“The legislative environment must be changed in the interests of the safety of the Hungarian people, and accordingly at Friday’s cabinet meeting the Government asked Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér to speed up this process”, Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács told reporters in Budapest in the recess of the cabinet meeting.
“It is good news that Hungary has been listed as the world’s 10th safest country, but we cannot become complacent in view of the fact that the security situation in Europe has never been as bad as it is this year and at the end of this summer”, he said, pointing out that several of the dangers projected in June had become a reality.
“It is also clear that improving the security situation is not just one of Hungary’s most important tasks, but also that of every member state of the European Union”, he said.
Mr. Kovács also told reporters that the Minister of Interior had recommended that the Cabinet extend the state of emergency with relation to immigration, which is due to expire at the end of September, about which a decision will be made next week.
The Government Spokesperson said that the main topic of discussion at the first cabinet meeting following the summer recess had been domestic and European security, with relation to which the Government had listened to reports on the situation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of Interior. The other issues on the agenda will be discussed next Wednesday.
In reply to a question concerning what laws could be amended, Mr. Kovács explained that current legislation and all European examples would be reviewed, and the task will extend to both border protection and secret service activities.
He was also asked about the planned amendment of the Act on National Security, with relation to which Mr. Kovács told reporters that the Government would decide on the details in the near future, but it is nothing new for the Ministry of Interior and the relevant security services to assess possible national security risks with relation to foreign investments.
The Government Spokesperson was also asked with relation to the fact that in an interview for Hungarian news portal 168 óra (168 hours) outgoing Dutch Ambassador Gajus Scheltema said, amongst others, that extremists Islamists “create enemies according to the same principles as the Hungarian Government”.
Mr. Kovács declared that, in agreement with the statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, the Government regards any such statements by diplomats delegated to Hungary as unacceptable and impermissible.
“The Ambassador drew a clear parallel between the way terrorists think and the activities of the Hungarian Government, and there is no need for such unprecedented statements either within bilateral relations or in Europe”, he declared, rejecting the comments.
“The Government expects Holland to take action with relation to this”, he said, also pointing out that “there have been several recent examples of foreign diplomats to all intents and purposes interfering in Hungarian internal politics and making statement to which they have no right, nor to which they should have an opportunity in accordance with good taste”.
(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)
