State Secretary Visits Kosovo

The members of the Hungarian delegation were received by Maj.-Gen. D’Addario the Italian Commander of KFOR (COMKFOR) at the Pristina airport. It was said during the short meeting that Maj.-Gen. D’Addario is grateful for the preparedness and presence of the Hungarian soldiers at the Unified Balkan Theatre.

Following the discussion István Szabó emphasised that the Italian general “recognised the proficiency and discipline, characterising the Hungarian soldiers’ performance here, in the KFOR, which was very gratifying to hear." He added that the Commander of the peacekeeping international mission said special thanks for the work of the Hungarian staff officers, who are present at the KFOR HQ and in other positions in the theatre of war.

Defence State Secretary said that in the meeting they also talked about the ideas related to the KFOR mission, which had already been elaborated by the Hungarian military leadership, and are currently under planning. These include, for example the enlargement of the Hungarian contingent’s personnel in the Kosovo mission. As István Szabó pointed out, it does matter to Hungary what is happening in the neighbouring countries, which is well illustrated by the fact that about 35% of our mission engagements (half of the number of the NATO-operations) is given by the presence in the Kosovo peacekeeping mission.

In the festive staff meeting organised for the Hungarian soldiers serving in the area of mission, the Defence State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence noted that having heard the report of the Hungarian Commander of the Novo Selo Base, he received a reassuring picture of the excellent performance of the soldiers.

In his speech István Szabó also answered many of the soldiers’ concerns, and spoke about the changes that can be expected in the area of home defence. In this context he underlined that in the framework of the still ongoing National Defence and Armed Forces Program the Hungarian Defence Forces will be expanded with personal and military equipment.

In the staff meeting István Szabó said thanks to the Hungarian soldiers for their tour of duty abroad. “I would like to ask of you to represent the Hungarian Defence Forces here, in the theatre with committed and disciplined work. The Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) have a very good reputation here, in the KFOR, and I would like you not only to maintain but increase it, and to contribute with your work to the HDF’s efforts exerted so far and at present, so that we can guarantee stability and peace in Kosovo" – he noted.

At the end of the event István Szabó presented the gifts of the Defence Ministry to the soldiers serving in Kosovo. There were items facilitating both work and relaxation among the gifts.

State Secretary István Szabó was accompanied among others by Brig.-Gen. Zsolt Sándor, the Land Forces Chief of the HDF Joint Force Command for the one-day visit.