Minister of Defense of Hungary István Simicskó visited Washington, DC from October 10-14 and met with US Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. Minister Simicskó also delivered the keynote address at a symposium held at the prestigious National Defense University in commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight on Wednesday, October 13.
Speaking at the National Defense University Symposium co-organized by the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, DC, Defense Minister István Simicskó highlighted the historical importance of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight and the pivotal role it played as the first act of resistance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Minister also highlighted the particular relevance of 1956 today: “the Hungarians who first courageously resisted and then were forced to flee their homeland were true refugees, and they did not immigrate to other countries for economic reasons, unlike many who do so nowadays.”
Defense Minister Simicskó alsov isited Pentagon to preside over the Opening Ceremony of the Temporary Exhibit entitled “Heroes of the 1956 Revolution” and met with US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work. In the meeting, Deputy Secretary of Defense Rob Work thanked Hungarian Minister of Defense István Simicskó for Hungary’s important contributions to the security missions in the fight against ISIL and its continued commitment to NATO burden-sharing.
On his visit to the United States the Defense Minister also visited Naval Station Norfolk and met with Lieutenant Governor of Ohio Mary Taylor and Ohio National Guardsmen who recently returned from Northern Iraq where they served side by side with Hungarian soldiers.