Minister of Defence Dr Csaba Hende has arrived in Israel for a two-day visit.

During his stay the minister has visited the Israel Defence Exhibition (ISDEF) in Tel Aviv.

 Israeli Minister of Defence Ehud Barak received Minister of Defence of the Hungarian Republic on a complimentary visit. The two leaders exchanged views on the defence and security situation of the Middle-East, the Israeli-Palestine peace talks and the Hungarian-Israeli bilateral relations.
Dr Csaba Hende informed his host about Hungary’s upcoming EU Presidency from January 2011. The minister outlined that the EU Presidency would involve responsibility concerning Hungary’s Defence and Security Policy. He also informed Ehud Barak about the key tasks of the HDF and the efforts our country and the HDF made for maintaining peace and security in international relations.
The Israeli Defence Minister appreciated the Hungarian peacekeeping commitments and invited Csaba Hende for an official state visit.
Previously Dr Csaba Hende had informal talks with Defence Minister of Slovakia Ljubomir Galko who had also been invited to the exhibition. He was informed about the key tasks of the upcoming Hungarian EU Presidency. Moreover Csaba Hende highly appreciated the Slovakian- Hungarian cooperation in the contingent of UNFICYP.
The Minister of Defence was accompanied by the Deputy Secretary of State Peter Siklósi, Lieutenant General Tibor Benkő Chief of Defence Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces and Major General József Kovács Commander of the HDF Joint Forces Command.

The two Hungarian military leaders were received by Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, the Chief of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in his office. Today the Hungarian delegation has travelled to Jerusalem where Csaba Hende has laid wreaths at Yad Vasem Holocaust History Museum.

Text: Dóra Darnyik