Stockholm, 7 March 2023 (dpa/MIA) – A Hungarian parliamentary delegation on a visit to Stockholm expressed support on Tuesday for Sweden's wish to join NATO, while simultaneously accusing Swedish leaders of spreading lies about Hungary.

"We are supporting Sweden's NATO membership," former Hungarian defence minister Csaba Hende said, according to a report by the TT news agency. Hende was speaking talks with Andreas Norlén, president of the Swedish parliament.

Hende added however that it would be desirable for Swedish politicians, government representatives and members of the European Parliament not to state that the rule of law was lacking in other countries.

Relations between Sweden and Hungary needed to improve, Hende said, while adding that the meeting with Norlén had been friendly and focused on the future, according to the TT report.

Hende, who currently serves as a vice president of the Hungarian parliament, headed the delegation along with foreign affairs committee chairman Zsolt Nemeth. The delegation was in Stockholm to gain a better picture of Sweden's drive to join NATO.

It is to travel on to Finland, which is also applying for NATO membership.

After decades of neutrality, Sweden and Finland applied to join the Western alliance in May last year shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Of NATO's 30 members, 28 have ratified the accession protocols, with only Turkey and Hungary still to do so. Turkey continues to block Swedish membership, while the Hungarian parliament is set to take a decision this month.