A meeting of colleagues on the banks of the Danube River

21 September 2012

On the invitation of the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship from 19th till the 21st of September 2012 a delegation of the International Advisory Committee of organizations of reserve officers (IAC) and National Association of Unions of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers (MEGAPIR) visited Hungary.


A meeting of colleagues on the banks of the Danube River

The delegation was composed of reserve major general v. Bogatyrev, Chief of Staff of the National Association of Unions of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers (MEGAPIR) and A. Kumakhov, Secretary General of the International Advisory Committee of organizations of reserve officers.

A meeting of members of the delegation with the leadership of the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship was held on September 20, 2012, in the headquarters of the Alliance. During the meeting the Hungarian party was represented by retired lieutenant-general Joseph Kelemen, President of the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship, retired brigadier general Sigmund Tomoshvari, and Andre Udvardi, Manager for international relations.

During the negotiations the parties informed each other on the main directions of activities of their organizations and expressed their confidence that multilateral cooperation within the framework of the IAC and bilateral cooperation between HAMF and «Megapir» Association correspond to the interests of reserve officers, as well as sounded their hopes that such cooperation will strengthen and enlarge in favor of reserve officers and nations.

The Russian delegation was also received by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Hungary Ishtvan Shimichko.

I. Shimichko pointed out the importance of further development of relations between Hungary and Russia in various spheres and expressed his support to the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship in its participation in the IAC and establishment of ties with «Megapir» Association. It was mentioned that multilateral and bilateral relations correspond to the interests of reserve officers and veterans of different countries.

A meeting of colleagues on the banks of the Danube River

On behalf of the President of the International Advisory Committee of organizations of reserve officers A. Kanshin the Hungarian Alliance of Military Associations was given an invitation to take part in the third meeting of the IAC, which will be held on June 5 — 7, 2013, in Kazakhstan. The invitation was accepted with much gratitude. The Hungarian party confirmed that the delegation would participate in the following meeting of the IAC.

The Hungarian party expressed its desire to become a member of the International Advisory Committee of organizations of reserve officers. A proposal about the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship’s joining the IAC will be put forward by its President J. Kelemen during HAMF general assembly, which will take place in spring 2013. The official declaration about admitting the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship as a member of the IAC will be made during its third meeting in June 2013. A delegation of the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship participated as observers in the second meeting of the IAC in Wien and Bratislava in May 2012.

On behalf of the President of the International Advisory Committee of organizations of reserve officers and Chairman of the Board of Directors of «Megapir» Association A. Kanshin, HAMF President J. Kelemen was given an invitation to visit Moscow in February 2013 as head of an HAMF delegation. The invitation was accepted with much gratitude, the time of the visit is to be approved later.

IAC commemorative medals «Officers’ solidarity» were bestowed upon the HAMF President retired lieutenant-general Joseph Kelemen, State Secretary I. Shimichko and retired brigadier general Sigmund Tomoshvari. The parties exchanged signs and souvenirs, printed and video materials about the activities of the IAC, «Megapir» Association and Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship.

During the visit to Hungary Russian delegation and leadership of the Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship laid wreaths to a memorial to the Soviet warriors, who gave their lives for the liberation of Budapest. The delegation got to know the sights of the Hungarian capital.

The Hungarian Alliance of Military Fellowship also arranged a meeting of members of the Russian delegation with the chiefs of Military Labor union Sir Janosh Zhovek and Hungarian Reserve Association Sir Otto Zhuprak.

The delegation from Moscow was accorded a warm welcome. The parties expressed willingness to develop multilateral and bilateral relations, being certain that in the actual conditions means of public diplomacy can play a positive role in bringing together countries and nations. There was mentioned an importance of exchanging work experience and establishing informal relations for veterans and reserve officers who face similar problems in different countries.