The position of Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union on the Hungarian contribution to the stabilisation of Iraq

Dátum: 2003-05-29 09:36:00, eredeti URL: http://archiv.fidesz.hu/index.php?Cikk=11006
KCMDB-be feltöltve: 2024-05-04 18:22:23.679342, Feltöltő: fidesz_hu_scraper_v2

The fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq has put on the agenda the question of Hungarian military and non-military contribution to the stabilisation in Iraq. Whereas there has been no obstacle to Hungarian non-military humanitarian assistance in this regard, Fidesz has been consistent in saying that international legitimacy by either the United Nations Security Council, NATO, or the European Union as to the legal status of the stablisation force in Iraq is a precondition to Hungarian military contribution in that country. (Under the Hungarian Constitution, a two-thirds majority is required in the National Assembly related to all decisions concerning sending units of Hungarian armed forces abroad. There are no such requirements as to humanitarian assistance.)

Fidesz therefore rejected the govenment's proposals which aimed at sending a military police unit of 300 personnel to Iraq, while being supportive of humanitarian assistance. Last week, the government introduced another motion under which Hungary would contribute a military transport and logistics unit of 300 personnel with self-defence capabilities to the stabilisation effort. For the reasons explained above, Fidesz rejected this motion, as well.

The Hungarian government had been insisting all along that Hungary must make her contribution even without a legal act of international legitimation, because such an act would not happen. Last Thursday, however, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1483, granting wide governing powers for the United States and its coalition partners, thus providing international authorisation for the stabilisation of Iraq. Consequently, Resolution 1483 did not only render the Hungarian government's position void and upheld the stand Fidesz had been taking, but also created a new environment for the whole domestic debate. During its parliamentary group meeting on 26 May, Fidesz has evaluated the newly emerged situation, and approved the dispatch of the 300-strong military transport and logistics unit with self-defence capabilities.

Four-party negotiations held on the matter today resulted in an agreement concerning the nature of the Hungarian contribution, the military transport and logistics unit with self-defence capabilities, consisting of 300 personnel. Final vote on the issue is expected by the National Assembly on Monday, 2 June.