“Hungary supports the American proposal that NATO should formally join the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian reporters in the recess of a meeting of NATO ministers in Brussels.

Mr. Szijjártó said that the Americans had made clear their two expectations with regard to NATO: that the military alliance should play a greater role in the fight against terrorism and that the allies should fulfil their commitments with regard to defence spending in accordance with previous agreements.

“Hungary agrees with America’s targets and believes the total eradication of the Islamic State terrorist organisation could provide a solution to the migration crisis, as well as preventing the disappearance of Christian communities in the Middle Eastern region”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

The Foreign Minister also reported on the fact that the Government will be recommending that Parliament extends Hungary’s participation in the coalition against ISIS by a further two years, and agrees to increase the number of Hungarian military personnel involved in the work of the coalition from 150 to 200, as well as expanding their current activities.

Mr. Szijjártó declared that the Hungarian Government also agrees with America’s expectations concerning the fact that NATO’S European pillar must be reinforced through increased defence spending, stressing that Hungary will be fulfilling its commitment to increased defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2024.

The Minister told reporters that NATO member states agreed that it is important to support countries that are directly threatened by ISIS. “Hungary is involved in efforts to reinforce the defence capabilities of these countries. Hungary helped train Iraqi soldiers last November, Jordanian security forces in March, and will be training members of the Egyptian army during the course of the summer”, the Minister said.

“Hungary believes it is important to accelerate the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, and also that NATO maintains its presence in the region in the interests of stability”, Mr. Szijjártó added.

“Accordingly, Hungary has decided to increase its military participation in Kosovo by 24, meaning that in future Hungary will be providing the fourth largest contingent of military personal in the Balkan country”, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)