Hungary's NATO membership: 15th anniversary

Peace and freedom are not gifts provided by nature, we have to fight for these values day by day, Hungarian President János Áder pointed out as he visited the Hungarian and NATO Air Base in Pápa, NW Hungary on the 15th anniversary of Hungary's NATO membership.

The President said membership in the European Union 10 years ago and in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 15 years ago opened new chapters in the history of the now free Hungary. All this was preceded by the events 25 years ago when Hungarians declared that they wanted to live in freedom and democracy.

He added that this anniversary is not only important from the military or defense policy points of view but it is of social iportance, also. As the commander-in-chief of the Hungarian defense forces and as a father, he considers the safety of his loved ones and his homeland as well as the possibility to live in peace more important than anything else.

The Pápa Air Base was established on July 1, 2001, as part of national commitments in the NATO Infrastructural Development Program, and it is the legal successor of the 47th Pápa Tactical Fighter Wing of the Hungarian Defense Forces. It serves as a backup Airfield for both Hungarian and NATO aircraft and hosts Hungarian Air Force Search and Rescue helicopters. The Air Base was selected by NATO to be the Main Operating Base for the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing and its C-17 fleet in 2007.