Hungary will increase defence spending by 7% next year and by 0.2% of GDP annually over the next five years, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres announced Thursday as NATO defence ministers began a two-day informal conference in Budapest. Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány confirmed Hungary will steadily increase its defence spending over the next few years.
The 2009 draft budget states that defence spending will total Ft 338.388 billion, 7% more than this year, or 1.17% of GDP.
Some 12% of Hungary’s land forces are serving in foreign missions, including peacekeeping operations, Szekeres said, adding that only the US and Great Britain have a higher figure among NATO countries.
Gyurcsány met separately with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to discuss ongoing NATO operations.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced that NATO will send seven battleships to the coast of Somalia at the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, to ensure that Somalis receive food shipments which are regularly stolen by pirates, and to crush the pirates.
Speaking on Kossuth tér, Scheffer told Hungarian soldiers back from their tour of duty in Afghanistan that they had performed their duties to the highest standard. He also met with President László Sólyom.
Elsewhere, Scheffer said a new strategy, more funds and more soldiers are required in Afghanistan. Gates urged member states to authorise NATO troops to take action against the manufacture and trafficking of opium, as the crop generates $80 billion annually for the Taliban insurgents.
Gates meanwhile urged NATO member states to invite Georgia and Ukraine to the “ante-chamber” of the military alliance in December. A substantive exchange of views is expected today on the situation in Georgia.
Ministers from 26 member states and 16 other countries playing a part in NATO operations are attending the two-day summit.
Great example of politic spin this:
“Some 12% of Hungary’s land forces are serving in foreign
missions, including peacekeeping operations, Szekeres said,
adding that only the US and Great Britain have a higher figure
among NATO countries.”
Notice he doesn’t say ‘higher percentage’, that would actually be
the truth. Speak loudly on the international scene, keep the
delegates in a security zone away from places like Blaha
(wouldn’t want the Defence Minister of Denmark or whatever
being harassed by drunk beggars now would we) and hope no-
one outside Hungary will notice you can’t run the country
properly. Good tactic Imre (and chums), you might just pull it
off…
And of course Szekeres loves the idea of having more money to
waste, embezzle or give to new friends he’s met in the
international defence consultancy industry.
“….. 0.2 %…” WOW, may I ask who else will be financing it? Hehehe ………..
May wanna hold a funeral for the lovely NATO, when it will be “gone where the goblins go, Below – below – below.” …. well deserved!!
Brain cells come and go, but fat cells live forever – Oh I wish I were two stone lighter!