Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University Bolyai János Military Technical Faculty gave lectures to the visitors.

Col. Giles Vosper-Brown, Director, C Division, Advanced Command and Staff Course, Joint Services Command and Staff College of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom told us that presently the institute has 300 students from 56 countries and runs one-year courses in eleven special fields. The members of the group (58 attendees) came to Hungary for a week within a four-week international training program. In addition to British officers, the attendees include soldiers from other nations as well, representing 17 countries, for instance Finland, Afghanistan, Yemen, Saudi-Arabia, Germany and Sweden. After Budapest, they will go to Prague, Tallin, Rome and Berlin. The colonel also told us that it was not the first time he had been to our country, as in 1998 he participated in an international PfP exercise in Balatonkenese and even though his memories are fading, he was certain that he had had a very good time in Hungary.

 

Photo: Tünde Rácz