Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in a speech to the Hungarian Parliament during its autumn session on September 25, declared that the Central European country – which is both an EU and NATO member – would not support Ukraine in any international issues until the linguistic rights of the Hungarian minority there were restored.
Mr Orban also said Hungary was in no rush to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO – a sign the Nordic country could face further delays in its bid to become a member of the transatlantic military alliance.
In the Hungarian Parliament, the first day of the autumn session is traditionally marked by Prime Minister Orban's pre-agenda speech. This speech not only covers events and government decisions that take place between sessions, but is also expected to shed light on the long-term plans and vision of the head of government in Budapest.
Being "deceived"
Speaking at the opening fall session of the Hungarian Parliament, Prime Minister Orban criticized the Ukrainian government under President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying Hungary would “not support Ukraine in any international issue” until the linguistic rights of a significant Hungarian minority in western Ukraine were restored.
Hungary has been at odds with Ukraine over what it sees as restrictions on the rights of some 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native language, particularly in education, after Kiev passed a law in 2017 restricting the use of minority languages in schools.
“They want to turn (Hungarian schools) into Ukrainian schools and if that doesn’t work, they want to close them down,” nationalist Prime Minister Orban said in his speech.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers a speech at the opening of the autumn session of parliament in Budapest, Hungary, September 25, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
Mr Orban’s comments come after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month laid out a vision for an enlarged EU that would include Ukraine. EU countries will decide in December whether to allow Ukraine to begin accession talks – a move that would require unanimous support from all 27 countries in the bloc.
Mr Orban also said Hungary had been “deceived” by the EU’s plan to allow Ukrainian grain to transit through Hungary after shipping routes through the Black Sea were disrupted by the military conflict with Russia, and that Ukrainian agricultural products – which were supposed to be shipped to Africa – appeared to be sold on the Hungarian market at lower prices, putting pressure on domestic producers.
The EU claims that without Ukrainian grain, severe famine would threaten African countries. Mr Orban said. “After transport via the Black Sea became impossible due to the war, Hungary opened a solidarity transport corridor at the request of Brussels so that food could reach Africa from Ukraine via Hungarian territory. Let’s be frank: they lied to us.”
Mr Orban said cheaper Ukrainian grain had flooded the Hungarian market, creating a surplus that was hurting the country’s agricultural sector. Along with Slovakia and Poland, Hungary imposed an import ban on 23 Ukrainian agricultural products on September 15, but will continue to allow the shipment of those items through its territory.
The Duna oil refinery in Szazhalombatta, near the capital Budapest of Hungary, one of three Central European countries that are particularly dependent on Russian oil. Photo: NY Times
Mr Orban also said Brussels’ plan to completely wean Europe off Russian energy was against the interests of the continent and Hungary. Hungary is heavily dependent on Moscow for oil and gas supplies, but Mr Orban said his government had taken steps to diversify its sources, citing recent talks with Qatar, Türkiye and Azerbaijan on future gas shipments.
“No rush”
On September 25, Prime Minister Orban also told Hungarian lawmakers that “there is no threat to Sweden's security”, and therefore Hungary is “in no hurry” to ratify Stockholm's accession to NATO.
Mr Orban’s comments come after other senior Hungarian officials recently suggested that ratification of Sweden might not be on the parliamentary agenda in the autumn session. On September 21, the leader of the ruling Fidesz party’s caucus, Mate Kocsis, said he saw “very little chance” that parliament would vote on the issue this year.
Hungary remains the only NATO member state, apart from Türkiye, that has not accepted Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. The Nordic country, along with its neighbor Finland, abandoned its longstanding military neutrality after Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine, and has quickly signaled its intention to join NATO.
However, Hungary has delayed ratifying Sweden’s membership bid since July 2022, and has made vague demands of Stockholm as a condition for approval. Mr Orban’s government has accused Swedish politicians of telling “blatant lies” about the state of Hungarian democracy, which he said has left some lawmakers uncertain about whether to support the Nordic country’s bid to join NATO.
Mr Orban's Fidesz party had previously delayed Finland's application for NATO membership, but quickly approved the measure in March this year after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would continue with the ratification process. Finland officially became NATO's 31st member in early April, while Sweden is still "waiting outside the door" .
Minh Duc (According to AP, Reuters)
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