The 2nd Rotation of the Hungarian Contingent Returned Home from Kosovo.

The troops of the second rotation of HDF KFOR contingent were received in the presence of their family members and relatives at Szolnok Helicopter Base on 6th of September. Following the 6-month-mission the troops of the 2nd rotation of the KFOR contingent returned home from Pec/Peje, Kosovo in the last days of August. It is not a coincidence that the soldiers answered Defence Minister Dr Csaba Hende’s greeting ’’Good day, soldiers!’’ with the following words:’’ Ready to deploy ’’, since it is the regular way of saluting in Szolnok HDF 25/88. Light Mixed Battalion.

At the welcoming ceremony minister Csaba Hende, Lieutenant General Tibor Benkő and Brigadier General János Huszár, Deputy Commander of the Joint Service Command, HDF handed over recognitions and remembrances. Besides, all the soldiers of the contingent received the Service Award for Peacekeeping in Kosovo. Minister of Defence Dr Csaba Hende addressed the troops with the following words:

’’Welcome home. Thank you for having returned home safe and sound and thank you for having taken care of each other. And of course I have to thank you for having taken care of me when I visited you with the U.S. Ambassador to Budapest early this summer.

An enormous task is ahead of you. After the change of the government we started to renew the HDF in a large scale. Our definite intention is to make the whole system of home defence competent to accomplish the task described in the constitution and to provide armed defence for the homeland.

Soldiers, I expect you to take part in this mission. Go on completing your engagement either as career servicemembers or contracted soldiers or returning to civilian life join the reserve staff which will be reorganized in the short run.’’ The welcoming ceremony of the 2nd rotation of the KFOR HDF contingent finished with the Szózat and a march past.

Translated by: Dóra Darnyik