Orbán’s words were spoken during the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency.
Hungary ratified Finland’s entry into the defense alliance in March, but like Turkey is still delaying making a decision on Sweden’s application.
– We do not want to import conflicts into NATO, said the Hungarian Prime Minister.
“As quickly as possible”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg comments on Orbán’s actions in diplomatic terms and reiterates the hope that Sweden’s application will be approved.
– I recommend that Sweden’s NATO application be ratified by all member states, says Stoltenberg to Swedish and Danish journalists on site at the EU defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
Stoltenberg continues to look hopefully at the Swedish path to NATO.
– I am completely confident that Sweden will become a member of NATO. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen as soon as possible, says Stoltenberg.
The Secretary General points to three things in a short period of time that could change the situation: that the Turkish election will soon be over, that Sweden’s new anti-terror laws will come into force from June 1, and that the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius will give the leaders the opportunity to meet face to face.
– It is not a guarantee, but it is a possibility, says Stoltenberg in Brussels.
Works military
Sweden’s Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) does not want to review Orbán’s statements about bad relations.
– But I can state that in the military area we have good cooperation with Hungary and it has to do with the fact that we both operate the Gripen. So in that respect I think it works well, says Jonson after the EU meeting in Brussels.
Among the other NATO countries, he feels growing support for a rapid Swedish entry.
– We are still hopeful that we will be able to become full members for the NATO summit in Vilnius (July 11-12). But then, of course, only Hungary can make Hungarian decisions, says the Minister of Defence.