Foreign Minister Szijjarto: NATO must respond to new threats

Budapest (MTI) – NATO must adapt to its new security environment and respond to its new security challenges, said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Sunday.

Speaking after a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow, the foreign minister said it is important that the military alliance implements the Readiness Action Plan approved at last year’s summit in Wales as soon as possible to ensure forces are capable of a swift response.

Szijjarto noted the Hungarian government has implemented a number of measures that have contributed to improving the alliance’s capabilities. He said Hungary would contribute a company to the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force and that it would take part in the Baltic Air Policing Mission.

He said it was in Hungary’s interest for NATO to establish forward command posts in the country, as it has in other eastern member states. The minister informed the deputy secretary-general that Hungary would be holding a joint military exercise with the other Visegrad Four countries this summer.

Budapest is hosting the ongoing three-day spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The PA is expected to adopt a document on NATO enlargement approving opening negotiations on Montenegro’s accession.

Photo: MTI

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