PM Orban: European Politics Faces Serious Challenges

Security challenges, wars and blocification are among the issues Hungary's PM spoke about at the Organization of Turkic States summit.

A Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda által közreadott képen Orbán Viktor miniszterelnök (k) felszólal a Türk Államok Szervezete 10. csúcstalálkozóján Asztanában 2023. november 3-án. MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán Fotó: Fischer Zoltán

"The plan was that Ukraine would fight, we in the West would give the money and the weapons, Ukraine would win, Russia would lose on the battlefield, there would be changes in Moscow, and a deal could be made with the new Russian leadership," the premier summarized and called it an ambitious and logical plan. But it didn't work, so the question now dominating European politics is whether to face reality and come up with a Plan B. He recalled that the EU is currently discussing whether to give EUR 50 billion to Ukraine, which Mr Orban considers a sign that the majority still thinks that the previous, failed strategy should be followed and financed.

The prime minister added that this debate is causing great tension among European countries and will last at least two months.

Plan B: Ceasefire

"I would like to inform the Mister Presidents in attendance that Hungary is calling for a Plan B:  a ceasefire, peace negotiations and the building of a new European security architecture, which is reassuring for Ukraine and acceptable to Russia", the Hungarian PM said, and expressed his conviction that Turkey, and through Turkey the Turkic world, must also be represented in the new European security architecture, because without Turkey it is impossible to imagine a sustainable and long-term European security structure.

In the current international situation, the role of the Organization of Turkic States is increasing; the Turkic states have been able to moderate conflicts and reduce the risks of escalation. "Hungary would like to continue to strengthen this policy in the Organization of Turkic States," the PM emphasized.

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban (left) and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev (right) at the 10th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Astana, on November 3, 2023. Photo: Zoltan Fischer

Hungary to engage in Turkic Investment Fund

The Prime Minister confirmed that Hungary is poised to participate in the work of the Turkic Investment Fund and maintains its previous commitment to contribute EUR 100 million. He thanked members for accepting Hungary into the Council on Green Finance and pointed out that Hungary is one of the 20 countries in the world whose GDP is growing while its emissions are decreasing. In his speech, PM Orban thanked Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for inviting him to the summit, noting that he was delighted to be there and wished him a successful presidency. He expressed the respect of the Hungarian people to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic by saying that "we Hungarians are well aware what a great achievement this was a hundred years ago on the part of Turkiye, and which - unfortunately - a hundred years ago, we Hungarians were not able to achieve ".

He also thanked President Erdogan for his efforts to restore peace in Europe.

PM Orban extended special thanks to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for successfully leading the work of the Organization of Turkic States in "a very difficult and complicated" period, and wished Azeri President Ilham Aliyev success in his work to stabilize the region and in the reconstruction of Karabakh.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban (center) speaks in Astana at the 10th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States on November 32023 (Photo: MTI/Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer )