The message that NATO enlargement will continue should be made clear at the upcoming NATO summit in Wales in early September, Foreign Minister János Martonyi declared in Brussels on Tuesday.

Addressing the opening of an exhibition by Hungarian-born photographer Robert Capa at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, János Martonyi said that many achievements had been accomplished during the creation of a truly free Europe, but there was still much to do. NATO should allow all countries willing and able to fulfil the conditions of membership to join the alliance, he said, referring to the Western Balkans, where several countries are waiting for a chance to advance in Euro-Atlantic integration.

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The event, attended by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, was part of the memorial celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Hungary's NATO accession. Mr. Rasmussen expressed his recognition for Hungary's contribution to NATO operations in Afghanistan and the Western Balkans, as well as for Hungary’s decision to reinforce its presence in the Kosovo Force (KFOR).

The Hungarian Foreign Minister confirmed that Hungary would gradually increase its defence budget to 1.39 percent of GDP between 2016 and 2022. Since Hungary's economy has embarked on a course of growth, and it is hoped that its rate of growth will be sustainable and even accelerate, the increase in the defence budget will be even more pronounced in absolute terms, he added.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)