President Novak briefed on protection of eastern border

Novak, who is commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, was briefed on the situation at the border together with army chief Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi and Major General Istvan Kun-Szabo at the command centre of the North-Eastern Task Force of the Armed Forces of Hungary.

Novak then left for Fehergyarmat, in north-eastern Hungary. She was accompanied on her tour by a cadet of the Kratochvil Karoly Military Secondary School whose outstanding academic achievements were recognised with an opportunity to travel with the president.

At Fehergyarmat, the president visited a local school that has been converted to serve as a base for Hungarian troops protecting border crossing points with Ukraine and patrolling Hungary’s border sections with Ukraine and Romania.

Meeting troops, Novak said “it is important for us to know that there are well-prepared army officers whom we can count on, should a real combat situation develop. But we will avoid that.” She thanked the troops on behalf of the Hungarian people for ensuring them the sense of security.

In a post on Facebook, Novak said in connection with her visit in English that as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces she is responsible also for the security of the Hungarian people “especially now, when there is a war in our immediate neighbourhood”.

“That is why today I visited the most vulnerable border section of the country – the north-eastern border with Ukraine – and the soldiers stationed there. I was able to see for myself the preparedness of our soldiers and the tangible results of the Hungarian force development. We are doing our utmost in the interest of peace at home and abroad. At the same time, we are prepared for any situation that could jeopardize the security of the Hungarian people. I thank the Hungarian soldiers for their service and their families for their commitment,” the Hungarian president said.