Minister of Defence Dr Csaba Hende paid a few-hour official visit to Berlin where he had talks with the Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany Dr Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg on 7 December.

Dr Csaba Hende was received with military honours at the MoD in Berlin. Following a private conversation the ministers signed a Health Memorandum. The two ministers emphasized that Germany and Hungary had an intensive military cooperation in the framework of the ISAF Regional Command North. The German Minister of Defence expressed his recognition for Hungary’s contribution in deploying a medical team to Afghanistan. Since there is a shortage of German doctors and nurses on mission the German partner highly appreciated the job of the Hungarian medical experts. The Hungarian Minister of Defence said that Hungary was engaged in maintaining stability in Afghanistan. He thanked for the German Defence Minister Dr Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg for the German soldiers’ effort supporting the Hungarian troops. During the talks Dr Csaba Hende informed his German partner about the current issues of the upcoming Hungarian EU Presidency. As a supporting presidency Hungary has an objective to enhance European defence integration and promote the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Furthermore the Hungarian Minister of Defence emphasized that Hungary would maintain its commitment to Balkan mission until the completion of the ongoing military operations. Concerning the NATO Lisbon summit he said that our country supported NATO’s New Strategic Concept and its internal reforms. Commemorating the war heroes Dr Csaba Hende laid wreaths at the Bundeswehr memorial in Berlin.

Translated by Dóra Darnyik