At a press briefing held after the annual assessment and tasking conference for leaders of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó stated that “the Government of Hungary will not compromise the security of Hungarians, and that is the most important thing”.
Security has become the most important value in Europe
Dr. Simicskó pointed out that security has now become the most important value in Europe. He added that in the recent period, highly-trained Hungarian Defence Force personnel have demonstrated that they are able to protect Hungary’s borders and guarantee the security of its citizens.
“We need to adapt to the emerging security challenges”, the Minister said, noting that “it would be a sin if we did not use all available means to combat terrorism”. The Hungarian Defence Forces are ready to do so, Dr. Simicskó stated.
Speaking about the Bill submitted by the Government on declaring a state of emergency in the event of terrorist threats, he said that a parliamentary consultation had recently been held in which, “sadly”, the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) did not participate. He told the press that the opposition parties had submitted some proposals, including one from the MSZP, which is intended for debate. Jobbik was the only opposition party to prepare alternative draft wording, according to which a fourth-fifths parliamentary majority would be required to authorise the enactment of measures.
According to Dr. Simicskó this proposal is not realistic, because if the need arises immediate action must be taken. “Terrorists do not base their decisions on a ‘fourth-fifths’ vote”, the Minister said.
We must use all means in combating terrorism and bring Hungarian legislation into line with international practice
The Minister pointed out that, while preparing the Bill, the Government also reviewed the legislation of other NATO member states and neighbouring countries.
“Hungarian legislation must be brought into line with these, because currently we do not have enough room for manoeuvre in deploying the armed forces”, the Minister said, noting that thousands of troops were mobilised in France in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Dr. Simicskó pointed out that Hungarian soldiers are currently fighting terrorism from Afghanistan to Iraq, but they are not yet authorised to do so in Hungary. The Minister stated that no one could seriously believe that the Government is seeking some kind of absolute power, and would use Hungarian troops without good reason to attain this goal.
He stated that “at the same time, whenever a credible terrorist threat arises, we must use all available means”.
“We must use all means to combat terrorism”, the Minister stated, pointing out that those who think differently are putting Hungarians’ security at risk.
For this reason he said he hopes that Parliament will pass the Bill on declaring a state of emergency in the event of terrorist threats, so that the Government can safeguard Hungarians’ security by drawing on the widest possible range of resources – including the trained capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
Hungarian soldiers have honourably performed all their duties during the crisis caused by mass migration
In connection with this topic, Chief of Defence General Tibor Benkő told the press that last year Hungarian soldiers had carried out all their planned tasks – from the crisis caused by mass migration to dealing with the terrorist threat – “standing their ground with honour”. More than 7,000 troops participated in handling the crisis caused by mass migration in Hungary.
Furthermore, nearly 1,000 Hungarian troops served in foreign missions. General Benkő emphasised that the intention is to maintain the Hungarian Defence Forces’ planned level of 1,000 personnel deployed in foreign missions.
“Strengthening security in foreign countries also remains a priority, which will help to prevent emergence of a new wave of migrants”, General Benkő added.
2016 is the year of capability development in the Hungarian Defence Forces
At the press briefing held after the annual assessment and tasking conference of the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF), the Chief of Defence identified recruitment, retention and capability-building as the most important tasks for this year.
He said that specific projects include the setting up in March of a new military police organisation with national authority in the Petőfi Barracks, Budapest. Its scope will range from maintaining order in the military to monitoring compliance with transport regulations. General Benkő said that the leaders of the HDF had long been waiting for the establishment of this military police centre. The HDF will also be able to use this new capability at national and international levels.
The Chief of Defence told the press that this year soldiers will be assigned largely the same amount of tasks as last year, when they participated in some forty international, NATO, bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as around thirty national ones.
In his speech, the Chief of Defence also noted that although two Gripen fighter jets were lost during the year, in the last quarter of 2015 Hungarian troops fully performed air policing duties in the airspace of Hungary, Slovenia and also in the Baltic Air Policing mission. Last year pilots recorded the most flight hours so far, flying around 1,800 hours.
In answer to a related question from the press, Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó said that the replacement of both lost Gripens is expected to take place this year. One of them can be repaired, and negotiations on the replacement of the other have already started with the Swedish manufacturer.
The Special Forces Battalion continues operating as a regiment
Talking about the capability development projects of the Hungarian Defence Forces, General Benkő pointed out that the former Special Forces Battalion was reorganised as a regiment on 1 January, and that its manning level is set to around 1,200 men. In addition, it is intended to establish training units in ten garrisons to help launch the regional training of reservists.
In connection with this topic, Dr. Simicskó announced that he had appointed outgoing Deputy State Secretary for Public Relations at the Ministry of Defence Major General István Kun Szabó a ministerial commissioner, and had placed him in charge of developing the volunteer reserve system in the future.
The Minister also noted that in the future it is intended to strengthen relations between the Hungarian Defence Forces and Hungarian society and broaden their scope. As part of this plan, there is also a wish to reach out to young people through popularising sports, including those related to the military.
Dr. Simicskó said that, in addition to the above, in the future there is an intention to introduce a people-oriented approach into the Hungarian Defence Forces, including further salary increases, enhanced effectiveness of the career path and the goal of providing Hungarian soldiers with equipment meeting the standards of a 21st-century NATO member country.