U.S. Ambassador Joins Hungarian Delegation for Christmas Visit to Troops in Afghanistan

December 18, 2010

Colonel Péter Lippai, PRT Commander; Minister of Defense Hende; Ambassador Kounalakis; Provincial Governor Majid; Chief, Hungarian Defense Staff General Tibor Benkő; and Ministry of Defense Deputy State Secretary Péter Siklósi

At the invitation of Hungarian Minister of Defense Csaba Hende, U.S. Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis joined a delegation that visited Afghanistan December 14-18.  The delegation offered holiday greetings to the Hungarian forces deployed in Afghanistan and learnt about the current situation on the ground. 

Commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) U.S. General David Petraeus and other senior ISAF commanders met with the group, as did the Governor of Baghlan Province where the Hungarian Provincial Reconstruction Team is located.  Both the ISAF commanders and the Afghan leaders noted the progress being made and Hungary’s valuable contribution, especially that of its Provincial Reconstruction Team in Pol-i-Khomri. 

During the visit, the delegation also inspected advanced Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles similar to the nineteen MRAPs the Hungarian forces are now receiving from the U.S.