The online version of the German liberal weekly Die Zeit published an interview with Hungarian Minister of Human Capacities Zoltán Balog entitled Horrible humanitarian conditions on the horizon.
In the interview published on Tuesday Mr. Balog said that in the past Hungarians often felt they were being misunderstood in Germany.
He said one such misunderstanding was that the border fence represented “inhuman tyranny”, whereas the opposite is true: it is a temporary measure meant to enforce European and international law.
Reacting to the fact that many lawyers and the United Nations represent a different view, Mr. Balog said that everyone applying for asylum in Hungary is subject to equal treatment. At the same time, he pointed out it was true that Hungary rejected many applicants, the reason for this being that they have arrived to Hungary from a safe country, Serbia.
In response to the question whether declaring Serbia a safe country meant that Hungary would not have to offer protection to anyone, Mr. Balog said that declaring Serbia a safe third country was a correct decision as no one has to fear persecution there.
He said that if Germany deems some Northern African states to be safe, the question arises, why Serbia, a country applying for EU membership, should not be considered as such.
As for the rising number of illegal border crossings, Mr. Balog said that the explanation of the phenomenon was that human trafficking has become a “huge business”. People are not reaching the borders on their own, but are rather helped by traffickers who exploit them and this must be combated.
In response to the question whether the Head of Frontex is right when saying that the border fence cannot stop the wave of migrants, the Minister said that the fact that it is not a long-term solution does not represent a valid argument against it being applied as a temporary measure.
Mr. Balog emphasised that Hungary has signalled years ago that the Balkans migration route may become one of the main routes for migrants but “there was no response from Brussels”, nor was any help forthcoming. He said that this resulted in half a million migrants entering Hungary almost entirely uncontrolled, therefore the authorities had to act in order to remedy a chaotic situation.
He said that while Hungary observes international and EU law, it must also signal that “it is impossible to accept unlimited migration and the flow will be halted”. All further negotiations can only come after that, he stressed.
Answering the question whether as a former human rights activist it was painful to him that Hungary is currently not helping the refugees, Mr. Balog said that it was undeniable that being part of these “correct decisions” was a moral burden on him, but a distinction must be made between brotherly love and the state’s duty to protect its citizens.
He said that opening the borders for the refugees coming from East Germany was at the time in defence of European rights including safety and freedom, while closing the borders and applying the common regulations serve the protection of the same values now. Furthermore, these measures also defended Hungary from mass migration and its inherent social, political and cultural hazards. At the same time, both the authorities and civilians did everything in their powers to assist in supporting the refugees.
Referring to the dangers posed by refugees, Mr. Balog explained that people felt their identity was being threatened. He said that throughout Hungary’s history, its citizens have often lived under foreign rule and they do not want to change the current situation in which they can finally live the way they want to live. He said this is also an issue of Islam, which Hungarians respect as a colossal world religion, but they are also aware that it also carries different perceptions of certain issues, such as the relation of men and women. “Cologne has demonstrated that”, Mr. Balog said, in reference to the New Year’s Eve attacks against women there.
He said that uncontrolled migration from Middle Eastern war zones also represents an increased threat of terrorism that endangers the freedom of Hungarians.
Mr. Balog pointed out that reinforcing the nation state gives citizens greater security at a time when it seems as if Brussels was less and less capable of making decisions regarding the migration crisis. This is one of the reasons for the “cultural Iron Curtain” that has descended between Eastern and Western Europe, Mr. Balog explained when asked whether more nationalism brings more freedom.
Referring to the interpretation according to which Hungary and other Eastern European countries in fact hinder a reasonable European solution to the migration crisis, Mr. Balog said that a long-term solution is required and while an agreement with Turkey is important, “it is not enough for us”.
Europeans must ensure the better protection of Europe’s borders by themselves, he said. In response to the statement according to which more people will drown at sea if Europe builds a fortress, he said that Europe needs to come to an agreement with Turkey that will prevent people from opting for this solution. “But you are right: horrible humanitarian conditions are on the horizon”, Mr. Balog pointed out, adding that instead of mutual recriminations, people should help each other.
We are dealing with people deceived by traffickers, their own governments, wars and false pictures of European conditions painted by global media; people who have become victims of their decisions to set off to Europe. “What is more humane? Telling them upfront not to come, or sending them back after several months or years?”, Mr. Balog asked.