Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc KONTRA: The NATO door has not narrowed

Three years ago, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic became NATO members, so far the only former socialist countries to have been admitted. The Hungarian experience is useful to Ukraine in many respects now that it has declared its intent to embark on a process culminating in NATO membership. This above all concerns molding public opinion. In Hungary, a mere 42% favored it at first, but after a government-financed promotional campaign the figure rose to 85%. Another interesting aspect is that Hungary received its membership “in advance,” as it is still forming its armed forces to meet the NATO standard. Defense spending, incidentally, amounts to only 1.6% of the GDP instead of the required 3% (1.25% in Ukraine). Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Kontra promised that Budapest would share its North Atlantic experience and welcomed Kyiv’s NATO decision. Ambassador Kontra, however, avoided giving a direct answer to the question of whether his country would be Ukraine’s advocate within the alliance.

Mr. Ambassador, how did Hungary respond to Ukraine’s decision to work out a NATO rapprochement strategy?

Ambassador: Hungary’s society and political leadership have so far shown no reaction to the resolution of the National Security and Defense Council. Kyiv must first serve official notice to NATO headquarters. NATO will consider it and duly respond. Only then will Ukraine’s deep integration process commence. As for expanding the North Atlantic alliance, the Hungarian position is clear: we greet the process and on the broadest possible scope. A new NATO member means that the values upheld by NATO embrace a larger territory. We would like all Hungary’s neighbors adhere to the NATO principles in terms of security and defense. If the NATO response to the Ukrainian decision is positive, we will welcome the process.

The way you mention NATO is as though Hungary were still to become its member. Yet when the Ukrainian question is deliberated in Brussels, the stand taken by Budapest will also be taken into account. Is it for or against Ukraine?

Ambassador: I am not saying, of course, that Hungary is not a member of NATO. Our country became its full member three years ago. What I meant was that NATO is to decide on admitting any country applying for membership, and that separate countries cannot say that yes, they are for a given country becoming a NATO member. There must be a consensus, with all nineteen member states voicing their decisions, and the final one proclaimed by a NATO spokesman. Hungary borders on Ukraine, so we are naturally glad to see Kyiv deepen its cooperation with NATO. There are no differences between Budapest and Brussels in this sense.

Was Hungary surprised by the NSDC resolution?

Ambassador: Not really. Everybody had been waiting for something like that to happen. The more so that there had been an intensive dialogue and constant consultations with NATO. No, we were not surprised by your decision, except that we were not sure when it would be made.

We hear that there are quite a few Western politicians strongly opposing NATO expansion eastward. The obvious inference is that the NATO entryway, while being kept open, is getting narrower. Could this mean that Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic were lucky to become members three years ago?

Ambassador: I wouldn’t say that Hungary or those other six or seven countries to be admitted this fall are lucky and that the others are not. NATO adheres to the open door principle, welcoming all countries proving they actually meet the NATO standard in terms of democracy, effective market economy, armed forces, and civilian control over the military. I do not agree that the NATO door is narrowing. The Prague summit is eloquent proof to the contrary.

Yet the membership qualifications are getting tougher with each passing year.

Ambassador: Of course, the organization is undergoing change as is the world around us. Who would have believed only a short while ago that Russia would ever join NATO’s Twenty format? I think that the Russian politicians wouldn’t have either. Yet after September 11 the world was faced with new threats. A small terrorist group proved capable of challenging the world’s most developed countries. A small organization appeared equipped to threaten Washington, and those people sitting in Afghan caves could control terrorist attacks challenging the whole civilized world. I am not speaking of two big countries at war with each other. The world has not become any safer, and there are still factors making NATO’s existence necessary.

Could Ukraine count on Hungarian advocacy and lobbying in the North Atlantic alliance?

Ambassador: On condition that Ukraine does its homework, meeting all the membership requirements. If Ukraine proves its intent in deeds, not words, if it takes specific measures aimed at enhancing democracy, securing market economy conditions, transforming the armed forces, you can rest assured that the Hungarian stand will remain unchanged. We want as many neighbors to become NATO members as possible, for this would only strengthen our national security.