Hungarian FM calls for reinforcement of European arm of NATO

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Thursday called for a reinforcement of the European arm of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and less reliance on the United States to protect Europe from trouble.

The words came when he made an address to an international parliamentary conference about NATO in the wake of the Warsaw summit here on Thursday.

He listed the factors defining European security as the future of the relationship between NATO and Russia, the fight against ISIS, the effects of a new U.S. foreign policy, and the outcome of efforts to stabilize the Middle East and North Africa.

Regarding NATO and Russia, he asked for a pragmatic relationship based on mutual respect, pointing out that when Eastern and Western Europe have been at odds, the Central Europe had been the one to pay for it.

Regarding post-election America, he called for a "wait and see" attitude and respect for the decision made by the American voters.

Hungary, Szijjarto said, is committed to cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

The country is a committed member of the international coalition combating ISIS, he said, adding that NATO needed to help Europe in reducing migration pressure to enable the EU to meet its obligations.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly Vice President Lord Jopling also addressed the gathering, noting that the challenges facing NATO had grown while it had to continue to meet its standing obligations in places such as the Western Balkans and Afghanistan. Endit