We Are Serving Our National Interests in Afghanistan

Szöveg: hm.gov.hu | 2010. szeptember 8. 12:55

On September 7 Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende promoted deceased war hero WO György Kolozsvári to posthumous second lieutenant at the welcome home ceremony of the 8th troop rotation of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) held in Tata.

The Hungarian soldier who had been very seriously injured during his tour of duty in ISAF, Afghanistan on August 23 passed away in the Military Hospital, Budapest on the day of his comrades’ welcome home ceremony. Following a one-minute moment of silence the Defence Minister delivered a speech in the “György Klapka" barracks, Tata, in which he praised the Hungarian troops’ heroism and outstanding performance in Afghanistan. He also thanked them for undertaking this service which they had been doing with honor throughout their very challenging and dangerous tour of duty. The Minister said that our troop presence in the ISAF mission is Hungary’s national interest, which amounts to serving our nation in the faraway Asian country.

Speaking about the tasks to be accomplished in Hungary, Dr. Csaba Hende said “We have embarked upon a transformation project to renew the whole system of national defence. We will transform the Hungarian Defence Forces so that they can carry out their core mission laid down in the constitution, which is the armed defence of the homeland."

The Defence Minister noted that “our honest troops have never been accountable for the fact that today’s HDF are not entirely up to this task." He asked the service personnel present at the event to continue their engagement in the army either as signed-on or as career soldiers or, having returned to civilian life, by applying for the Reserve that “will shortly have been reorganized to provide worthy conditions of service".

“We will never let any Hungarian soldier down, no matter if he or she’s on the battlefield or in the sickbed, alive or dead!" – this was how the Defence Minister concluded his speech.

The ceremony was coupled with a medal parade where the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence, the Commanding General of the HDF Joint Force Command, the Vice-Chairman of the Defence and Law Enforcement Committee of the Parliament and the Hungarian ambassador to Afghanistan handed over decorations and awards to the troops.