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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó proposed unifying UN counter-terrorism operations in New York on Wednesday, pointing out that activities in the field are currently scattered among different organizations.
Speaking at the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, the minister said that humanity today lives in an era of threats and constant crises, underlining that insecurity poses serious security risks worldwide. In his speech, he stressed that the terrorist threat is more acute than ever and that it is a global phenomenon that requires joint action, which is why the UN must be one of the main actors in coordinating international efforts.
He pointed out that Hungary is not one of the world’s largest, richest, or most powerful states, but it is doing its fair share of UN counter-terrorism activities. To back this up, he explained that
the largest UN Counter-Terrorism Office headquarters after New York is in Budapest, where twenty-eight people are now working. This regional headquarters plays a major role in coordinating action and implementing the program to limit the movement of extremists worldwide.
Péter Szijjártó said that certain reforms in the functioning of the UN were needed, such as the creation of a single counter-terrorism department with a proper budget, as activities in this area are currently scattered among different departments.
He added that the fight against terrorism was particularly important for Hungary because it would also make the fight against illegal immigration more effective, as the two things form a kind of “vicious circle.” He noted that Hungary is on the busiest land migration route in Europe, so it requires a huge effort from the authorities to stem the flow of migrants.
We have stopped more than half a million illegal immigrants at our borders so far, for which we are subject to terrible political attacks in Europe,”
he said. “And we insist on our right to decide for ourselves who we let into our territory and who we are willing to live with,” he added.
The Foreign Minister concluded by expressing concern about the growing threat of terrorism in Africa and said that with the continent’s population projected to grow by 950 million over the next decades, it was vital to help countries in the region to provide people with decent jobs, healthcare, and education. “If this fails, two very bad scenarios are possible. One is the worst humanitarian disaster ever and the other is the biggest migration pressure ever in Europe. We want to avoid both bad scenarios if possible,” he emphasized.
During his trip to New York, Szijjártó met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy Guy Ryder. They discussed the serious challenges facing the world body and the need for its leaders to move out of their comfort zones if they are to save the institution, which is now the last truly universal, inclusive platform for dialogue between East and West.
Donald Trump’s criticisms are justified, the UN is not working effectively today, it is often hampered by the liberal mainstream and often comes down on the heads of member states rather than helping them,”
Szijjártó stressed. “However, the situation can be remedied: we need to eliminate duplication, streamline the organization, cut unnecessary costs, and focus on real global challenges,” he concluded.
Via MTI, Featured photo via Facebook/Szijjártó Péter