Incoming defence minister Simicsko: Speeding up border fence construction “a priority”

Budapest, September 8 (MTI) – Speeding up the construction of Hungary’s border fence is a “priority”, incoming defence minister Istvan Simicsko said after his hearing before of parliament’s defence committee on Tuesday.

The committee approved proposing Simicsko’s appointment with 6 votes in favour and 2 against.

Simicsko said one of the main topics of discussion at his hearing was the need to increase the public’s sense of security. He said Hungary’s police are in need of the army’s assistance in handling illegal immigration. When asked whether soldiers would be allowed to use deadly weapons at the border, he said “nobody wants this”. Simicsko said support from the other Visegrad countries had made it clear that building a border fence was the right way to manage illegal immigration.

When asked how many soldiers would be deployed to the border if parliament passes the bill, the incoming minister said that 3,000-4,000 soldiers “will be enough to get the job done”.

Speaking about the need for stronger ties between the interior ministry and Hungary’s counter-terrorism centre (TEK) at his hearing before parliament’s national security committee, Simicsko said it is impossible to determine the identities of the migrants entering Europe, adding that “it is enough for a few dozen to want to commit acts of terrorism”. The committee approved Simicsko’s appointment with 4 votes in favour and 1 against.

Lajos Kosa, the committee’s head, said former defence minister Csaba Hende had resigned on Monday because Prime Minister Viktor Orban “is not in the least bit satisfied” with the pace of the construction work. He said at least three transit zones would be set up along the Serbian border. When asked what the new deadline was for completing the border fence, Kosa said “the original deadline — late October-early November — has not changed,” adding that “we are on track to meet that deadline”.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters