Public image of the Hungarian Defence Forces improves

March 2, 2011 8:00 AM

The Hungarian Defence Forces are a national institution in the service of protecting the life, freedom, independence and goods of the citizens, Minister of Defence said at the leadership briefing held in Budapest on March 1.

The President of the Republic of Hungary, Dr. Pál Schmitt, Parliamentary State Secretary, MoD, Dr. István Simicskó, Administrative State Secretary, MoD, Lajos Fodor, Chief of Defence Staff of the HDF, Dr Tibor Benkő and the President of the Defence and Law Enforcement Committee, Dr Máté Kocsis also attended the event.

The President of the Republic of Hungary emphasized in his speech: the Hungarian Defence Forces have undergone a significant renewal. He said he was delighted to experience that the Hungarian Defence Forces relieve their traditions and draw strength from the past. He added: ’’the national defence has to be built upon patriotism.” Pál Schmitt said: ’’I am pleased to see the establishment of the Honvéd Crown Guard as a result of the amendment of the Home Defence Act.”

The Hungarian Defence Forces are a national institution in the service of protecting the life, freedom, independence, and goods of citizens, Minister of Defence emphasized in his speech.
Evaluating last year’s work Minister of Defence Csaba Hende pointed out: we have had an extremely difficult but successful year at the same time. Minister of Defence praised the soldiers’ courage and dedicated work demonstrated at the disasters. He went on talking about missions, outlining the one in Afghanistan where the security situation has significantly deteriorated. Csaba Hende said the primary goal is to renew the entire system of home defence. In his speech he also outlined the fight against corruption. ’’ The public image of the Hungarian Defence Forces has improved due to the fact that the Holy Crown and the Palace of the President of the Hungarian Republic have been guarded by the troops of the HDF.’’ Minister of Defence emphasized: the number of reservists has increased from eighteen to two thousand. He went on talking about the renewal of the officer training scheme and the plans to establish a National Civil Service University on January 1 2012. Speaking about the tasks of year 2011 Csaba Hende said: “we are facing a difficult year, as well. The national debt and the economic crisis have set the objectives of the ministry. The government has set aside a safety buffer, freezing worth 26 billion forints in defence ministry spending. One of the most effective ways for both the country and the Hungarian Defence Forces to get out of the economic crisis is to start long-term, committed development,” Minister of Defence concluded his speech.