Viktor Orbán: NATO has a Greater Role

A celebration was held in Wesola near Warsaw, marking that Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic joined NATO twenty, Slovakia fifteen years ago. Speaking at the event, Viktor Orbán highlighted that we undertake military missions so that those people receive help and in those places, where and who need it. “If we don’t take help there on time, then the problems will come to us" – he pointed out. Prime Minister said thanks to the Visegrád countries, for helping to protect the southern border of Hungary against the migrants. He reminded that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was established with an aim to create peace, stability and welfare first in the Atlantic region, then in the whole world. “Today we want to preserve this", and to take it for those, who live now in civil war conditions – he stated.

According to the Head of Government “our soldiers stood their ground in tough missions, too". He took the view that the economic strength of the Visegrád countries allows them to exceed their commitments stemming from the NATO membership. Viktor Orbán emphasised that since many years we haven’t had to face such troubled international situation and terrorist threats as these days, but we take part not only in words" in the fight against terrorism, but with our soldiers. Currently 692 soldiers serve in various parts of the world from Hungary, and soon another 130 service members will join them – he said. As he explained, they want to develop the army to levels where they will be able to defend Hungary and perform excellently in NATO as well. Prime Minister told us that the soldiers took an oath to defend our homeland even at the expense of their lives. Ensuring the peace and security of our homeland, the civilization and culture, which keeps our identity, is a goal, worth making even the greatest sacrifice – he underlined. He added that it is thanks to these soldiers, that during the 70 years of its existence, NATO has become the most successful and strongest military alliance history has ever known, and we need to keep it that way in the years to come. After the celebration the armed forces conducted a military demonstration.

Photos of Balázs Szecsődi (Prime Minister’s Press Office) honvedelem.hu / MTI