Hungary allows military shipments to Turkey

Hungary’s parliament today gave its near-unanimous approval to a proposal allowing Nato to use the country’s roads, railways and airspace to carry military support to Turkey.

Politicians voted 335-3 to approve permission for transports up until December 31, 2003. A two-thirds majority was required.

A decision on Nato’s request was postponed last week after opposition parties said they were not given enough time to study the proposal.

The opposition said any transports should be linked specifically to Nato’s defence of Turkey and successfully pushed for a provision ruling out military transports for any other purpose.

“This bill is the guarantee that Hungary is approving Nato’s resolution to strengthen Turkey’s defence while keeping itself distant from the Iraqi crisis,” said Zsolt Nemeth, a deputy of the centre-right Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Party, the largest opposition group.

Nato’s Defence Planning Committee last Wednesday approved a Turkish request to help boost its defence capabilities through the supply of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, AWACS surveillance aircraft and biological and chemical protection units.

Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1999.