“There Are Things To Be Proud Of On The Day Of National Defence”

The attendees of the central ceremony held by the Ministry of Defence on the Day of Hungarian National Defence included the members of the general staff and union leaders.

– Today’s memorial ceremony and salutation is two-fold. For we are celebrating both the past and the present of our national defence. The past, when 160 years ago the coalition of Hungarian and non-Hungarian soldiers recaptured the Buda Castle. Since 1992, we have been celebrating the anniversary of this noble event as the Day of Hungarian National Defence. This celebration also gives us the possibility to thank all the people for their self-sacrificing work and assistace provided to the Hungarian Defence Forces and the cause of national defence – Dr. Imre Szekeres began his address.

The defence minister underlined: in the 21st century, Hungary is a member state of the European Union and the NATO. But this could not have happened without the sacrifice of the predecessors of the Hungarian Defence Forces and Hungarian soldiers. History, and the history of the defence forces compel us. On the one hand they compel us to pass on the memories of the past, on the other hand to develop the capabilities of the military.

In the opinion of Imre Szekeres, the promise made in 2006 has been fulfilled. The defence forces that are being created will harmonize society’s expectations in terms of security. In recent years the military reform has been implemented and completed, the Hungarian Defence Forces have been prepared to act against new security threats, and the modern format of the training, equipment, and leadership system of the voluntary and professional military has been created. And most importantly, this has been done on the basis of national consensus, with the support of society.

– The Hungarian Defence Forces have been renewed, we have created a professional military organized on a voluntary basis, that is up-to-date, serves to protect the country and at the same time, able to carry out allied tasks for NATO in high quality. Our commitments have been realistic and feasible, they have matched the capacities of the country. We have established stable foundations within the Hungarian Defence Forces, foundations we can build on without any concern in the coming period – said the defence minister, also mentioning that as a result of this work, a document that marks the beginning of an era, the National Military Strategy was born this spring. It specifies the conditions of the military security of Hungary and the main directions for the development of the Hungarian Defence Forces in the long term.

In the past few years there have been considerable developments – since 2007 we have been spending more than twenty percent of the defence budget on development – the defence minister emphasized in his address. At the end of 2008 the Gripen fighters were introduced to the system, and the NATO Heavy Airlift Wing will move to Pápa this summer. There has been an improvement in developments relating to the protection of the forces and increasing their mobility, and the EOD capabilities of the defence forces have also been developed. In addition to this the armour-piercing and anti-armour capabilities have been retained and the personal equipments and armaments of the troops have been modernized. In the past three years 146 pieces of BTR–80 combat vehicles had been rehauled and 60 new vehicles have been added to the system.

– We have used our financial assets in a transparent, rational, and cost-saving way. And this was especially important for only a very little money was available for us. But I am positive that the work we have done in the past three years is a good foundation for further development, for continuing the fulfilment of our domestic and international duties with excellence. And also for strengthening the trust and support we have earned among our allies and in the Hungarian society – said the minister, adding: at the time of economic crisis one has to be even more careful with the taxpayers’ money. Nevertheless, they have decided that the three main duties of the Hungarian Defence Forces, namely the defence of the country by military means, preparation for disaster prevention, and cooperation with the Allies, will be carried out fully. Every other task that is not absolutely necessary has been disregarded, for example the communication expenses have been drastically cut and several important social events will be cancelled this year. Among others, the traditional Day of National Defence in Városliget.

Naturally, there is plenty of work even in these circumstances: the full-scale provision of defence tasks, the further extension of military capabilites, the parallel development of branches, and the modernization of the tools and equipments of the forces – Imre Szekeres emphasized.

The defence minister added: the retention of the personnel and the recruitment of three thousand new troops are also important tasks. They would like to conduct the scheduled exercises and trainings as well. It is also important to create the new legal framework for the qualified period and to improve the operation of the health care system of the defence forces.

– On the Day of National Defence, there are things to be proud of. The establishment of the defence forces in 1848 had a connection with our greatest national ideas and most important national aims. The defence forces had recruited the best people of our nation, and the heroes of that period are our role models today – Imre Szekeres closed his speech.

Following his address, Defence Minister Dr. Imre Szekeres handed over medals and rewards at the central ceremony of the defence portfolio. In addition to the honours, long service awards and promotions, the "Soldier of the Year" titles were also awarded. In 2009, twenty soldiers received the certificate and the plaque that accompany the honouring title, as a recognition of their meritorious service in the Hungarian Defence Forces and outstanding work during their long service, handed over by Mod Chief of Defence Staff General László Tömböl.