“Peace must not only be achieved but be preserved even throughout decades”

The Chief of Defence was received with military honors at the UNFICYP Headquarters in Nicosia, where he held a discussion with UNFICYP Force Commander Major General Erdebenat Batsuuri. The two partners reviewed the situation in Cyprus, the conduct of operational tasks and the Hungarian personnel’s assumed role. Major General Batsuuri praised the Hungarian personnel’s professional preparedness and reliable task execution.

In what followed, General Böröndi met with Hungarian staff officers of the mission and Hungarian members of the Force Military Police Unit (FMPU) at a staff meeting. Major Tamás Fazekas, Senior National Representative of the Hungarian contingent informed the guest about the personnel’s task system and living circumstances, and the most important events of the past one year.

The Chief of Defence informed the Hungarian Blue Berets about the currently ongoing events and changes in Hungary. He thanked them for their dedicated and committed service under the aegis of the UN in the spirit of the already three decade-old tradition in the island country in the Mediterranean Sea.

Even today, Cyprus is a reminder of the fact that the Green Line of the UN Buffer Zone exists not only on the map but also in the people’s life. The presence of peacekeepers prevents this line from becoming a trench again – pointed out General Böröndi, who himself served in Cyprus in 1997-98. He added that Cyprus is proof that it is not enough to achieve peace one time, it also must be preserved even throughout decades.

After the commanders’ briefings and the answering of questions from the personnel, the Chief of Defence handed over Christmas presents put together on behalf of the Hungarian Defence Forces to the servicemembers serving in Cyprus. This gesture of personal attention is at once a symbolic message which shows well that with the Christmas season approaching, a tight-knit community cares about the Hungarian troops serving with this faraway mission.

Hungary has been participating in one of the oldest UN peacekeeping missions in Cyprus since 1993. The Hungarian personnel carry out staff officer and military policing tasks in the buffer zone, thereby contributing to the maintenance of the ceasefire in a region where the conflict is inactive, yet has not been resolved to the present day.