Minister Anušić to members of the Croatian contingent in Hungary: My task is to create even better working conditions for you
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić visited the CAF members deployed as part of the 4th HRVCON and the HQ Multinational Division Centre in Hungary
Having recently visited members of the 13th Croatian contingent in Poland, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić also visited 64 members of the CAF deployed as part of the 4th Croatian contingent in Hungary. Croatian forces as part of NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity in Hungary are deployed to three locations, and the Minister paid a visit to Camp Croft in Veszprem, where the main body of our forces is located.
“I visited the Croatian contingent in Poland, I have visited the barracks in Croatia, I talk to members of the Armed Forces, I get information from the field. I have created a picture of your needs and my task is to create even better working conditions for you. I was also a member of the Armed Forces for 11 years, so I understand you well and know what your goals are, what you are facing and what your way of thinking is. What I am going to say now is not a convenient statement – the Croatian Armed Forces is the best that the Croatian state has. You are heirs of the victorious army and you take care of that when you wear a uniform or your civilian clothes,” the Minister of Defence said.
He thanked the members of the Croatian contingent in Hungary for their military service, but also for representing the Croatian Armed Forces and the Croatian state in an exemplary and military manner.
NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity Multinational Battlegroup in Hungary consists of the Hungarian forces, (Hungary is also the leading nation of the eVA BG-HUN), armed forces of the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Italy and the Republic of Turkey. The US forces also participate in certain activities. Turkish forces are not deployed to Hungary, but are in their home country in a state of high readiness.
Members of the 4th Croatian contingent will spend a total of seven months in Hungary, and have been there since February. The Commander of the 4th HRVCON eVABG-HUN is LTC Antonio Tokić. He currently holds the position of Commander of the Vukovi (Wolves) the 1st Motorized Battalion from composition of the Guards Mechanised Brigade of the Croatian Army. LTC Tokić delivered a presentation to Minister Anušić on the working day of members of the Croatian Armed Forces in Hungary.
“The members of our contingent are true ambassadors of their country and true patriots,” Colonel Tokić said.
The delegation of Minister Anušić also included the Deputy Chief of the CAF General Staff, LTG Siniša Jurković, who gave some advice to members of the Croatian contingent.
“Nurture interpersonal relationships. They are the basis of any successful organization. Complete your tasks in accordance with safety regulations and respect each other,” said LTG Jurković.
Participation in NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity in Hungary significantly affects the development of the CAF capabilities, increasing the level of interoperability with the armed forces of other member states, and directly contributes to the strengthening of deterrence and collective defence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Minister Anušić also visited the HQ Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND C) in Székesfehérvár.
Along with Hungary, Croatia is the founder of that HQ (Slovakia joined later on), and it was founded in 2020 because until then there was not a single NATO HQ in Central and Eastern Europe that would coordinate rear-end deterrence operations, respond to crises and be dedicated to collective defence.
21 CAF members participate in that NATO HQ, and its Chief of Staff is BG Dražen Ressler.
