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THE BEGGAR'S REPUTATION: AZERI EXTRADITION AFFAIR TO MAKE HUNGARY LOSE INFLUENCE
by F. Zoltan Baka
Nepszabadsag
4 September 2012
Hungary
[Translated from Hungarian]
Peter Szijjarto [Hungarian Prime Minister's Office state secretary
for foreign affairs] is trying to protect the government from the
consequences of the worst assumptions - that we handed the murderer
back to the Azeris for a couple of billion dollars in the knowledge
that he would be idolized as a god back at home - when during his
roadshow for the press he says that Budapest acted in accordance with
international agreements in the matter. Other government reactions,
for example the summoning of a diplomat which is considered to be
a strong signal in interstate relations, suggest that Orban and his
team did not quite imagine the extradition this way.
>From a moral angle it is understandable that the government would like
to shed the accusation; a European country cannot involve itself in
such a deal. If it emerges, nonetheless, that it did this voluntarily
and willingly, then any leader of a democratic state that values
itself will not allow the Hungarian prime minister even through the
front door, not to mention receiving him.
However, I have bad news for Szijjarto. I see the events having no
outcome that would enable the government to retain its acceptability.
What would happen if the world accepted the explanations given by
the state secretary in the Prime Minister's Office for foreign affairs?
Well, in that case we do not need moral concerns, since we would have
a good chance in contesting the Darwin prize of the year, which is the
"reward" for the biggest loser. Specifically, the Azeris tricked us,
not giving a toss about getting the Hungarian government into a very
awkward situation. Why might they have done this? Because they do not
consider us an equal partner. They have nothing to fear, we have no
economic or political influence in the world. For a couple of minutes
we pass our cap around in the Caucasus, and here and there in Asia.
The beggar has no honour. Especially not in those authoritarian
societies and states (or among people of semi-or entirely Asian
descent) where we are trying to get money which is not disbursed by
the IMF.
The situation is that Szijjarto's version of events is an open
acknowledgement that we do not feature on the map; Baku also looks
through us. Out of other considerations, Yerevan also sees us as thin
air. The news of this is spreading in the region, and various prices
will be set on our role in the Azeri-Armenian conflict. Either we
will be seen as a poor devil or as Judas who can be bought for 30
pieces of silver (in Yerevan, change was scattered in front of the
pharmacy serving the Hungarian mission, while the Hungarian flag was
set on fire).
This same assessment further afield, in the negotiating rooms of the
major powers, is repositioning Budapest in the world. Hence, whether or
not we knew the Azeris' true intentions, the whip is resounding on us.
This is a sad report on Hungarian policy. While some government
members were dreaming of regional economic expansion, we received a
sobering slap from somewhere several thousands of kilometres away,
from a country for which we otherwise foster no grievances. Not like
in the case of most central European countries targeted by the Wekerle
plan. It is true that we have no substantive economic relations with
Baku either; thus we lack significance. Our defenselessness, however,
is not remaining a secret, here in Europe either.
[Translated frm Hungarian]
From: A. Papazian
by F. Zoltan Baka
Nepszabadsag
4 September 2012
Hungary
[Translated from Hungarian]
Peter Szijjarto [Hungarian Prime Minister's Office state secretary
for foreign affairs] is trying to protect the government from the
consequences of the worst assumptions - that we handed the murderer
back to the Azeris for a couple of billion dollars in the knowledge
that he would be idolized as a god back at home - when during his
roadshow for the press he says that Budapest acted in accordance with
international agreements in the matter. Other government reactions,
for example the summoning of a diplomat which is considered to be
a strong signal in interstate relations, suggest that Orban and his
team did not quite imagine the extradition this way.
>From a moral angle it is understandable that the government would like
to shed the accusation; a European country cannot involve itself in
such a deal. If it emerges, nonetheless, that it did this voluntarily
and willingly, then any leader of a democratic state that values
itself will not allow the Hungarian prime minister even through the
front door, not to mention receiving him.
However, I have bad news for Szijjarto. I see the events having no
outcome that would enable the government to retain its acceptability.
What would happen if the world accepted the explanations given by
the state secretary in the Prime Minister's Office for foreign affairs?
Well, in that case we do not need moral concerns, since we would have
a good chance in contesting the Darwin prize of the year, which is the
"reward" for the biggest loser. Specifically, the Azeris tricked us,
not giving a toss about getting the Hungarian government into a very
awkward situation. Why might they have done this? Because they do not
consider us an equal partner. They have nothing to fear, we have no
economic or political influence in the world. For a couple of minutes
we pass our cap around in the Caucasus, and here and there in Asia.
The beggar has no honour. Especially not in those authoritarian
societies and states (or among people of semi-or entirely Asian
descent) where we are trying to get money which is not disbursed by
the IMF.
The situation is that Szijjarto's version of events is an open
acknowledgement that we do not feature on the map; Baku also looks
through us. Out of other considerations, Yerevan also sees us as thin
air. The news of this is spreading in the region, and various prices
will be set on our role in the Azeri-Armenian conflict. Either we
will be seen as a poor devil or as Judas who can be bought for 30
pieces of silver (in Yerevan, change was scattered in front of the
pharmacy serving the Hungarian mission, while the Hungarian flag was
set on fire).
This same assessment further afield, in the negotiating rooms of the
major powers, is repositioning Budapest in the world. Hence, whether or
not we knew the Azeris' true intentions, the whip is resounding on us.
This is a sad report on Hungarian policy. While some government
members were dreaming of regional economic expansion, we received a
sobering slap from somewhere several thousands of kilometres away,
from a country for which we otherwise foster no grievances. Not like
in the case of most central European countries targeted by the Wekerle
plan. It is true that we have no substantive economic relations with
Baku either; thus we lack significance. Our defenselessness, however,
is not remaining a secret, here in Europe either.
[Translated frm Hungarian]
From: A. Papazian