Jobbik rejects Hungarian involvement in NATO’s Afghanistan mission

Márton Gyöngyösi Jobbik MP

On the plenary session of the Hungarian Parliament held on 28 June 2010 Márton Gyöngyösi, Jobbik MP and vice-president of the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs posed a question to Csaba Hende, minister of defence, regarding the increasing contributions of Hungary to the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

The issue is of high relevance, as the new Fidesz-led government – based on a pledge taken on by the earlier Socialist cabinet – is proposing to extend by another year the mandate of the Hungarian NATO mission based in Afghanistan, and increase the number of Hungarian soldiers serving in the contingent from 300 to 500. The new government is determined to fulfil these obligations despite that it officially admits it cannot find in its already overstretched budget the HUF 8,8 billion needed for its financing. The Ministry submitted the proposal to the Parliament, seeking swift approval as the mandate of the Hungarian NATO contingent expires end of August this year.

 In his speech, Márton Gyöngyösi referred to the negative and worrying news concerning the Afghan conflict, especially in Baghlan province where the majority of the Hungarian soldiers are based. The MP reminded that currently the danger is not only that our soldiers (originally sent on a peacekeeping mission) are exposed to ad hoc bombings and terrorist attacks of the Taliban, but also that they will be forced to partake in battle – the danger of which is increasing. Although details of the “Kandahar action plan”, a broad military operation aimed at rolling back the Taliban, are not yet known it clearly indicates that open and escalating military conflict in Afghanistan is on the way. The recent report of the CIA director, the increasing tension between the military and political leadership of the US, and the declared intension of numerous NATO allies to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan all seem to point in the same direction.

“Is it compatible with Hungarian national interests that our government increases our military presence and obligations in an exploding conflict zone? Is it in line with our interests to take on a HUF 8,8 billion obligation in a time of unprecedented economic crisis?” asked the MP. Mr Gyöngyösi reminded the minister of one of the main claims of the 1848 revolution, namely the demand that Hungarian soldiers are brought home from abroad and that they should not be taken abroad. “We should remember this claim today, when Hungary once again is serving the interests of a foreign power. We, the members of Jobbik do not believe that a distant war at the foot of the Hindu Kush mountain-range serves our nation’s interests” concluded the MP.

Video (in Hungarian):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQHlx808nMs