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PRESS ROOM
- 90 years of the Military Intelligence
- Entry restricted for……
- Wearing green barret for 90 years
- General cooperation agreement
- Ceremonial staff meeting on Augustus 20
- Annual Attaché Conference in 2008
- Ceremonial staff meeting on 21 May
- Ceremony in honour of 15 March
- Sixty years of SIGINT
- 2007 Attaché Conference
- Cooperation in Higher Education
- Márton Koncz-Prize
- Saint Márton Foundation
- Count András Hadik Sports Club
Ceremonial Staff Meeting
90th Anniversary of the Independent Hungarian Military Intelligence/Reconnaissance
Day of the Military Intelligence
On the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the birth of the Independent Hungarian Military Intelligence/Reconnaissance and of the Day of the Military Intelligence, a ceremonial meeting was held in the Stefánia Palace.
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Dr. Imre Szekeres; MoD State Secretary for Defense Policy József Bali; Chief MoD HDF Defense Staff Col. Gen. András Havril; Commander of the HDF Joint Command Lt. Gen. László Tömböl; as well as by the leaders from the partner national security services; furthermore by the retired officers from the Military Intelligence Office and its predecessor organizations.
During the ceremonial meeting several statements were made.
Statement of Defense Minister Dr. Imre Szekeres
After expressing his congratulations on this memorable occasion, he underlined that this year we can celebrate not only this 90th anniversary, but also the establishment of the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) and the River Fleet 160 years ago, the setting up of the Museum of Military History (also 90 years ago) and that of our Air Force 70 years ago, as well as the opening of the Ludovika Military Academy 200 years ago.
He also mentioned the remarkable day when four years ago we completed the “military change of system”. It was on 3 November 2004 that the last conscripted Hungarian soldier was discharged. The last four years have clearly proved that the creation of the volunteer armed forces was necessary and successful.
In his opinion, our military intelligence organization – although not pursuing visible and “spectacular activity” – yet it is one of the most important military services in peace and war alike. It requires high level reliability, commitment and actuality in order to meet the new challenges in the security and military fields. These qualities are indispensable, because the lack of appropriate intelligence information is impermissible and can lead to dangerous uncertainty.
The Military Intelligence Office’s (MIO’s) work is indispensable for the government and the military leadership. The collected information, the intelligence reports and assessments have significantly helped the state and military leadership in taking optimal decisions in daily and strategic issues alike.
He assured the participants that the military leadership’s main objective is to create such circumstances in which the Hungarian Defense Forces can meet all the newly emerged challenges in the anti-terrorist, peacekeeping and crisis management fields.
The latest structural modernization of our defense system has positively affected the HDF as a whole. The structural, command/control and training systems of our armed forces have been modified and adjusted to the new requirements. All the Gripen fighters have arrived in Hungary; we are to complete the building work in the Papa airfield to establish the base for the NATO Strategic Air-transport Capability; and we are modernizing our military vehicle park, communication and information systems.
Thanks – among others – to the abolition of the conscript system, the popular support to the HDF has remarkable increased. The fulfillment of our duties within the Alliance and our undertakings in international peace missions has greatly improved the HDF’s prestige. This year we have undertaken also new international tasks. As from September we took over the command of a KFOR battalion and that of the Kabul International Airport.
All these tasks can be successfully carried out only if the MIO personnel continue their intelligence/reconnaissance activity with the same commitment and sense of vocation, serving in the “first line”, as they have done until now.
The unfortunate, tragic incidents occurred in Afghanistan this year have once again highlighted the importance the military leadership attaches to military intelligence.
The state and military leadership has high confidence in our military intelligence officers and needs their contributions to its taking optimal decisions. This full confidence – according to our Minister – will certainly further increase the officers’ responsibility and enthusiasm, and prompt them to pursue their activity with the same devotion as has been the case before.
Last but not least, Defense Minister Dr. Imre Szekeres – on the occasion of the forthcoming Day of Military Intelligence to be held on 11 November – thanked the participants for their sense of vocation and devotion they had demonstrated during their professional activities, efficiently contributing to the preservation of Hungary’s security and making possible for the HDF to successfully fulfill the tasks undertaken within the Alliance.
Statement of MIO Deputy Director General, Major General Eng. András Tóth
He highlighted the importance for the MIO to commemorate the traditional military feasts, including the 90th anniversary of the setting up of our independent military intelligence. These 90 years represent a historically short period, which, however, embraced the lifetime of more generations, their efforts, failures and fist of all their successes.
On such occasions, it is nearly compulsory to cast an account about our overall activity, being in well aware of the fact that our future cannot exist without our past and present. Our past and present have been certainly embedded in the HDF, which is to celebrate the 160th anniversary of its existence.
Sharing his views with the participants, Maj. Gen. Tóth outlined that the collection of information on the real or assumed intentions of the enemy has always been an inseparable part of armed fighting. The outcome of any armed conflict has, to a large extent, always been determined by the quality of intelligence, since it is an important factor for the commanders in preparing and making operational decisions. Although military reconnaissance/intelligence cannot result victory alone, however, without it the victory cannot be achieved.
In ancient days, Christian soldiers invoked God and their Patron Saint. The Hungarian intelligence officers chose as their Patron Saint Márton Koncz, the legendary spotter operating during the Rákóczi War of Independence, who devotedly and persistently pursued his successful reconnaissance activity, being ready to undertake even martyrdom and die for the cause of the Hungarian freedom. His name has been enshrined in our memory by the Day of Military Intelligence and by the prize hallmarked with his name, awarded every year to those intelligence officers who achieve excellent results. Until now, this prize has been conferred to our14 colleagues.
In the Maj. General’s opinion, they truly deserve to be mentioned by names:
in 1996, Col. József Munkács, PhD and János Vajda, PhD
in 1997, Lt. József Rabata
in 1998, Brig. Gen. Tibor Kiss
in 1999, Lt. Gen. László Botz, PhD and Col. István Magyar, PhD
in 2000, Col. István Bokor
in 2001, Col. Eng. Géza Becski
in 2002, Col. András Tóth
in 2003, Col. Gyula Tiszai
in 2004, Lt. Gen. Ferenc Morber
in 2005, Brig. Gen. Eng. Károly Madarász
in 2006, Col. Eng. László Styéhlik
in 2007, Col. István Morvai.
Regarding their military and professional career, we hold them up as examples for our personnel.
After the Rákóczi War of Independence, there was no significant event from the military intelligence point of view. More exactly, no such intelligence feats were accomplished that were registered during the 1848/49 Revolution and Freedom Fight, although there must have been efficient intelligence activities, otherwise the Hungarian Home Defense Forces could not have achieved their famous victories.
However, in the World War I the feature of intelligence significantly changed. At that time, the intelligence/reconnaissance was institutionalized, which made it possible for the historiography to immortalize the intelligence-related developments. Thus, as from the World War I, these developments were systematically registered in the history books. In this regard, he analyzed two important periods in the history of intelligence.
The first began, when our country – as a member state of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy – came out of the war defeated, but with its regained independence. During the “Aster Revolution” a government was formed, which embarked on setting up the state administration. In November 1918 the MoD established the 1st (Intelligence) Department, with the leadership of a former Imperial and Royal Army officer, Major Döme Stojakovich (he was renamed later as Döme Sztójay). The MoD set up also the 8th (Military Policy) Department, which dealt with the assessment of all military political issues affecting our country and with the training and preparation of the future military representatives (attachés) abroad.
The establishment of the two organizations was instrumental in the history of intelligence, which meant the first step in rising at state level and institutionalizing our intelligence/reconnaissance. We consider these two departments as our predecessor organizations and we are commemorating now the 90th anniversary of their establishment.
Another important event – he mentioned within the first period – was in connection with the proclamation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, which set up an Intelligence Sub-department within the Red Army General Staff, and later the 2nd Directorate of the General Staff. There were intelligence groups operating at the army corps as well.
The second historically important period began with the change of system, more exactly with the proclamation of the Republic of Hungary on 23 October 1989. The social and political changes necessarily entailed also the reorganization of the Hungarian Defense Forces.
During this process, our office, the so-called General Staff’s 2nd Directorate was gradually restructured. Following the personal changes initiated on 1 October 1989, the HDF Commander set up the Military Intelligence Office. However, there were only transitory regulations, commands and orders that governed its activity.
The real and final change occurred only later, when the Hungarian Parliament regulated the activity of the national security services in the Law No. CXXV of 1995 on the national security services. This law pointed out that the Military Intelligence Office of the Republic of Hungary is a military national security service with national authority, subordinated to the government and financed by the state budget.
The Maj. General was pleased to state that during the last decade our office has successfully accomplished its tasks set forth in the above law.
It is but natural that after our joining the NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004, we have been continuously improving our capabilities in order to meet all the requirements set for us by the two organizations. In doing so, we have, on a number of occasions, obtained the appreciation of the Alliance for our successful contributions to joint NATO missions.
In our era, the nature and the conditions of intelligence activities have considerably changed. Today the main problem lies not in the lack of sufficient quantity of information. On the contrary, the abundance of information represents one of the major difficulties, which makes it a tall task to select and assess the really valuable data that are necessary for the decision-taking process. As regards the volume of news, the MIO cannot and does not wish to compete with the media.
Its task is to pass through a close-meshed sieve these data and maintain only those that are worth evaluating. The final conclusions cannot be put in the intelligence reports without first controlling and confronting them with the data collected by intelligence methods. All this means that we can make use of the media news, however the most dependable and valuable pieces of information can be obtain through human (HUMINT) or signal (SIGINT) intelligence.
The above law has determined completely new tasks for the MIO, which made it necessary to modernize its organization and activity as a whole. Such new tasks – going far beyond traditional military intelligence activities – are among others: fight against terrorism, against illegal arms transfer and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as against narcotics trafficking. Collection, assessment and reporting information on these new challenges can be considered as activities that directly contribute to the preservation of national security.
Without getting into detail, the speaker clearly explained that during the past 90 years the missions of the Hungarian military intelligence service have been undergoing continuous and sometimes overall changes. There was almost only one thing that has not changed, and that is the intelligence officers’ firm commitment to their homeland, based on their exemplary sense of vocation and responsibility. This was highly appreciated and acknowledged by the President of the Republic of Hungary when – five years ago – he awarded a flag to the MIO.
Maj. General Tóth expressed his gratitude to our predecessors and paid tribute to those who performed their duties with full devotion in this special military field. He thanked all the participants for their outstanding professional work and appreciated the support given to our office by the two social organizations: the Association of Intelligence Officers’ Non-profit Society, and the Saint Márton Together For Each Other Social Foundation.
On behalf of our personnel, he promised that the MIO will do its best also in the future to be able of meeting the high requirements set by the Nation, the Homeland, the People and the Life.
At the end of the ceremonial staff meeting, Defense Minister Dr. Imre Szekeres, Col. General András Havril and Lt. General Eng. Károly Madarász tendered recognitions and rewards.
It was Ret. Brig. General Zsigmond Tömösváry, the MIO’s Human Director who received the highest recognition, namely the Márton Koncz -Prize.
In conclusion, MIO Director General Lt. General Károly Madarász held a reception during which he expressed his gratitude for the presence of our Defense Minister and other high-ranking officials; moreover he congratulated those who received recognitions on their successful work.
On behalf of those who received recognition or reward, Brig. Gen. Tömösváry made a reply-statement.
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Synopsis of the article appeared in the Magyar Honvéd (the Hungarian Soldier) Magazine, on the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hungarian Military Intelligence/Reconnaissance
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The MIO’s predecessor, the 2nd Directorate – in accordance with a ministerial decision on the opening of an intelligence museum – began collecting professional exhibits in early 70s. It was decided that the museum would display materials only from the period between 1945 and 1975.
The exhibition opened in early April 1975 and it was enriched with new exhibits until 1990. At the time of the change of system, the Directorate had no financial resources for keeping open the museum. However, four years later it reopened under the guardianship of Bertalan Oszlánszky, a well-known veteran, who is presently an 86-year old retired captain.
1994 was a remarkable year, since it was at that time when the MIO leadership decided to exhibits also the relics and documents collected from 1918 (from the date of the establishment of the independent Hungarian military intelligence) to 1945. Today we can see about 60 huge tableaus with interesting photos, 50 small and 10 large glass-cases showing us the 90-year-old history of military intelligence. There are also material remains, operative and technical devices used in the strategic intelligence.
In addition to preserving the relics and memories, the museum plays on important role also in the education. The museum offers possibilities for the students and young officers (from the MIO, the National Defense University and other educational institutions) to familiarize with the past activity of our organization. The museum is strictly professional in nature, thus it is not open to the public.
Today, the exhibition basically embraces the period of 1918-2000, but it has been enriching also with the latest photos, documents and relics, thanks (among others) to the assistance provided by the Museum of Military History, with which the MIO – a short time ago – concluded a cooperation agreement.
It is a praiseworthy virtue of the MIO that it does not disown its politically “unpleasant” past. It does own up to those past activities (and persons), that politically and morally might be considered today rather repugnant, but professionally may be accepted or even praised.
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Wearing green barret for 90 years
11 November; the Day of Intelligence
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11 November is the Day of Saint Márton and the Day of Military Intelligence. This date is celebrated not only by the intelligence personnel serving at several units and headquarters, but also by the “Green Barrets”. |
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Saint Márton is the Patron Saint of the intelligence/reconnaissance soldiers. According to an old adage, the military intelligence has always been needed since the moment when our planet got under man’s rule. Some groups of people (already at the very beginning) often faced each other in some armed conflict. It is but natural that the outcome of their fighting was, to a large extent, influenced by the “quality” of their reconnaissance activities. |
From Saint Márton to Márton Koncz
In the course of the history, the reconnaissance solders received high recognition, thus they felt it necessary to choose a Patron Saint. They opted for Saint Márton, who was born in Pannonia and had a glorious military record. Within the Hungarian Defense Forces, the Day of Saint Márton has been celebrated for more than one and a half decade as the Day of Military Intelligence.
This day is hallmarked by the name and the prize of Márton Koncz, who was a legendary and successful military spotter during the Rákóczi War of Independence.
He offered the supreme sacrifice while performing his duties, undertaking even the martyrdom for the cause of the freedom fight, thus deserving the gratitude of the entire Hungarian nation. His memory is enshrined also by the Márton Koncz -Prize founded by the Hungarian Defense Minister in 1996 and awarded to the best intelligence officers. |
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Becoming independent
After the defeat of the Rákózci War of Independence, there were no such significant developments – for one and a half century – in the field of military intelligence that went down to posterity. However, (as Col. Imre Sallai, PhD from the MIO explained) this situation completely changed after the World War I, since the Hungarian military intelligence became independent during the “Aster Revolution” in October 1918. It was the merit of the Károlyi government that this independence could become a reality.
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In November 1918 the Hungarian MoD set up the 1st (Intelligence) Department under the leadership of Major Dőme Sztójay, whose family name later became Stojakovics. The MoD also established the 8th (Military Policy) Department led by the former Imperial and Royal Army military attaché General Gábor Tánczos. The department’s task was to assess all those military political issues that could affect the county’s security, as well as to train and prepare the military attachés for their mission.
Col. Imre Sallai outlined also those events that occurred in 1919, during the rule of the Hungarian Soviet Republic.
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The Soviet power set up its own army, including its intelligence organization; the 2nd Directorate. After overthrowing the 133-day old Soviet Republic, the victorious National Army reorganized the military intelligence. The new organization pursued its activity also as 2nd Directorate, but his official denomination was the Records Group, since the Trianon Peace Treaty prohibited Hungary (a losing country in the World War I) to operate its own General Staff, and so, its military intelligence. However, by 1927 the rigorous provisions of the Trianon Treaty became rather liberal and the 2nd Directorate could also officially continue its work.
Institution for the Blind and the Warsaw Pact
It can be stated that the above events represented the first phase in the history of our military intelligence. The second phase began with the World War II, during which Hungary was obliged to satisfy the German intelligence expectations and – unfortunately – to go to ruin with its losing allay. As a second-time-losing party, Hungary had to reorganize once again its military intelligence as a whole.
The reorganization process was very intensive and effective. As Col. Sallai styled, it was an irony of fate and characteristic of that time that the new military intelligence organization was established in the Institution for the Blind of Debrecen, (the town where the Provisional Government resided). Its denomination was Military Policy Department. The organization was under continuous changes and transformed later into Military Policy Directorate. On February 1949 the MoD set up, on the basis of the Directorate, the Military Counter-intelligence Main Directorate. By this move, the military intelligence organization became one of the directorates of the counter-intelligence.
In 1950 the organization became independent under the name of the MoD’s IVth Intelligence Directorate, which was reorganized in 1953 as the 2nd Directorate of the General Staff. This name proved to be rather “durable”, practically until the change of system.
Col. Sallai found it necessary to underline that the Soviet occupation did not influenced fundamentally the MIO’s professional work. However, the Soviet political surveillance (a Russian advisor) was present, and the Warsaw Pact’s – especially the Soviet Union’s – intelligence demands were “supposed to be fully satisfied”.
Professional “Change of System”
The professional “change of system” went off relatively without major hitch, however it represented a huge task, since the geopolitical and geo-strategic circumstances radically changed. This entailed the total reorganization of our defense system and this process was made even more difficult by the new challenges we faced at that time.
According to Human Director Brig. General Zsigmond Tömösváry (the newly awarded Márton Koncz -Prize winner), the most important event in the Hungarian military intelligence was the promulgation of the Law No. CXXV of 1995 on the national security services, in terms of which the Military Intelligence Office of the Republic of Hungary became a military national security service of national authority, subordinated directly to the government.
He emphasized that it was in 1995 when the two fields of intelligence/reconnaissance: the strategic military intelligence and the operational-tactical reconnaissance were divided. The latter went back to the subordination of the General Staff and its main task is to pursue reconnaissance activities for the several troops and military units.
The Brig. General confirmed that it is the above law that still governs the MIO’s activity also today. In virtue of the law, the MIO’s mission is to collect, analyze, assess and report (to the political and military leadership) such pieces of military-related information that are of foreign origin and may influence Hungary’s security. According to the law, the MIO should satisfy also the intelligence demands of the HDF General Staff for its military planning. It should also provide intelligence assistance in planning operational and tactical missions and training military personnel.
The Military Intelligence Office – whose members (“on paper”) belong to the HDF’s personnel – is directly subordinated to the Defense Minister. This is due to the provision of the Prime Minister, who has delegated his supervision responsibilities to the Defense Minister (in terms of the military services) and to a Minister Without Portfolio (as regards the civilian services).
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General cooperation agreement
On 26 August 2008, in the Nádor Hall of the MoD Institute and Museum of War History, Lieutenant General Eng. Károly Madarász, Director General of MIO and (Ret.) Lieutenant General Dr. József Holló, Director General of the MoD Institute and Museum of War History signed a framework cooperation agreement between the two organizations.
This agreement is firmly based on the decades-long cooperation between the Museum and the MIO, which has produced very valuable common results. The concrete aim is to institutionalize and continue helping the successful, coordinated activities of the two institutions and assisting the work of experts and researchers.
The cooperation encompasses: academic research in the field of military history, education and instruction, activities pursued by museologists and exhibition organizers, taking care of military cemeteries and providing assistance in preserving the Hungarian military relics.
In addition, the framework agreement promotes also the maintenance and development of bilateral and multilateral international relations in this special field.
Actuality
The actuality of this agreement is provided by the fact that both organizations celebrate this year a remarkable anniversary. Both the MoD Institute and Museum of War History and the Hungarian military intelligence were established 90 years ago. The timeliness is motivated also by the successful common work done by the two organizations during the last several decades.
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Ceremonial staff meeting on Augustus 20, in honor of the anniversary of the Hungarian Statehood
A ceremonial staff meeting was held on 20 August in the ceremonial hall of MIO, celebrating the anniversary of the Hungarian Statehood. After the MIO flag had marched in and the National Anthem had been sung, a speech was delivered.
Honored Ladies and Gentlemen!
Foundation of the state, canonization of Géza and Stephen, adoption of Christianity, Europism; all of them mean such notions that are strictly interwoven with 20 Augusts. It is obvious that the foundation of the Kingdom could not happen over a single day and cannot be attributed to a single person. The Hungarian people must have had a long way to go before the new state, Hungary, could appear and remain on the geographic and political map of Europe.
Yet, when we commemorate the foundation of our state, we have to mention two names; Géza and his son Vajk, who after the adoption of Christianity became known as Stephen and ever since has been revered and immortalized by that name as a historic figure.
The greatness of the father and his son can be attributed to their wisdom and sense of reality. Géza was able – just in time – to improve the relationship between the Hungarians and the Europeans. The common saying, proudly commemorated by us and dreadfully repeated by others at that time: “My God save us from the arrows of the Hungarians” may sound a nice legend, but the Hungarian people (by its pursuing raids and prowls) became a common enemy and induced the Europeans to unite their forces against us.
Géza realized that although all of the European rulers one by one were weak, but uniting their forces – on the basis of the progressively spreading and strengthening Christianity – could have been able of easily driving away the Hungarians from the Carpathian Basin.
He was willing to take also very unpopular measures aimed at gaining time for his successor Stephen. He paved the way for his son and our people towards Europe by choosing a foreign wife, adopting Christianity and pursuing bloody reprisal against those who put up resistance to the new order.
These were the basic pillars Stephen could begin to build on, after he had come into power. However, he immediately had to face and punish Koppány, the lord leading the resistance.
He did not hesitate for too long to make it clear to everybody that he was firmly resolved to create a Hungarian, Christian state. In support of his resolve, had the parts of Koppány’s body hung up on the gates of Veszprém, Győr and Esztergom, and sent some parts also to the Transylvanian Gyula.
He had to consolidate the secular and ecclesiastical power and governance. His most important result in religious field proved to be the adoption of the western type Christianity, the creation of a direct relationship with Rome, which practically guaranteed the sovereignty of our state. He managed to consolidate the secular power partly by editing a quite modern and far-sighting statute book, partly by increasing the role of central ruling.
We must not forget to mention that the notion extensively disseminated today; namely the military reform, could be associated on the first occasion in the Hungarian history with St. Stephen.
The Hungarians who abandoned leading a nomadic and roving way of life were not any more in need of a military force whose principal virtue was to successfully raid and plunder the western territories. The new state had to set up an army that was capable of defending the Hungarian people in a hostile security environment. The King’s authority was guaranteed – within the country and alongside its borders – by a system of fortified castles and (castle-) counties. It was this system that constituted the framework of the royal army. The wandering ex-fighters became castle-serfs and made up the main force within the army. Later, also the officer corps was selected from amongst them.
In the case of mobilization, in accordance with the King’s decree, each county was obliged to deploy a 400-strong light cavalry, which – taking into account the 45 counties – resulted a relatively big army consisting nearly of 20,000 soldiers. The new military force stood successfully its immediate and significant tests. In 1030, Stephen gained glorious victory over the troops of the German Emperor Conrad the II and suppressed also the revolt led by Koppány and Ajtony. (It is curious that the contemporary historiography did not put down Stephen’s lost battles.)
His son, crown prince Imre elaborated the basic principles of wise governance, formulated in his “Warnings”. His ideas therein were surprisingly up-to-date and (partially) have remained so also today.
Stephen’s laws and advices have been serving for centuries as a basis of reference also after his death. Our Great King, who was canonized in 1083 by the Christian Church, set – in advance and for a long period of time – the place and course of the Hungarian state, in its narrower and wider environment alike. It was his intellectuality that fundamentally determined not only the Hungarian military vocation, but also our history as a whole.
Honored Ladies and Gentlemen!
The most important lesson we can draw from St. Stephen’s activity and legacy is that in order to create a new and viable system, we have to take a set of bold, difficult and occasionally painful decisions, the real rightness of which can be judged only in the future. He could not be fully aware of the long-term consequences of his decisions and the concrete future of our country, however he was firmly convinced that he led his people in the right direction. His purpose was quite clear and he knew: those who wanted to survive in the continuously changing environment had to change their attitude and adapt themselves to the new conditions.
For a millennium, we have never ceased to pay a devoted tribute to our great, state-builder sovereign. Our first king fully merited becoming an idol thanks to his eternal work; the creation of our country, the Hungarian State. On this special day, when we are proudly looking back on our past, let’s gather further strength from the glorious deeds of St. Stephen in order to have a strong spiritual force in shaping a better future for our country.
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Annual Attaché Conference in 2008
In accordance with the yearly plan prepared by the MIO of the Republic of Hungary, a military attaché conference was held on 1-2 July 2008, which constitutes one of the most important events of our military diplomacy.
During the two-day program, after the opening statement delivered by Lieutenant General Eng. Károly Madarász, General Director of MIO, our Defense Minister Dr. Imre Szekeres made an assessment on the present state of affairs.
Defense Minister Dr. Szekeres emphasized at the annual attaché conference (held in Budapest) that a significant majority of the Hungarians supports the foreign commitments undertaken by the Hungarian Defense Forces (e.g. the mission in Afghanistan). This clearly indicates that the Hungarian society is ready to follow a new, constructive way of thinking in connection with security and peace-related issues.
Our Defense Minister – making reference to a Szonda Ipsos poll – underlined that 69% of our citizens support the active participation of Hungary in NATO peace missions, while 64% of them support the Alliance as well, since they are of the opinion that our membership therein strengthens the security of our country.
Paying homage to the recently died explosives expert, the Minister explained: “Although our citizens are fully aware of the risk we take by participating in peacekeeping operations, the majority of them is in agreement with the continuation of our military missions”.
Interviewing a number of Hungarians, 75% of them answered to have heard about our mission in Afghanistan, but as regards our Kosovo and Bosnian activity only 55% and 47% (respectively) answered in the affirmative.
Dr. Szekeres confirmed that the Hungarian Defense Forces play an important role in helping to shape our foreign policy; therefore he considers it as a key-issue for the public opinion to accept, understand and appreciate our efforts made in Afghanistan.
In his assessment, social acceptance of our military is very good, which is proved also by the above poll made in May with the involvement of 3,000 citizens. The poll has indicated among others that the most popular organizations are: the Fire Department, the Disaster Management Organization (80-80%) and the Hungarian Armed Forces (66%).
He touched upon (referring probably to the contentious issue of building a radar station near Pécs) also the control of our air space, which was evaluated by the interviewed people as one of the most important military tasks. Therefore, it would be wise on the part of those who would like to prevent – for the sake of their local interests – the establishment of a nation-wide air defense system to reconsider their parochial position.
Saying a few words about the NATO air base established in Pápa, he expressed his hope that it would become possible for the fist C-17 military transport aircraft to land on the base in November. He added that he would be honored to receive the first air delivery together with the NATO Secretary General.
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Ceremonial staff meeting on 21 May, in honor of the 160th anniversary of the birth of the Hungarian Defense Forces
On the Day of the Hungarian Home Defense, a festive staff meeting was held in the ceremonial hall of the Military Intelligence Office (MIO) of the Republic of Hungary. After the MIO flag had marched in and the National Anthem had been sung, a festive speech was delivered.
It is the 17th occasion that we commemorate the Day of the Hungarian Home Defense. This day we immerse in our thoughts; we pay homage to the memory of our ancestors who heroically defended our Fatherland. We recall 21 May 1848, when the nearly one-year-old Defense Forces reoccupied the Castle of Buda – the ancient center of Hungary – from the occupying Austrian imperial troops. This glorious deed of valor did not mean only one of the greatest military victories of the Hungarian independence war, but it offered an excellent occasion for the Hungarian army to enforce our Declaration of Independence adopted and declared by the National Assembly in April 1849.
Thanks to the unique coincidence of historic events, we are gratified to have the opportunity to commemorate on this very day the 160th anniversary of the birth of our independent, regular Defense Forces.
It was in the spring of 1848 when one of the most glorious chapters in the Hungarian history began. The 15 March revolution broken out in Pest swept throughout the country as a tornado and immediately triggered the counter-attack of the Habsburg-dynasty that had been ruling the country for more than three centuries.
The first independent Hungarian government headed by Lajos Batthyány did not dispose with an appropriate army to defend the revolutionary achievements, since the military units stationing in Hungary were commanded from Vienna. Therefore, the Council of Ministers decided to set up a 10 thousand-strong National Guard. The ten battalions were recruited at a very quick pace and they were fully replenished and equipped (with the help of the treasury) within two months. These military formations were the first to be referred to as “Honvéd Battalions”. The Prime Minister made tremendous efforts to help establishing newer and newer battalions “whose commanding language, flag, uniform and insignia were true Hungarian”.
The Prime Minister and his government resigned on 8 October 1848. Subsequently, it was the National Defense Council that performed the government’s duties, with the chairmanship of Lajos Kossuth. The setting up of the army continued and its high commanders were right when they stated; “Each unit of our Defense Forces has taken oath on the constitution and – by virtue of the law – is wearing our national colors. Thereby, the difference between the old regular regiments and the newly set up battalions has ceased to exist; the Hungarian army is completely homogenous and all of its formations are entitled to wear the glorious denomination: Hungarian Defense Forces”.
What happened at that time had been completely unprecedented in the Hungarian history. Earlier – during several centuries – there had been only some banderiums of the nobility or ad-hock insurgent groups that were brave enough to face the aggressors or invaders. Although during the Rákóczi-war of independence there appeared some organized military formations, but they consisted mostly of noblemen.
It was the first occasion that the Hungarian political leadership officially set up national formations – the battalions of the National Guard – in a planned and centrally coordinated manner, and purposefully recruited its personnel for home defense. Thereby, we have been commemorating this army for a decade as the legal predecessor of the present Hungarian Defense Forces. (We had the opportunity only in 1998 – in relation with the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Hungarian Defense Forces – to consider all of the military formations set up since 1848 as our legal predecessors.)
After the initial military successes – although the flag of the Hungarian independence were still hoisted – the imperial troops became ever stronger and forged ahead endangering our hard-won victory and achievements, which were instrumental in our future national progress.
Although there were some battles fought with varying success, Lieutenant General Jellashich inflicted a heavy defeat on the Hungarian corps of General Mór Perczel in the vicinity of Mór settlement. Therefore, it became impossible for the Commander-in-Chief Artúr Görgei to hold up the main grouping of the imperial and royal troops before they could reach the capital.
Subsequently, there were several months, when it was quite uncertain: whether Hungary (and its army) was able to preserve its independence, whether it had the strength to resist or it was doomed to be crumbled under the first strikes.
On 02 January in Buda-Pest, the War Council took a very difficult decision. There loomed no hope for our troops to resist to the Austrian numerical superiority and defend the capital, thus they were forced to withdraw.
Nevertheless, Lajos Kossuth and his ministers were optimistic and well aware of the fact that until the Hungarian legislative power existed they had the possibility to win and avoid the final defeat.
It was in this spirit that the Hungarian Defense Forces could enjoy their first victories. The number one at that time in our country; Kossuth had the pleasure to closely monitor the victorious battles. He was of the opinion that the spring-victories enabled the Hungarian deputies to give a worthy response to the “Olmutz Constitution” issued by the Austrian Emperor on 04 March 1849. Thus, he decided that – after his return to Debrecen – he would initiate the dethronement of the House of Habsburg and declare the country’s independence.
On 14 April 1849, all of the deputies – gathered in the Debrecen chamber – went over to the Grand Church, where Kossuth, as a deputy and Chairman of the National Defense Committee made the first statement.
He set out in detail (and at great length) the Hungarian military achievements and read out his motion on the declaration of Hungary’s independence. He proposed to the deputies to declare that Hungary was independent, ready to cooperate with the national minorities and the neighboring states; to renew (in a constitutional way) the political system so as to be supervised by the National Assembly and a responsible government. He sharply condemned not only the offences and crimes of the Habsburg dynasty, but all efforts aimed at realizing dictatorial ambitions.
Pending the constitutional settlement of the country’s affairs, the deputies elected Kossuth Governor of Hungary. It was the Hungarian military successes that made it possible for the deputies to take such historic resolutions. However, their implementation made it imperative for the country to expel the arrogant, hostile imperial forces from the capital, where they had been stationing for decades.
In April 1949, our main forces – after the successful battle of Isaszeg – marched toward Komárom. On 26 April they managed to liberate the city from the besieging imperial troops.
Based on this victory, the political and military leaders of the Hungarian war of independence set the objective – after heated debates – to reoccupy Buda, to where the Hungarian units forced back the major imperial forces during the spring-campaign. This objective was in full harmony with the public opinion’s expectation, since the liberated capital represented the symbol of the county’s sovereignty. The attack held out the hope of a prompt and spectacular victory, which could offer possibility for our army to have a rest and recruit additional soldiers. Thus, most of the soldiers from the Upper-Danube Corps left Komárom and began to move towards Buda on 29 April 1949.
They reached the capital on 04 May. Their number – together with the soldiers of the Aulich-Corps, who had joined earlier – was nearly 31,000. On the same day, the division of General György Kmetty launched an assault against the entrenchments of the castle’s drinking water system. However, the assault failed and entailed the death of 200 Hungarian soldiers. Also our artillery that tried to shell the fortress from the Sváb and Nyárs mountains proved to be unsuccessful. The field guns of small caliber were unable to cause serious damage to the wall. It became obvious that our military leaders had underestimated the defenders’ capabilities. Thus, it was necessary for them to make preparations for a traditional siege.
The Commander-in-Chief had five siege-guns brought (with the necessary shells). After their arrival, on 12 May, a systematic siege began. The commanders determined those sections of the wall that seemed to be easy to break through. Lieutenant Colonel Móric Psotta, Artillery Commander of the Army ordered the preparation of emplacements for the batteries that had the tasks to make breaches in the wall and for the so-called disarming guns, which provided cover for the batteries. He got the soldiers to dig safe emplacements also for the field guns, meanwhile they, from time to time, shelled the fortress in order to divert the defenders’ attention. That was the aim also of the phony infantry attacks.
In response, General Hentzi Heinrich, Commander of the Castle-Garrison began to have Pest shelled without mercy with their heavy-guns, which practically razed to the ground the architectural pride of the reform era, the famous row of houses alongside the Danube. The brutal shelling was militarily completely unjustified and senseless.
In the morning of 16 May, also the Hungarian guns began to rumble. They were shelling the walls throughout the day, and they broke large holes in the western and southwestern parts of the wall, near the Fejérvári gate. By 17 May morning, the First and the Third Corps, as well as the division of General Kmetty launched a general assault, but the soldiers were unable to penetrate in the castle, because the holes were too high up in the wall. The heavy batteries continued their shelling.
The decisive assault began at early dawn of 21 May. Even the high walls and bastions, the strong Austrian resistance could not stop the sweeping storm of the Hungarians, who dropped back by dozens from the scaling ladders and the walls, but there were continuously other soldiers who took their place. It was Grácián Püspöky, flag-bearer of the 47th Battalion who hoisted the first flag of the Hungarian Defense Forces.
The assault lasting for hours finally came to an end and resulted in Hungarian victory. All the members of the garrison were captured or eliminated, also General Hentzi was fatally injured.
By recapturing Buda, the Hungarian war of independence reached the highest point of its history. The Defense Forces celebrated their first birthday with a brilliant, unprecedented triumph. The castle’s reoccupation demonstrated that the Hungarian forces were able to enforce the Declaration of Independence! It also proved that our troops were capable to defend the newly gained independence even against the strong regular force of the Habsburg Empire.
The following quotation of Sándor Petőfi is from one of his poems – the “Honvéd”written in early June 1949 – that glorifies the patriotism and heroism of our soldiers, on the occasion of the reoccupation of Buda:
“Honvéd is the name of our soldier,
Which sounds progressively nicer,
He defends our beloved country,
His name comes second to Almighty,
To deserve this name I’ll do my best,
My heart does not allow me any rest.
Oh my dear Homeland!
I’ll spare no effort for your salvation,
For your enemy’s elimination.”
We are well aware that it is our reverential, human duty to pay tribute to the memory of our heroes who defended the Homeland. In that spirit, we commemorate the siege and the recapture of Buda Castle, the spring-military campaign, the events occurred during the 1948-49-revolution and the war of independence.
This celebration offers a brilliant opportunity for us to cast a glance into the future, to come to a halt and examine; what we have done and why, where we are going to, which way we have to choose. We are also obliged to give account of our results to the Hungarian society, of which we are an integral part, since there is no army and home defense without a firm social will and support.
On this day of 21 May 2008, we can proudly state that the Republic of Hungary is a sovereign state, founded on the rule of law, a member of NATO and EU.
We can be proud also of the fact that our armed forces have already successfully switched over to a voluntary organizational system and have begun to strengthen, at an appropriate pace, the professional feature of our army.
Our country’s defense is based on two main pillars: self-defense and cooperation within the Alliance. The actual military use of our Defense Forces for crisis prevention and management is the last-resort weapon in the defense policy arsenal of the Republic of Hungary. Our country has undertaken active role in NATO-led missions, among others, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. The NATO countries – including Hungary – are already capable to enforce their long-term interests even in those areas that are situated in a distance of several thousand kilometers from their borders.
We must not leave out of consideration the new challenges that threaten the world as a whole. Today, in the third millennium, the greatest threat is represented by the international terrorism. Consequently, also our defensive potential has to be developed to such a degree that makes it possible for us to face this transnational threat.
We are well aware that the fight against terrorism requires not only military force, but also a new civil-military strategy and cooperation, which provides an appropriate framework for successful anti-terrorist actions.
It is our firm belief that we are prepared to defend the sovereignty of Hungary and its historical achievements. All of us serving in the Military Intelligence Office are firmly resolved to perform devotedly and successfully our duties, thus contributing to ensure that Hungary is a dependable and stable ally of the NATO and EU countries. We are convinced that our country will do its best to remain a faithful ally also in the future.
We certainly draw strength from this commemoration to meet our commitments within the Alliance and the amounting security challenges of our era.
After the festive statement, a number of officers and employees have received recognition.
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Ceremony in honour of 15 March
On the occasion of our National Holiday of 15 March, a ceremony was held in the ceremonial hall of the Military Intelligence Office of the Republic of Hungary. After the MIO’s flag had marched in and the National Anthem had been sung, a speech was delivered.
It was 160 years ago, in January 1848 that new winds began blowing all over Europe. The champions of freedom, the oppressed and the young people set fire to the revolution in Paris, Milan, Palermo, Naples and Rome. Thus, the revolutionary hope had already been enshrined in the hearts of the Hungarian reformers, and it was further strengthened by the news about the Vienna revolution.
Mihály Vörösmarty (a Hungarian poet) had published already in 1825 his noble thoughts in his epic, “The Flight of Zalan:”
“Where are you, glory of old? Lost deep in the night of the shadows?
Eons have passed, and beneath you, the ominous depths of the darkness
loom as you wander”.
On 15 March 1848, about at 8,30 a small group of young people came out of the Pilvax coffeehouse and left, in a great hurry and in disordered ranks, for the nearby university. Cold, snowy wind struck their cheeks.
How many young people were there? Forty? Forty-eight? We do not really know it. But it is certain that their number was insignificant compared to the several hundred thousands inhabitants of the town. A handful of unarmed men stood against 7,000 imperial soldiers and before the cannons of the Buda-Castle.
They proceeded in narrow, slushy streets; pushcarts and carriages got out their way. They were not shouting or singing and did not keep step, yet where they passed the windows opened. The shopkeepers waved their hands from their shop doors and the people in the street seemed to be amazed. Here and there somebody stepped down the pavement and joined the procession.
At the head of the increasing group there was a lanky, brown-faced young man with a severe look, Sándor Petőfi. He was in a hurry to find the university students and call upon them to join, in order to help the group in inspiring the thousands of people in Pest to conquer freedom or die for it.
In the yard of the medical university, the great writer, Mór Jókai read the Manifesto out and Sándor Petőfi recited the National Song. A contemporary eyewitness wrote about the event as follows:
“From there, the crowd (that progressively increased in number and enthusiasm) marched to the engineers, then to the seminary of the jurists. In the seminar’s hall there appeared before them a professor and said: Gentlemen, on behalf of the law….., but he could not complete his sentence; his words were swallowed up by the thundering shouts of the multitude. He quickly packed off.”
Then the jurist students rushed out to the street to join the crowd. The Manifesto, the 12 Points and the National Song resounded again……
“For up till now we lived like slaves,
Damned lie our forefathers in their graves-
They who lived and died in freedom
Cannot rest in dusts of thralldom.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee-that slaves we shall no longer be”!
“The crowd in the square accepted and echoed with fantastic enthusiasm – on every occasion – the refrain: We swear Thee”, Petőfi noted in his diary.
Then, Sándor Petőfi, Pál Vasvári, József Irinyi and Mór Jókai, at the head of hundreds of university students, left this square for the printing house of Landerer and Heckenast.
When they arrived in Buda, the dignitaries of the Council of Governor-General – who knew everything about the youth’s agitations from the repeated reports of their spies – were deliberating in a very alarmed manner. Count Ferenc Zichy opposed the plan “to capture immediately Petőfi and his followers by armed force, since – he said – the troops stationing in Pest-Buda are not strong enough to do so”.
In the morning, at the County Hall, nearby the Pilvax, Sub-Prefect Pál Nyári was only shrugging his shoulders, while he was listening to the reports on the agitating group.
He said: “It is only a kid’s staff. It will be shortly rained out.”
However, at 11 o’clock, when he got the news about a thousand-strong crowd standing in front of the printing house, he became rather gloomy.
The revolutionary youth seized the press on behalf of the people. They began printing the 12 Points and the poem of Petőfi, the National Song. The completed papers “were distributed in thousand copies among the citizens who were nearly mad with joy to snatch them.”
Until the moment when the printing-machines began pouring out the 12 Points and Petőfi’s poem, it had been the unarmed university students to play a vanguard role. However, after the press had been liberated and the printed papers had flooded the streets, the inhabitants of Pest took the cause of the revolution in their hands. Thus, the young people mingled with the crowd.
Petőfi and his friends announced to the crowd that they were planning a rally for three o’clock in the square of the National Museum. After the announcement, the participants left to transmit to the people the news about the press’s liberation and disseminate the revolutionary leaflets.
In the afternoon, at the Museum, there was a ten thousand-strong gathering of apprentices, peasants, agronomists and country noblemen listening to the orators. Later, the crowd “subjugated” the Town Hall, where the mayor signed the 12 Points and showed it up to the multitude.
After a few ours, already 20,000 demonstrators passed through the pontoon bridge towards the Castle with the intention to impose their will on the Council of Governor General and open the gate of the prison where Táncsics – the apostle of the abolition of serfdom – was detained.
Petőfi recorded this event as follows:
“The Right Honorable Council of Governor General deigned to turn quite pale and tremble, and after five minutes’ consultation agreed to everything. The military were ordered to remain idle, the censorship was abolished, and the jail gate of Táncsics opened”…..
In the evening, the town was ablaze with lights, as if it were illuminated by the shine of progress. The demonstrators interrupted the performance of Bánk Bán at the National Theatre, where they immediately sang the Anthem and the Appeal (second national anthem). In the chamber of the Town Hall, the Committee of Public Courage – the leading body of the revolution – began its work and proposed the establishment of a National Guard.
We can certainly commemorate 15 March – this shining historic day – as the brightest day of the Hungarian history, which represented at that time the only peaceful, bloodless uprising in Europe.
The following day Petőfi wrote his poem, “To the Freedom”:
“Oh Freedom, let’s look into your eyes,
We waited for you so many times,
Like ghosts during long nights,
Our souls wandered as some lights”.
The revolutionary events 160 years ago in Pest, and later throughout Hungary, have been imprinted with golden letters on the shining pages of the Hungarian history.
Although the War of Independence (following the revolution) was suppressed by the European rulers through their joint efforts, the feudalism could no longer been restored in Hungary. The country began proceeding, once and for all, towards progress.
Let’s proudly pin on our tricolor cockade and remember gratefully our heroes of the revolution and freedom fight, who started their way in the Pest streets with the happy and optimistic intention to attain the Hungarian freedom with a single revolutionary impetus and open the way towards national independence and civil development.
After the ceremonial speech, recognitions were handed over.
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Ceremony held on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of SIGINT
In our globalized world characterized by the information revolution, intelligence has become an indispensable element of the security of each state. In the era of asymmetric threats, our intelligence officers’ work is aimed at clarifying: who when and how can endanger our country. SIGINT is an important part of this work. It was emphasized among others also by our Minister of Defense Dr Imre Szekeres at the ceremony of the MIO, held on the occasion of the Day of Intelligence and the 60th anniversary of SIGINT in the Stefánia-Palace (Military Officer Club).
Addressing the intelligence officers, the Minister noted: “the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF), having been pursuing their activities as voluntary forces for three years, have become by today a professional military organization”. They had to adapt themselves to new threats and risks, as well as become capable of meeting these new challenges. One of the means for them to do so is their effective preparation for the prevention of any hostile acts. In their preparation they are efficiently supported by continuous information collection; thanks to your successful work”.
The leader of the defense portfolio – besides other recognitions – tendered the letter of appointment to Ret. Brigadier General Tibor Kiss, ex- Deputy Director General of MIO, presently Director of Main Department at the Special Service for National Security, who was promoted as from 11 November to Major General by the President of the Republic of Hungary. This year the high professional recognition; the Koncz Márton-Prize was awarded to Senior Counselor István Morvai, Head of Main Department.
SIGINT Director Colonel Eng. Antal Seres reviewed in his festive speech the events of the last 60 years of SIGINT and revived the most important stages in the development of the military intelligence during the last decades. He commemorated among others the patron saint of intelligence Saint Márton, Bishop of Tours town, and the emblematic personality of the water miller Márton Koncz, who collected important information on enemy maneuvers for the Commander-in-Chief of the Kuruc troops during the Rákoczi Freedom fights, Count Miklós Bercsényi.
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As contained in the yearly plan of the MIO, on 3-5 July an Attaché Conference was held, which is one of the most significant events in the field of military diplomacy.
During the three-day program – after the opening statement of Acting Director General Eng. Major General Károly Madarász – the participants could hear the situation assessment of Defense Minister Dr Imre Szekeres, among others, on the state of the HDF’s reform and his expectations with regard to the military diplomatic work. Later on, the Director of Human Resources made it known the decree of the Prime Minister of Republic of Hungary on the appointment (as from 1 July) of Károly Madarász to Director General of MIO, and the order of the President of Republic of Hungary on his promotion to Lieutenant General. After that, leading officials from the MoD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered some presentations on their special field. Also the First Assistant Chief of MoD HDF Defense Staff, Lieutenant General János Mikita made a statement on the HDF’s international missions.
The participant – behind closed doors – deliberated the actual tasks, issues and requirements, as well as the method of fulfilling their tasks in the field of military diplomacy.
Presently there are Hungarian Attaché Offices on four continents, altogether in 24 capitals (Africa – 1; America – 1; Asia –3; Europe – 19). Our two “regional attaches”, who maintain military diplomatic relations from Budapest, are accredited in 7 countries, and ten of our attaches serving abroad are accredited altogether in 13 countries. That means that we have military diplomatic relation with 44 MoDs.
In our Attaché Offices there are 24 attaches, 6 assistant-attaches and 1 secretary-assistant. Together with the 2 home-based attaches, we have 33 officers working in the field of military diplomacy.
One of the central elements of the MIO’s medium-term plan continues to be the identification and application of cost-effective solutions in the management of attaché offices, while the professional quality and effectiveness of the attaché work should remain at high level. The Hungarian defense- and air attaches pursue their responsible activity and fulfill their task independently, but as integral parts of the Hungarian foreign representations, with full respect for the provisions set forth in the international Convention on diplomatic relations, signed in Vienna on 18 April 1961. They operate under the general diplomatic guidance of the ambassadors, however they enjoy independent sphere of authority in their professional work, on which they have to report regularly in a predetermined way. Within the framework of the Vienna Convention, the attaches can make use of all legal methods to gather information and report on the situation and developments of the host county’s armed forces.
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Cooperation in Higher Education
On 27 March, a framework agreement on educational cooperation was signed by Major General Eng. Károly Madarász, Acting Director General of MIO, Rector Dr. h.c. Péter Szabó (PhD) from the Kodolányi János University College of Székesfehervár (KJUC). By this ceremonial act, the former educational-academic cooperation between the two organizations has been institutionalized. Originally this fruitful cooperation started with the request made by the KJUC in 2005 towards the MIO to hold a series of lectures on the Balkans, for the courses attended by the undergraduates of the university’s “International Relations” faculty. Later, the lectures were extended also over the subject of “China in the 21st century”.
The two parties have undertaken in the agreement to cooperate in the fields of education, research and academic activities; furthermore to jointly ensure the necessary material, financial and personal resources in order to help each other in educating high level experts in the fields of international studies, social science, informatics and communications.
To this end, they mutually assist each other in providing possibilities for professors, researchers, experts, lecturers, PhD-candidates to pursue educational, research and publication activities.
The official conclusion of this agreement represented an important event of the civilian-military cooperation in higher education. It was the first occasion for the MIO to conclude such an agreement with a civilian organization. The basic conditions to do so were practically available, thanks to the similarities of the two organizations. Both require – for the implementation of their special tasks – highly educated professionals, who speak several languages, perform their work at an elevated and scientifically founded level. All this calls for an effective and successful education, as well as an appropriate openness and willingness to exploit cooperation possibilities.
The KJUC is one of the highest-ranking – community-financed – colleges that has been until now the first and unique institution winning the Prize of Excellence awarded by the European Organization fro Quality, and subsequently the Quality Prize for electronic distant teaching from the Hungarian National Committee for EOQ.
The cooperation between the two organizations facilitates the successful and excellent execution of the professional tasks, promotes the cause of higher education and scientific research, and thus contributes to the effective practical application of the scientific results. In addition, as the two parties hope, it helps improving their social acceptance and prestige as well as exploring new, unexploited areas in their human resource-management.
Budapest, 27 March 2007.
Dr Colonel Lajos Rácz
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Márton Koncz-Prize
On 11 October 1996, the Minister of Defense amended the ministerial decree no.21/1992 on the recognition of merits related to service activities. With the amendment a new form of recognition, the Márton Konz-Prize was founded for those who have made an especially excellent work within the MIO.
The rewarded person is entitled to wear the title of “Márton Koncz-Prize winner” and the relevant pin. The founder determined the concomitant sum as 20% of the reward received by a Kossuth-Prize winner. The title is given every year on 11 November, on the occasion of the Day of the Intelligence.
Márton Koncz’s course of life:
During the Rakoczi Freedom Fight, he collected information on enemy maneuvers for Count Bercsényi, Commander-in-Chief of the Kuruc troops. As a very simple man, he served the cause of independence without any recompense, guided merely by his patriotism. Who was Márton Koncz? War history studies write about him only a few articles. His activity can be followed only in the correspondences of Miklos Bercsényi. From his letters we can learn that Koncz was a middle-aged, quite weakling man in poor health. As regards his job, he worked as a water-miller, who knew very well the territory of “Csallóköz” (an area situated north of the river Danube) and the border area. His date of birth is unknown. He joined the Kuruc Army in the summer of 1704. As a man who new in detail the Bible, he used often symbolical religious expressions in his letters and reports. While writing about the completeness of times, he predicted – wrapped in mysterious symbols – the Hungarians’ victory.
At the beginning, the Commander-in-Chief of the Kuruc Army received Koncz with serious reservations. However, later he befriended more and more, and from the autumn of 1704 he mentioned his spotter in his letters and reports submitted to Rákóczi as Márton or “M”. The confidence between the aristocrat and the man of humble origin increased in such a manner that Koncz gained free access to the aristocrat’s tend, he was allowed to ride together with him and could attend the meetings of the war council, where he had a say in military matters. His insight and sober judgments was demonstrated by his warning, when – before the Nagyszombat battle – he called Rákóczi’s attention to the risk that the German mercenaries were about to change sides. (Unfortunately, the Prince on that occasion neglected his warning.)
After the lost battle, he remained in the background for a long time, but continued his reconnaissance activity. He happened to be arrested by imperial soldiers in the area of Bruck, transported to Pozsony and tried by court-martial. Count Bercsényi contacted the high public officials loyal to the Emperor in order to offer an exchange of war prisoners. However his intervention failed. In August 1705, the imperial martial court – in accordance with the martial law – charged him with high treason and condemned to death.
REWARDED BY MÁRTON KONCZ-PRIZE
Colonel József Munkácsi (PhD) 1996, Colonel János Vajda (PhD) 1996, Lieutenant József Rabata 1997, Brigadier General Tibor Kiss 1998, Colonel István Bokor 2000, Colonel Gyula Tiszai 2001, Colonel Eng. Géza Becski 2002, Ret. Colonel András Tóth 2003, Ret. Lieutenant General Ferenc Morber 2004, Brigadier General Eng. Madarász Károly 2005, Colonel Eng. László Sztyéhlik 2006, Ret. Colonel István Morvai 2007.
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Saint Márton Together For Each Other Social Foundation
The Saint Márton Together For Each Other Social Foundation began its activity on 28 November 1995. At its regular meeting held on 15 December 2005, Chief Warrant Officer Lászlo Papp, Chairman of the Foundation reviewed the work done in the last 10 years. We would like to publish below his presentation in a shortened, edited form.
It was ten years ago, on 28 November 1995 that the Metropolitan Court registered our foundation, thus we were able to begin our work. The round jubilee offers an excellent opportunity for us to review and summarize the criteria and experiences that characterized our activity during the last ten years.
We can state with easy conscience that our work has always been in harmony with the objectives set forth by the founders in the Deed of Foundation. At the same time, our activity has always been well embedded in the welfare policy system. It contributed, in a special way, to improving the social situation of the aided persons and families.
In the last decade – keeping prominently in mind those who were really in urgent need of help – our foundation has continuously assisted our colleagues working at the MIO, who have a large family or bring up their children alone, or have only one or two children, but – due to some unexpected misshapen – got in trouble, or retired a long time ago and thus receive extremely low pension.
Our foundation has always had at its disposal – throughout the ten years – all the necessary personal and material resources that ensured the successful implementation of the objectives set by the founders. The Trusteeship Committee (whose composition reflects the structure of MIO) has been performing its function in full accordance with the provisions set forth in the foundation’s Organizational and Functional Statutes, making a good use of the foundation’s assets, taking quarterly decisions over the submitted applications. The trustees perform their activity voluntarily and without any recompense.
The Director General has made his best to help ensure for us all the necessary material conditions. The provisions set forth in the cooperation agreement that we concluded with him have been fully implemented in the last years. In addition, he made a completely new initiative, according to which the MIO leaders – as private persons – in 2005 donated considerable sums to the foundation. It was certainly a noble, generous gesture, thanks for that.
Our foundation functions on the basis of the laws and regulations governing the activity of non-profit organizations. Accordingly, we have registered all the documents on our expenditures and aids provided to our colleagues who are in need, after we judged their applications. For the official accounting policy to be fully respected, we register all financial transactions in our ledger. Strictly keeping to the substantial and formal regulations contained in the Accountancy Law, we prepared in writing every year the appropriate reports on our results and the balance of payments reflecting our financial transactions.
The foundation defined every year the criteria for applications. In the system of conditions and rules governing the form and content of applications, we determine the circle of those who are entitled for aid and its size as well as the concrete criteria for receiving help. In judging the latter two terms, we take into account the minimum old-age-pension, the income conditions of our retired colleagues or the MIO’s active staff, the expected inflation, as well as the sums and assets at our disposal.
Since 1996 the number of aided colleagues and the sums they received have continuously increased. This fortunate increase has been accounted for the fact that in 1999 it became possible also for natural legal persons (who share our objectives) to offer 1% of their personal income tax to the foundation.
Our income from these small percentages has amounted to 6,493,338 Forint (HUF), which we spent completely and exclusively on aids. Although a part of the MIO staff – and mostly those who regularly ask us for help – offer 1% of their tax year by year, we cannot be completely satisfied. We have to do our best – and also our other colleagues – to increase the number of those who chose to support our activity in this special way. We have to enlarge the circle of our (50-55) donors of this kind, which would be instrumental in increasing our aids.
The circle of aided colleagues and the donated sums are characterized as follows:
At the beginning (between 1996 and 2000), it was mainly the persons retired from MIO or its predecessor organization who applied for aid. However, after 2000 mostly warrant officers and NCOs as well as civil servants asked for help. This tendency was well reflected also by our last trusteeship meeting, where we voted on the applications. There were among the applicants 2 retired persons and altogether 16 active officers, NCOs and civil servants. They received in all 800,000 HUF.
Our foundation has provided help, during the last ten years, altogether to 37 retired soldiers, civil servants and widows, 141 active officers and NCOs, as well as civil servants. They received altogether 6,779,995 HUF; many of them were aided on a great number of occasions.
The foundation possesses presently 3,134,000 HUF.
We receive every year about 30-35 requests. The deteriorating living conditions – of our colleagues, who have a large family or bring up their children alone, or our retired friends (eventually their widows) – indicate that there will be need for our activity also in the future.
Our aids – even if modest ones – have represented a tangible, concrete help to those in urgent need. We are well aware that we will have much to do also in the next years.
I would like to seize this opportunity to express our appreciation to those who – by offering 1% of their personal income tax, and thus donating 828,672 HUF this year – have contributed to achieving jointly our goals.
László Papp
Chairman of the Trusteeship Committee
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Count András Hadik Sports Club
The Count András Hadik Military Sports Club was established originally under the name of Landler Military Sports Club, within the framework of the MIO’s predecessor organization in 1968. The founders did not intend at all to support fist-rate sports, but to provide possibility for leisure physical training in an organized form to the MIO staff. Our club has been pursuing its activity accordingly, as an organization of public utility, with 90% of its members being active or retired MIO employees.
At present, we have nine sections (volleyball, tennis, soccer, cross-country running, bicycle, dart, squash, leisure sport and radio amateur). In the sections there are altogether 150 registered members going in for sports, partially at mass sport and partially at amateur or competitive levels. On some occasions, we are able to set in motion many colleagues to participate in other sport programs as well.
The club’s budget is composed of the money gained by winning some sport-related applications or received from those who offer 1% of their personal income tax, or paid in by members or several sponsors. The leadership and all of its members pursue voluntarily their activities, without any financial compensation. Thus, the budget as a whole can be spent on creating sport possibilities for the members (paying entry-fees, buying spoors tackles, renting gyms, sports hall and playing fields, as well as paying for umpires and referees). By virtue of the cooperation agreement between the club and the MIO, the MIO’s sports facilities can be used gratis, which offers an excellent opportunity for us to organize there our own sports competitions and mass sports activities.
The club is open for everybody. One can apply for admission at the Chairman of the Club or at the section leaders.
Chairman of the Club: Major General Eng. Adrás Tóth
Leaders of the Sport Sections:
Tennis; János Hess
Cross-country running; Tibor Kiss
Bicycle; Gábor Balkányi
Volleyball; János Sándor
Soccer; Balázs Magyar
Mass sports; István Nagy
Dart; Gábor Zsoltész
Radio amateur; Imre Strobl
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