The increased efforts to uphold peace and security in the world will also require a new approach from the UN, the minister said, calling on the organisation to devote greater attention to both peacekeeping and conflict prevention. Hungary sees the rise of terrorist groups as the greatest threat to global security, Szijjártó said.

These groups have already crippled a number of countries and there are now tens of millions of people living under the constant threat of terrorism or fleeing these countries. Defeating the so-called Islamic State terrorist organisation is the world’s only hope for changing this situation, he said, noting that Hungary will have contributed 150 soldiers to the USled international coalition fighting the militant group.

Szijjártó said the Islamic State presents an especially big threat to Europe, as the terrorists have taken advantage of the mass migration wave facing the continent. The minister said the European Union’s inadequate migration policies had made it even easier for terrorists to enter the continent. As a result, Europe’s security situation has deteriorated and the threat of terrorism is growing, he said.

The minister stressed that Europe must regain the ability to protect its borders, especially given the increasing threats from its neighbouring regions in the south and southeast. He said there were 30-35 million people living in these regions who may set off for Europe at any time.

The minister said the international coalition must raise its game against the Islamic State and urged the international community to provide aid for Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and the Kurdish region of Iraq so that they can look after refugees there.

These funds, however, must be used to eliminate the root causes of the refugee crisis, he said. Szijjártó said Hungary will contribute 4 million dollars to the UN’s peacekeeping efforts this year and noted that Hungary currently has 91 soldiers serving in peacekeeping operations.

Source: www.hungarymatters.hu
Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: KKM/Szabó Árpád