While in Sarajevo, the Minister and the Ambassador met with the Hungarian Ambassador to Bosnia, and the Commanders of EUFOR and NATO HQ-Sarajevo. The delegation also met with the Hungarian soldiers assigned there and the Minister hosted a Town-Hall type meeting with all of them.

The delegation then traveled to Pristina, Kosovo, where they met with the Hungarian Ambassador and had an official briefing and meeting with the Commander of KFOR. They also met with the Hungarian soldiers working in Pristina and then traveled to Peja, Kosovo where the Hungarians are participating in a peacekeeping operation as part of the Multi-National Battle Group-West, which is led by the Italian Army.

This is the largest Hungarian contingent deployed abroad outside of Afghanistan. While there, the Minister received a full honors welcome and was briefed in detail on the mission. In accepting the invitation to join in the trip, Ambassador Kounalakis wanted to highlight Hungary's leadership role in regional security and to see first-hand the excellent work the Hungarian troops are doing to assist in preserving the peace in the Balkans."

Source: U.S. Embassy Budapest

Photo: Hungarian Defense Minister Hende and U.S. Ambassador Kounalakis Arrive in Sarajevo (photo courtesy of Ministry of Defense)