Ex-Hungarian opposition leader praises Turkey

By Mehmet Yılmaz

BUDAPEST (AA) - Hungary’s former opposition leader shared a video on Thursday professing his admiration for Turkey.

“I really love the Turks very much and I think Hungary and Turkey should have good relations,” Gabor Vona said in his Turkish-subtitled video "Great confession."

Vona said Hungary does not have traditional allies and good relations with neighboring countries, stressing that his country is considered a source of "cheap labor".

He said: “Turkey really has great strategic importance. Although it lost the case to be a superpower in the 20th century, geo-strategic experts estimate it will regain this status in the 21st century.”

Vona said in his video that Turkey has a population of 80 million, nearly a million soldiers and a dynamic economy, stressing the importance of forming an alliance between Turkey and Hungary.

He added that despite positive remarks by Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a meeting last December with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, domestic politics had resulted in negative sentiments toward Turks.

“I am fighting to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, and I am proud of it,” he added.

After his visit to Turkey, Vona and his wife were rumored to be Muslim. Their photo in front of Blue Mosque, a significant historical place in Istanbul, was shown as evidence that they are Muslim.

The former opposition leader has borne the brunt of anti-Islam propaganda during general elections last year.