[Grem] Viktor Orbán Interviewed by BILD Zeitung

[Emoke Greschik]

*Prime Minister Viktor  Orbán’s Interview with BILD Zeitung*

*13 September 2015 *

*https://2010-2015.miniszterelnok.hu/in_english_article/prime_minister_viktor_orban_s_interview_with_bild_zeitung
<https://2010-2015.miniszterelnok.hu/in_english_article/prime_minister_viktor_orban_s_interview_with_bild_zeitung>*

English translation of the article published on Saturday by BILD Zeitung
under the title Darum baut Ungarn einen Zaun gegen Flüchtlinge.

English translation of the article published on Saturday by BILD Zeitung
under the title Darum baut Ungarn einen Zaun gegen Flüchtlinge
<https://msg.gov.hu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=5TtzYefo1ZbK9DhsAbBisxrMqxIsbyHAkeyUVIwcHNwswuBye7zSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBiAGkAbABkAC4AZABlAC8AcABvAGwAaQB0AGkAawAvAGEAdQBzAGwAYQBuAGQALwB2AGkAawB0AG8AcgAtAG8AcgBiAGEAbgAvAGQAYQByAHUAbQAtAGIAYQB1AHQALQB1AG4AZwBhAHIAbgAtAGUAaQBuAGUAbgAtAHoAYQB1AG4ALQBnAGUAZwBlAG4ALQBmAGwAdQBlAGMAaAB0AGwAaQBuAGcAZQAtADQAMgA1ADQANAA0ADAAMgAuAGIAaQBsAGQALgBoAHQAbQBsACUAMwBDAGIAcgAlADIAMAAvACUAMwBFAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.bild.de%2fpolitik%2fausland%2fviktor-orban%2fdarum-baut-ungarn-einen-zaun-gegen-fluechtlinge-42544402.bild.html%253Cbr%2520%2f%253E>
.

*BILD: Prime Minister, what did you feel when you saw the photo of the dead
little boy on the beach in Kos? (sic)*

It was a shocking experience; all loss of human life is a tragedy. But I
also thought about the boy’s parents: they set off from a safe refugee camp
outside Syria and risked both their own lives and the lives of their
children. We must make it clear to them that we cannot assume
responsibility for the dangers that await them on the trip to Europe. For
this reason, it would be better if they didn’t come.

*Do you have sympathy for the refugees?*

Of course I do, all Christians feel sympathy for them. But this sympathy is
not enough. We must act.

*But you say that the refugee crisis is a “German problem” – What is
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mistake, do you think?*

The German Chancellor always does everything right – this is the first
paragraph of the Hungarian constitution. (Laughter) But we must have a
serious talk about the consequences of the German decision allowing
migrants to enter Germany. That statement caused a revolt in Hungary.
Migrants broke out of their places of accommodation and attacked the
police. They refused to be registered as laid down in EU law. Previously,
our authorities had been keeping the situation under control – albeit with
great difficulty. But then the German government announced that it would be
“temporarily” suspending EU regulations, and chaos broke out in Hungary.
This is what happens when rules are not followed.

*Hungary didn’t bother about the rules so much in 1989. Thousands of East
German citizens were allowed to cross the border into Austria and the Iron
Curtain fell. Why isn’t that possible today?*

There is an important difference: the refugees from East Germany were not
in Hungary illegally; there was no question that they were being provided
with official accommodation at the West German Embassy. They were being
cared for there, and they waited. They did not totally disregard Hungarian
law. After that the Hungarians opened their own border. Today, it is
illegal immigrants who are breaking across our borders. The fence of
communism was directed against us. The fence we are currently constructing
is meant to serve us.

*How do you feel as Europe’s leading villain? Do you still want to oppose
the rest of the continent?*

All I can say is that “Here I stand; I can do no other”. We Hungarians are
Europeans, and we have signed a contract with Europe which means that we
must guarantee that European citizens can move freely and that our borders
are secure. This is what we have stuck to throughout. Those people now
coming to Hungary are being doubly tricked: on the one hand by human
traffickers, and on the other by certain European politicians. Both are
promising them a better life, and that they will be able to stay here –
even when there is once again peace in their country of origin. But they
will see that the honey that flows in Germany is a little less sweet than
they had hoped. They will also realise that their standard of living
depends on their performance, and not on the demands they make.

*Have you seen the squalor at Budapest’s Keleti Station personally?*

I have been there, but I didn’t go into the station itself.

*A selfie with refugees like the one Chancellor Merkel recently took at a
refugee centre in Berlin would perhaps be impossible there?*

Yes, well, I’m probably not a favourite among the immigrants, but I don’t
judge my policies according to the exposure time of a photograph either.

*Would you take in a family of refugees?*

Yes, if it didn’t encourage other refugees to come here to Europe. That
wouldn’t be a good idea today. My wife and children are taking action, and
are committed to help, however.

*Hungary’s borders will be closed next Tuesday. Where should all the
refugees go?*

Back.

*Back to where?*

To where they came from. Because these migrants have not arrived in Hungary
directly from war zones, but from refugee camps in countries bordering
Syria: from Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. They were safe there. So these
people are not fleeing danger – they have already fled successfully from
that – and have no need to worry for their safety any more. These people
are not coming to Europe because they seek safety, but because they want a
better life than that in the refugee camps. They want to live a German
life, or perhaps a Swedish life. The standard of living they could have in
Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary or Austria is not enough for them. On a
personal level I can understand that, but the fact is that there is no
fundamental right to a better life, only to safety and human dignity.

*Nevertheless, many European heads of government want to accept immigrants…*

Europe’s leading politicians are currently living in a dream world. They
have no idea of the actual dangers that immigrants mean to us. Nor about
the magnitude of the problem, because we are talking about millions and
millions of people. There is an endless supply – from Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Mali, Ethiopia, Nigeria. If we let them all in, Europe will be in ruins.

*So what should Europe do?*

We have a plan, which we will present to Europe’s other heads of government
at our next meeting. Part of the plan includes providing massive funding to
countries bordering Syria. These include Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Turkey
itself is performing exceptionally well with regard to the refugee crisis.
We in Europe should in fact hold a Mass for President Erdogan every week,
regardless of whatever political viewpoints there are. We must not abandon
states like Turkey, and we must not be miserly.

*What does this mean, exactly?*

I recommend that every Member State contributes an extra one per cent to
the EU budget. Parallel with this, expenditure on other goals should be
reduced by one per cent. This would generate a total of some 3 billion
euros, with which we can provide financial support to the countries
neighbouring Syria. And if we require more money, we can increase aid until
the flow of immigrants subsides. Since a rapid solution is required, this
is a process which would prevent us from arguing indefinitely about
budget-related issues.

*What about the refugees who are already here in Europe?*

We mustn’t fool ourselves. None of them want to go home. They will all
remain here, I’m afraid.

*What is your opinion about the idea that these people who are already here
in Europe should be distributed among the countries of the European Union
according to a quota system?*

There are two arguments against this. Firstly, refugee quotas only make
sense if borders are secure. Until then, no government can have any idea
about how many people need to be distributed, because their numbers will be
constantly increasing. And secondly: can we really prevent migrants from
travelling to where they want to go? Should we chain them up in Europe’s
capitals, so they don’t go back to Germany? Who can really keep them in
Estonia, Slovenia or Portugal, if they want to go to Germany? It's an
illusion to think they won't.

*Will you continue to stand by your “no” vote on quotas, even if the
European Union threatens a fine or the introduction of sanctions?*

My confident opinion is that nobody has ever been punished for upholding EU
law. Instead of trying to find a solution in quotas, Brussels should be
putting more pressure on Greece, because for years now the European Union’s
external borders haven’t been protected there. If Greece had been
fulfilling its obligations, this whole immigration crisis wouldn’t exist –
not in Berlin, or in Budapest. But ultimately this is what makes us
European: we would like to be decent people, both towards the poor Greeks,
and towards the multitude of refugees. Except we do not want to face the
consequences.

*Does one of the dangers you are warning about include “Islamisation”?*

I personally have great respect for Islam. Without Islamic philosophy, part
of the world would have fallen prey to barbarism centuries ago. But once
again, we mustn’t fool ourselves: immigration would lead to a majority
Muslim population in Europe within the foreseeable future. If Europe allows
cultures to compete, then the Christians will find themselves on the losing
side. These are facts. The only way out for those who want to preserve
Europe as a Christian culture is not to allow more and more Muslims into
Europe. But this is something that Europe’s leading politicians are
unwilling to talk about.

*Do you believe there is a chance of putting an end to the cause of the
refugee crisis: the civil war in Syria?*

The West is just as much party to the outbreak of the war as is the Arab
world and other states. We will only succeed in finding a solution to the
conflict if all parties involved are determined to put a stop to this war’s
barbarism. This alliance primarily requires the “big boys” (i.e. the United
States and Russia) to come to a compromise. But Europe, the Arab states and
China will have their own opinions too.

*The original German version of the article is available here
<http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/viktor-orban/darum-baut-ungarn-einen-zaun-gegen-fluechtlinge-42544402.bild.html>.*

*Prime Minister's Office*
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