A number of issues need to be resolved before Sweden’s bid for NATO membership can be ratified, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs wrote in an editorial on About Hungary on March 30.
The first problem, according to Kovacs, is the “steady weakening of relations” by Sweden. He said that Sweden had repeatedly tried to undermine Hungary’s interests through diplomatic methods.
The second problem is the “demonstration of moral superiority”. Kovacs recalled the case when activists in Stockholm burned the Quran. “Sweden did not condemn the provocation against Turkey, justifying it with ‘freedom of expression’, hiding racism under the guise of moral superiority,” he wrote.
The third problem, according to the representative of Hungary, is “the lack of attention and respect”. He said that relations between the two countries have “deteriorated over the years” and “bridge the gap” which he considers “more difficult in these difficult times”.
Kovacs recalled Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s statement that Sweden’s NATO membership is “correct in terms of logic, humanity and honour” and does not harm Hungary’s interests. However, Kovacs stressed that Hungary needed to clarify the situation with Sweden before going any further.
Remember that for Sweden to become a full member of NATO, its candidacy must be ratified by Turkey and Hungary. All the other 28 member countries have already done so.
