Hungarian Defence Minister: army development is necessary also because of terrorism
EnglishRecent events in France and the terrorist attacks in Vienna on Monday night have shown that “there is cause for concern"; we need to be prepared so we can maintain peace, security and stability, Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benkő declared in a joint press conference with his Slovenian counterpart.
The minister said we cannot allow ourselves to live under threat of terror attacks and our children and grandchildren to grow up in an environment.
That is why Hungary has started to implement the Hungarian Armed Forces' defence and military development scheme. He also pointed out that each country, including Hungary, has to build up capacities that can guarantee peace and security for their citizens and that make them useful members of the collective defence system.
Tibor Benkő revealed that with its defence and military development programme Hungary is currently at the forefront of the region, and is happy to share its experience with partner countries, including Slovenia. He added that Slovenia had also begun its military development programme, and establishing cooperation between the countries’ military industries is part of this.
The minister said that he had an open, frank and comprehensive discussion with his Slovenian counterpart. The close cooperation between the two countries, which began 20 years ago, will now be extended to the development of the armed forces and the military industry.
It was also revealed that his Slovenian colleague invited him to visit the monument to the soldiers who fell in World War I together, before or after the Central European meeting of Defence Ministers scheduled for mid-December in Slovenia.
At the press conference the ministers were asked about the cooperation regarding the armed forces development, and whether Slovenia was planning to purchase armoured combat vehicles manufactured in Zalaegerszeg.
In his answer Tibor Benkő explained that the surrounding countries, including Slovenia and Croatia for example, have all launched significant military development programmes. In addition, neighbouring and also more distant countries will engage in replacement programmes for their old military equipment, so they believe that there will be a market for the Zalaegerszeg plant, which will manufacture Lynx, the latest type of combat vehicle; and they hope that Slovenia will be among these markets. He noted, however, that the first combat vehicles will roll off the assembly lines in 2023 at the earliest.
