Illegal migration serious security threat, Hungary’s FM tells BBC Hard Talk

“In Hungary’s view, illegal migration represents a major security risk to Europe, and the Government regards it as a huge problem that the European Union was unable to handle this phenomenon right at the beginning”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on BBC television’s Hard Talk show.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who spoke to the press while attending the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, declared. “We can already see the consequences: over 1.5 million illegal migrants have entered the territory of the EU without any form of control, regulation or checks, and that is unacceptable”.

“One of the most serious consequences is the increased risk of terrorism in Europe”, he added.

According to Mr. Szijjártó there are two possibilities: either we encourage people who live in extremely bad conditions to come to Europe, or we provide assistance where it is needed. Hungary is clearly in favour of the second option, the Minister said.

“The Hungarian Government is acting accordingly, and is saying that

the European Union should be providing a much higher level of financial assistance to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraqi Kurdistan.

Because according to Hungary’s standpoint people who have been forced to leave their homes should receive help to enable them to stay as close to their homes as possible, and in good conditions”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

“Hungary has contributed to the implementation of the agreement between the EU and Turkey with millions of euros, in addition to which it has spent of 15 million euros on supporting Christian communities in Syria, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan and Lebanon”, he highlighted.

In reply to a question concerning the fact that according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi Hungarian practices are forcing refugees, including children, to spend long periods of time living in containers surrounded by barbed wire, Mr. Szijjártó said: “Everyone, including the UN’s high-ranking officials, must abide by European regulations. According to the Schengen Regulations it is mandatory for countries that lie along the external order of the European Union to ensure that their borders can only by crossed at official border crossing points and while in possession of the required travel documents”.

“Hungary has 500 kilometres of border that is also the external border of the European Union and the Schengen Area, and Hungary has an obligation to protect that border”, Mr. Szijjártó stressed.