22 Oct. 2004

Hungarian Prime Minister at NATO News 21/10/04 - NATO Hungarian Prime Minister to visit NATO HQ Opinions 22/10/04 - NATO Transcript of the press point with NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsány, Prime Minister of Hungary Multimedia Audio file of the press point (MP3/6079kb) The new Prime Minister of Hungary, Ferenc Gyurcsány, discussed the main issues on the Alliance’s agenda with NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, at NATO on 22 October. The talks focused on NATO’s continuing effort to restructure the armed forces of member countries so they can be more useable for operations, where and when necessary. Concern with spending Mr. De Hoop Scheffer repeated his concern about the way the defence budgets of some NATO member countries are developing. “There are different degrees of happiness in the life of a Secretary General, and there is a lesser degree of happiness if he is confronted with cuts in defence spending, because nations had agreed to go for two per cent [of] GDP,” Mr. De Hoop Scheffer told reporters during a joint press point with the Prime Minister. The Secretary General praised Hungary for its active role in NATO’s operations. At present, some 1,100 Hungarian troops participate in international missions. Prime Minister Gyurcsány confirmed the intention of the Hungarian government to maintain that level of commitment on a long term. This was Mr. Gyurcsány’s first visit to NATO following his appointment as Prime Minister this September.