“Europe's defense system must be fortified”

Europe's defense system, also known as the European part of NATO, must be fortified as soon as possible, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Thursday.

"Hungary is committed to implementing the necessary measures in order to do so," Orban said when meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Soltenberg, as reported by Bertalan Havas, the director of Orban's press office.

Hungarian foreign affairs and trade minister Peter Szijjarto and defense minister Istvan Simicsko also took part in the discussion with the NATO leader.

During the meeting, Orban urged the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union (EU) and to NATO.

"The integration of the Western Balkans to the EU and NATO must be accelerated, as it is critical to guarantee the safety of our region," Orban said.

The leader of NATO was in Budapest for the NATO transformation seminar 2017. Some 350 participants, including military experts and ambassadors to NATO from its 28 member states, attended the seminar.

Hungary became a NATO member in 1999.