Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUDAPEST764
2008-07-30 15:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:  

HUNGARIAN SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN MISSION AFTER

Tags:  PREL PGOV HU 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUP #0764 2121526
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301526Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3238
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0094
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0436
RUEHBUL/USDAO KABUL AF
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000764 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR ADAM STERLING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN MISSION AFTER
TWO RECENT DEATHS

Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric V. Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000764

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR ADAM STERLING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN MISSION AFTER
TWO RECENT DEATHS

Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric V. Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Following the second death of a Hungarian soldier in
Afghanistan in just over a month, reaction from the media,
opposition parties and high-ranking politicians has been
largely measured, with criticism aimed at the soldiers'
funding and training rather than questioning Hungarian
participation in the mission altogether. Publicly, the GoH
has shown rare multipartisan solidarity in expressing
condolences to the fallen's families and praise for the
all-volunteer force comprising Hungary's contribution to the
NATO mission. Privately, Defense Minister Imre Szekeres told
PolOffs that the Hungarian contingent was "not going
anywhere," indicating strong support for the mission behind
closed doors at the highest level.


2. (U) Public debate about the deaths thus far has been
limited to how well the soldiers were prepared for the
mission, whether they were properly outfitted, and whether or
not they had the language skills to learn from NATO soldiers
in Afghanistan about the proper operation of sophisticated
demining devices, to include remote controlled robots.
Following his appearance before the Parliamentary Defense and
Law Enforcement Committee July 23, Szekeres remarked that the
question of withdrawing troops was not addressed and noted
that the Afghanistan mission enjoys five-party consensus. He
proposed to earmark 500 million HUF (circa 3.4 million USD)
of the 2008 budget for emergency purposes if required, and we
are working through mil-mil channels to respond to his
request for additional training support. Opposition party
FIDESZ would even approve budget amendments to provide
additional finances for the mission said Defense Committee
Chairman and FIDESZ MP Janos Lazar.


3. (SBU) During a meeting on July 24, Hungarian PolAd in
Afghanistan Istvan Tolli told PolOffs that he was concerned
about political solidarity and consensus regarding the
mission given the fallout potential from the two recent
deaths. Back in Budapest on leave, he remarked that he was
relieved to see that support for the mission was reasonably
solid, but indicated to us that he had told senior civilian
and defense officials that they would need to continue their
efforts to build public support given the short-term risks on
the ground and the long-term nature of the mission. In a May
2008 Szonda Ipsos poll published in the Vilaggazdasag daily
newspaper, 51 percent of the respondents agreed with the
"Hungarian military mission in Afghanistan."


4. (C) Comment: Magyar Nemzet has been the most dissonant
voice by far to date. Rapidly becoming more right than
center-right, Magyar Nemzet has been overt in its criticism
of the government's management and the PRT's mission.
Although this has not impacted political consensus or the
public's support, this stridently isolationist message is
disturbing to us and even to opposition officials.
Foley