On June 20th, 2018, a ceremonial reception was held at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Budapest, organized by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Hungary, Juraj Chmiel, together with Defence Attaché of the Czech Republic to Slovakia, accredited also for Hungary, Maj. Gen. Ján Gurník. 

 

The reception was opened by the fanfare of Posádková hudba Praha. Present were the diplomatic corps, defense representatives from embassy offices accredited in Budapest, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, representatives of other Hungarian institutions, entrepreneurs and compatriots. 

 

Honorary Guard of the Czech Army brought the national flag of the Czech Republic and after the national anthems, which also performed Posádková hudba Praha, followed a solemn speech of H.E. Juraj Chmiel and Maj. Gen. Ján Gurník.

 

H.E. Juraj Chmiel reminded in his speech that the mutual cooperation of both countries goes deep into the past. In this connection, he recalled the historical milestones that connect the Czech Republic with Hungary, for example the fallen members of the Czech nobility, the soldiers and the young Bohemian, Hungarian and Croatian King Ludwig Jagellon, who died in the Battle of Mohac in 1526. He also recalled the death of Czech mercenaries in defending Eger in 1552 and the heroic act of the father and son of Zima, who, at the time of the German occupation of Budapest from 1944 to 1945, rescued 13 Jewish citizens in Budapest at the Embassy.

 

In the subsequent speech, Maj. Gen.  Ján Gurník explained the importance of the 30th of June, when the Army of the Czech Republic celebrates its Day of the Armed Forces. He informed the present that the tradition of our army is based on the historical tradition of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires during the First World War, when our legions were formed on different fronts in Russia, Italy and France in order to achieve the independence and establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic. On 30th of June 1918 in the French city of Darney, 1,000 Czechoslovak soldiers took the oath of the newly emerging Czechoslovak Republic. He also recalled the activities of T. G. Masaryk, Rastislav Štefánik and Edvard Beneš in the USA and Europe, which contributed to the fact that other powers followed France in recognition of the independent Czechoslovakia. He also recalled the good relations between the two armies after joining NATO, although rather symbolic, but more importantly, the help of the Czech Army during the last migration crisis in 2015-2016, which greatly affected Hungary. 

 

In the next part of his speech, he also mentioned successful business cooperation in the field of military equipment, highlighting the contract signed in March of this year between the Česká Zbrojovka a.s. and the Hungarian company HM Arzenal Zrt. about the transfer of licenses and the introduction of the production of short and long weapons in Hungary. He also informed that cooperation is as well taking place in the aviation sector in the field of possible delivery of training aircraft and radars.

 

During the reception, participants from the Czech Republic enjoyed the presentation of the products of the Czech companies from the defense and security sector by Česká Zbrojovka a.s. (samples of the weapons which will be produced under license in Hungary: pistols CZ P07 and P09, Scorpion EVO and the latest offense rifles BREN 2), Retia Pardubice a.s. (presenting its ReVISOR short range radar), Inflatech s.r.o. Prague (exhibited two models of camouflage tanks) and Aero Vodochody AEROSPACE, Vodochody a.s., (showed the newest model of the new generation L-39NG) see photo documentation below. 

 

The present guests also appreciated the outstanding performance of the musicians from the Military Music Ensemble Ondráš from Brno, who also attended the festive reception and contributed greatly to the festive atmosphere of the reception.

H. E. Juraj Chmiel and Maj. Gen. Ján Gurník

 Welcoming guests

 An aircraft model of the L-39NG

 The Military Music Ensemble Ondráš from Brno

 A model of camouflage tank

 A model of camouflage tank

 Weapons from the Česká Zbrojovka a.s.