Hungary’s place was in NATO, in the Trans-Atlantic family, said Foreign Minister János Martonyi. He added that „though the world keeps changing, our values remain the same, and NATO is essentially a community of values.”

The Hungarian Foreign Minister declared, at a conference organized by the Hungarian Atlantic Council on the twentieth anniversary of its foundation, that Hungary could be secure in an alliance where there was trust and agreement among the members and where they could count on each other. This means that Hungary’s place in NATO today and for the decades to come. János Martonyi pointed out that the power and solidarity of NATO Allies was the foundation of Hungary’s security. Regarding the Hungarian Atlantic Council, he claimed that it remained a relevant and important organization because it represented the values that had been affirmed since Hungary joined NATO, and those values must be defended when doubts or objections are raised against them.     

Minister of Defense Csaba Hende stated that in the present situation of economic crisis and decreasing defense budget, it was even more important to disseminate the views of Euroatlantic integration.

US Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis claimed that there was more need for the cooperation among NATO members than ever before. She declared that cooperation in enhancing international security was one of the most important areas of American-Hungarian bilateral relations, and that Washington highly appreciated the contribution made by Budapest.  

Karl Lamers, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee of the German Parliament, pointed out that NATO was fighting for peace and the rule of law, and Hungary as a member of the Alliance had contributed to international security. He claimed that Hungary took part in NATO missions all over the world, and thus promoted stability in those regions.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)