No decision has yet been reached in Hungary on whether to receive prisoners from Guantánamo, as the US has not yet made a definite offer, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zsuzsanna Mátrai told reporters on Tuesday.
Mátrai was speaking after US chargé d’affaires Jeffrey D. Levine had said refugees could arrive in Hungary from Guantánamo before the end of the year, once the Hungarian government has given its approval.
Mátrai said Hungary is continuing to hold consultations with the US administration and has repeatedly made it clear that it supports the US decision to shut down the prison camp.
“Hungary could accept one or two people, but the cabinet will only bring a decision after comprehensive analyses, for instance one completed by national security bodies.
Levine said the US is negotiating with its European partners on receiving three or four prisoners from Guantánamo. He also revealed a new ambassador, a political appointee, should not be expected to arrive in Budapest before the autumn.
Levine described the Bajnai cabinet as stable, lauded the Hungarian constitution for speedily enabling a change of cabinet “preserving stability” through the constructive no-confidence motion, expressed concern over the rise of extremists in Hungary, and praised the demonstration of the Hungarian Democratic Charta at the weekend.
“It would be irresponsible to receive inmates from Guantánamo,” Fidesz spokesman Péter Szíjjártó said on Tuesday. “The Hungarian cabinet is unable to meet the challenges that would stem from the arrival of such people in Hungary,” he argued.
