Hungary will increase the number of its troops serving in Afghanistan by 200, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai announced Friday afternoon following talks with US Vice-President Joe Biden in the White House. Hungary has 340 soldiers in Afghanistan.
Bajnai did not give any details regarding the deployment of the troops, but said the emphasis will be on training, as well as the fulfilment of logistical tasks and securing Afghan elections next year. He expressed support for US President Barack Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan.
Asked whether he had negotiated with the parliamentary parties on the issue, Bajnai said talks had started and will probably be concluded this week.
Some restructuring of Hungarian troops serving in missions around the world may be required, Bajnai continued, adding that troops may be withdrawn from Kosovo. Extra expenses will be covered from reserves, so the budget will not need to be modified, he said.
On another issue, he noted that Hungary has just finished filling up its strategic gas reservoirs, providing the country with enough energy for the winter, and that Biden promised to help Hungary to build liquefied gas reservoirs.
Biden called Hungarian economic policy exemplary, Népszabadság reported.
Bajnai did not meet President Obama, although he had hoped for it, as Obama left for Pennsylvania earlier that day. Biden said the President would have gladly met the Hungarian leader.
During a meeting with American Helsinki Commission chairman Benjamin Cardin, Bajnai asked for help for Hungary’s Roma integration programme, mentioning that the issue has much in common with the integration of the American black minority. Senator Cardin said he disapproves of incidents related to the Slovak language law, and that he will take up this topic with the Slovaks.
