The EU Military Committee (EUMC) Discussed about the Military Operations and Missions in Africa

Szöveg: MoD Press Section | 2013. november 19. 9:13

The EUMC held its session in Brussels with the participation of the Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) of the EU Member States between November 12 and 13. In the session of the highest military body of the Union the Hungarian delegation was led by Chief of the MoD Defence Staff General Dr. Tibor Benkő, the members of the delegation were Major General László Domján, the HDF Military Representative and the EU-experts of the HDF Office of the Military Representative.

Major General László Domján and General Dr. Tibor Benkő in the Brussels meeting

On the first day of the meeting, mainly the military operations and missions in Africa were on the agenda. In the session the high representatives responsible for the region and the commanders of the operations and missions, respectively, held briefings.

It has been said that in relation to the operations and missions carried out in the “Horn of Africa" and the “Sahel region", it became obvious, that besides having an effect on each other’s activity, they may as well yield regional results beyond the national boundaries. The training missions are increasingly complemented with the mentor and the advisory jobs, which support – on a strategic level – the reform of the security sector, the organisational transformation of the armed forces and the establishment of the personnel, logistic support systems necessary for their operation.

The operations and missions carried out in the African region were also mentioned during the meeting

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff of the Mali Army also stressed the importance of these activities in his briefing. His official visit to the session reinforced the countries participating in the EUTM Mali training mission, that with their work they also contribute in an indirect way to the strengthening of the security of the country and the region, not just to the rebuilding of the army.

In the assessment of the operations and missions, the CHODs of the Member States acknowledged the Commanders’ efforts, and assured them of the support of the Member States. The Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) contributed to the EUTM Mali mission with 1 liaison officer, with a 3-person medical staff, and earlier with a 6-person marksmanship training group for a period of six months. Until the termination of the EUTM Somali mission’s mandate, March 31, 2015, two further training mentors will join in January 2014 to the two soldiers now performing service. They will conduct the preparatory training of the soldier trainers of the Somali Army.

The Chief of the MoD Defence Staff received a commemorative medal on the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Armed Forces

In the break of the conference, in an informal meeting, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic Lieutenant General Peter Vojtek, awarded the Chief of the MoD Defence Staff Dr. Tibor Benkő a commemorative medal on the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Armed Forces. Peter Vojtek in his awarding order highlighted the development and the intensification of the cooperation between the Hungarian Defence Forces and the Slovak Armed Forces. In the framework of the Visegrád Four Cooperation, the Czech and the Polish Chiefs of Defence also received commemorative medals.