“Migration is a global problem that requires a global response; the UN must take a leading role in providing a solution, in which the key figures of global politics and the global economy must play their part”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Saturday during a speech at the 70th general debate of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Minister put forward a proposal for a five-point action plan, according to which the migration crisis must be solved through joint international action, the Middle Eastern and North African crisis zones must be stabilised, global acceptance quotas must be introduced, of which the world’s leading powers must also take on their share, the role of UN peace keepers must be increased and the UN’s sustainable development targets must be met.
Mr. Szijjártó stressed that the broadest possible global action, and cooperation between NATO and Russia, are required both to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organisation and in the interests of providing a political solution to the crisis in Syria. He expressed his agreement with the German Chancellor, according to whom cooperation must occur at the broadest possible level to achieve a solution.
The Minister cited wars and armed conflicts – 15 of which have begun or reoccurred over the past 5 years around the world – decreased access to water and climate change as the main reasons for the migration crisis.
According to Mr. Szijjártó, it is no exaggeration to state that Europe is facing the most unprecedented number of serious challenges since the Second World War, including the war in Ukraine and the fact that five out of the six countries involved in the EU’s Eastern Partnership have “frozen conflicts”. The state of affairs whereby the European Union, which is struggling with economic difficulties, represents 7-8 percent of the world population and generates 15-16 percent of global GDP while paying out half of the world’s welfare expenditure, is unsustainable, he pointed out.
“What we must face is not a refugee crisis, but something greater and much more complicated”, the Minister stressed with regard to the fact that no European or global consensus has been achieved concerning the nature and magnitude of the problem.
“This is a mass migration with an unlimited supply (of new immigrants)”, the Minister emphasised, drawing attention to the fact that Hungary lies along the migration’s most intensive route, in which asylum seekers, economic migrants and foreign militants alike are involved.
He agreed with the statement made from the podium by the UN Secretary-General, according to which ‘there have never been so many people on the move as there are now’. He cited bad political decisions that have led to the destabilisation of these regions, and the spread of ISIS, against which action so far has been mostly unsuccessful, as the causes.
Mr. Szijjártó pointed out that 60 million people have been forced to leave their homes because of war so far, while climate change has resulted in 25-30 million migrants, whose numbers could reach 100 million by 2050.
Europe, which is currently bearing the bulk of the burden, could become destabilised without global action against the global challenge; first in the periphery, but later also in central areas, he stressed.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister also spoke about the role Hungary has assumed in international efforts, such as the fact that the 110-man Hungarian contingent that has until now been performing guard duties in Iraqi Kurdistan has now also become involved in training Peshmerga forces, and that Hungarian Blue Berets are part of UN peace-keeping forces in Cyprus, the Western Sahara and Lebanon, amongst others.
Mr. Szijjártó called on the UN to take action against human traffickers. He stressed the importance of European border control and the need for a joint European force to police external EU borders. The maintenance and expansion of existing refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon should be financed by the EU, he stated.
He said that as a politician who represents a Christian country, he rejects claims of Hungary being anti-Muslim, pointing out that the Islamic religion is not the root of the problem.
Following his speech, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade held a meeting with former Danish Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
