Transatlantic Commitment Along Common Values

In his speech, Csaba Hende stressed that European NATO allies grappling with an economic crisis were able to spend much less on enhancing their defence capabilities than previously. From this aspect, there is a rift between the American and European NATO allies, he said.
Due to the economic and political interests, the United States is turning increasing global attention to the Pacific Region, yet the European alliance continues to preserve its significance.

To illustrate this point, Csaba Hende referred to his recent visit to America, where United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta emphasized that Hungary is a strong ally of the United States in a very important region. The Minister of Defence stood by the further strengthening of transatlantic relations and the popularization of Euro-Atlantic principles and values, stressing that Hungary has always been committed to NATO enlargement, with special regard to the Western Balkan region.

“Security is like love – the more parts it is divided into, the more of it there will be. More members mean increased security", Csaba Hende said, referring to NATO’s “One for all, all for one" working principle. Hungary and the Hungarian Defence Forces serve NATO’s causes in the missions with commitment and highly appreciate the assistance they receive from the allies, the Minister pointed out, adding that Hungary has committed itself to strengthening its military again, in parallel with its increasing economic capacity. According to the latest NATO assessment, Hungary stands in the first third of the member states in view of its performance within the Alliance.

“You can make a lot from little, you only need to manage on that little well", Csaba Hende said. “The Hungarian Defence Forces are led by excellent generals and made up of great service personnel, so they are worthy of domestic and foreign support, esteem, respect and love. Nothing could make up for that which the soldiers give."

While praising the activity of the Hungarian Atlantic Council, the Minister of Defence pointed out that we have to remember the road we have traveled together so that we can feel that we can count on each other day after day. For this reason, the mission of the Council has not ended with Hungary’s accession to NATO. In this spirit, Csaba Hende wished the organization a successful and effective future operation, similarly to the last twenty years.

Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis stressed that today there was a bigger need for transatlantic cooperation than ever before. The United States Ambassador to Budapest said the question for the last two decades was „What can we do for Eastern Europe?" However, the question now is what we can do together with Europe and Eastern Europe for the rest of the world, the Ambassador noted. She also praised the Hungarian troops’ excellent professional performance in international missions.

Karl Lamers, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) also thanked Hungary for its commitment to strengthening the transatlantic cooperation over the last two decades.

In his speech, Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi pointed out that “Hungary’s place is in NATO", as we belong to the transatlantic family. “Although the world is in a state of permanent transformation, values remain unchanged and NATO is basically a community of values", the Foreign Minister said. He added that „Hungary can only feel safe in an alliance whose members trust, agree with, and can count on one another. Hungary’s security is based on the strength of, and solidarity between, its NATO allies."

Recalling the NATO pre-accession period, Gergely Gulyás, the MP of the Fidesz party said that at that time there were many people in Hungary who had argued for neutrality, but it has proved to be as much unviable as the neutrality of values. He praised the activity of the Hungarian Atlantic Council in the field of harmonizing Atlantic values with the national idea, which must be an example to be followed in the future too in order to mitigate the social and political confrontation that still exists today in Hungary.

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces, Lajos Fodor, Secretary for Public Administration, Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő, Chief of the Defence Staff and Péter Siklósi, Deputy Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning attended the ceremony which took place in Stefánia Palace.

Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky