SWEDISH Foreign Minister Tobias Billström cited the importance of Hungary’s parliament in finalizing Sweden’s ratification process to join NATO.
Billström made the statement as the Hungarian parliament opens on the 26th of February and expressed hope a vote on Sweden’s NATO bid will take place any time by then.
The Swedish foreign minister reiterated there would be no negotiations on the ratification in case Ulf Kristersson visits Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán last month invited Krissterson for talks in Budapest about Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Krissterson responded by accepting Orbán’s invitation to meet him at the Hungarian capital and cited his anticipation to discuss several issues of common interest at a more in-depth level.
Billström at that time rejected Hungary’s call to negotiate Sweden’s bid to join NATO but expressed hope it would ratify the Nordic country’s membership as soon as possible.
However, a group of lawmakers under Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, which holds an absolute majority in the parliament, boycotted an emergency session earlier this month. A vote on Sweden’s bid to join NATO was on the agenda but the absence of the lawmakers from the ruling party blocked an attempt to place a vote on the National Assembly’s schedule.
Sweden’s criticism of Hungary’s government was perceived as one of the major factors for the delay. Lawmakers from Hungary’s ruling party said they would not support holding a vote on Sweden’s NATO bid until Kristersson meets Orbán in Budapest.
The Turkish parliament ratified Sweden’s accession protocol last month, making Hungary the last of the 31-member alliance not to do so.
