Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a Kossuth radio interview on Friday that the economic sanctions against Russia are contrary to Hungary's national interest. He pointed out that he agreed with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico that the sanctions imposed by the West "hurt us more than they do Russia".

Not only must there be compensation in the EU for farmers who are suffering due to the sanctions but the whole policy of sanctions must be reconsidered, Prime Minister Orbán stated. When it comes to an economy built on exports, sanctions are always against the national interest, he added.

He said he was looking for partners to change European Union policy on sanctions, adding that it was necessary to convene a conference in which the EU and Russia would negotiate on future cooperation and long-term plans, including the issue of Ukraine.

Speaking about Hungary's defence role, he said that a condition of Hungary's NATO membership was that defence spending must reach 2% of GDP, which figure currently is only 1%. "They rightfully reproach us, since we are a country which consumes security benefits from NATO membership while not fully contributing to the budget necessary for maintaining common security," Prime Minister Orbán highlighted.

On the situation in Iraq, he said that the upcoming summit of prime ministers would raise awareness to the fact that "Christians are falling victim to the bloody religious war" in the region. Europe is in a fragile situation in this regard, since "it has lost its religious faith", he pointed out. The prime minister also objected to European leaders failing to say: "we must protect our own -- Christians -- in a period of religious persecution".

(Prime Minister's Office)