Orbán calls Röszke riot an ‘organized and armed attack’

Christian Keszthelyi

Some 500 Hungarian soldiers began constructing a 41 km-long fence along the Croatian border last night but our relations with Croatia and Serbia remain good, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on the radio this morning. He also said that Wednesdayʼs riot at the Röszke border crossing was an “organized and armed attack” supported by the media.

Orbán in the studio of Kossuth radio this morning, before going live. (Photo: MTI/Zoltán Máthé)

Commenting on Hungary’s diplomatic ties with Croatia during his regular fortnightly interview with state-owned Kossuth radio, Orbán reportedly said that “the relationship with Serbs and Croatians is good,” but, if there is an “issue, Hungarians can only count on themselves.”

He said that, since Slovenia is part of Schengen, he hopes that the country will defend its borders with Croatia. On Tuesday, Croatia announced that it would welcome refugees, but in less than three days more than 11,000 refugees arrived to the country from Serbia, and late yesterday Croatian officials announced that seven of its border crossings with Serbia would be closed as it cannot cope with the huge influx of refugees.

Organized attack at Röszke

Speaking about the riot involving refugees on Wednesday evening at the Horgos-Röszke border crossing, Orbán said he believes that it was an “organized and armed attack,” adding that “Hungarian police defended the Hungarian border without the help of Serbians while keeping to the protocol of humane behavior.”

According to Orbán, the riot at Röszke was organized and supported by the media and led in English and Arabic languages, Origo.hu reported. He added that Hungarian authorities arrested and identified terrorists, and “their background will be uncovered”.

Orbán said that Hungary is enforcing a policy of “protecting Hungary, Europe and Schengen,” adding that “Europe is under an immense threat” and it is unknown “who the continent lets in.”

Orbán believes that liberalism in Europe – chiefly in the media, but also among politicians – is essentially “suicidal liberalism,” as “we are putting our own interests at stake.”

Hungary is not anti-Muslim

Orbán noted that Hungary is not against Muslim communities, and Muslim minorities living in Hungary are “valuable communities.” What is currently happening should not affect these communities in Hungary, Orbán said. Orbán added that Hungary will “never practice anti-Muslim politics, but we expect everybody to adhere to Hungarian regulations”.