"We Do Not Want to Become Gazprom's Happiest Barrack"

Created: 28th September, 2007 14:34 | Last updated: 8th November, 2007 20:02	print	send

In an interview to a conservative weekly, Viktor Orbán, chairman of Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union criticized the current government of not taking every measure to prevent Hungary from becoming a part of Moscow's sphere of influence yet again. Referring to what Hungary was labeled in the 70s-80s as being "the happiest barrack of the Soviet block" due to its relatively higher living standards as compared to other Communist countries in Central-Eastern Europe, the former prime minister pointed out that "we do not want to become Gazprom's happiest barrack". Mr Orbán's criticism came after a number of Russo-Hungarian negotiations between president Putin and socialist Hungarian PM Ferenc Gyurcsány had been held on tighter cooperation in energy policy, notably concerning Russian investments in the Hungarian gas sector.

Of the 27 EU-member countries, Hungary is one of the most dependent on Russia's gas supplies, amounting to an 80% share of all the imported quantity. Contrary to the European Union's goal to diversify its energy import structure, the recent trend in Hungarian energy policy seems to take exactly the opposite direction, rendering the country to a defenseless position against Gazprom's already massive positions in the region. The chairman of Fidesz said that a potential Russian dominance in Hungary this time would not mean military overpower but a stronghold in economic positions.