The newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine visited our country.
Hungary and Ukraine are both interested in the development of neighboring relations and share the same intention to do so, and the governments are making every effort to achieve this, but it is important to note that Kiev is a member of the Hungarian national community. We look forward to restoring our rights, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said. Péter Szijjarto said this in Budapest on Monday.
According to a statement from the ministry, at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian side, the ministry’s head first congratulated Andrij Sibiha on his appointment, saying that it was an honor for him to choose Budapest for his first overseas visit, even if it was unfair. He said that. In the end, it didn’t happen due to scheduling issues.
He then acknowledged that Hungary continues to take a pro-peace position in the Ukraine war, as only a diplomatic solution can end the suffering of hundreds of thousands and millions of people and families.
“Hungary supports all international efforts that give the possibility of achieving peace as soon as possible and supports all efforts that promise the hope that through negotiations and diplomacy we can end this war as soon as possible.” emphasized.
I also confirmed with the Minister that Hungary will continue its largest humanitarian operation in history for as long as it is needed to help people and families in difficult situations, he added.
He reminded that the number of refugees who came to our country from neighboring countries has already exceeded 1.4 million, and 14,855 Ukrainian children have been given the opportunity to attend summer camps. He added that the government has already disbursed HUF 66 billion in subsidies to Ukraine, and that there are now hundreds of schools and kindergartens in Hungary where children from refugee families study, as well as a bilingual school in Budapest. He said it has started.
“Hungary is ready to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine. This is not just a liaison committee on our side, this is what is happening. Even during the war, we will participate in the reconstruction efforts and “We are taking part in the work of restoring the functioning of educational, health and administrative institutions,” he pointed out.
Peter Szijjarto emphasized the role of our country in the supply of natural gas and electricity necessary to ensure the security of energy supplies in Ukraine.
“Since the war began, more than 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been transported to Ukraine through Hungary, and since June Hungary has become Ukraine’s largest source of electricity imports.”During the summer “, 45 percent of Ukraine’s electricity imports come to Ukraine from Hungary via Hungary,” he said.
“Hungary is ready to develop cross-border infrastructure.
The good news is that a new border crossing between Nagyhodos and Nagyparad can be opened this year. We are ready to carry out the necessary work to increase the capacity of the Beleghulani border crossing. We are ready to build the new Tisza Bridge. With government financial support, a large-scale transshipment station in Feniesrike was built with a financial aid of HUF 50 billion, capable of transshipping goods equivalent to 1 million container units per year, and between 1 and 3 million units. It is possible to transship containers. We need tons of grain and cooking oil every year,” he listed.
And I also confirmed that we are still ready to create a cross-border business development zone on the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, he stressed.
Finally, the Minister touched on controversial issues and said that cooperation and relations between Hungary and Ukraine must be based on mutual goodwill, mutual respect and mutual goodwill.
Therefore, we respectfully expect Ukraine to restore the rights of the Hungarian national community in terms of access to the mother tongue in the fields of education, culture and administration, he said.
“In this regard, we have submitted 11 concrete solutions to the Ukrainian government. We agreed that a working group will be established to discuss this and accelerate its operation,” he added.
The minister assured official partners that just as Hungary guarantees maximum capacity for energy supplies to Ukraine, Kiev also refrains in the future from taking unilateral and sudden measures that could endanger our supplies. I asked that it should be done.
I also asked the Minister that there should be no negative discrimination in the case of Hungarian companies operating in Ukraine, he said.
“Our talks convinced us that the intention to develop neighborly relations is mutual and common, and that we can reasonably expect that these neighborly relations will turn into good neighborly relations after some time.Hungary We are interested in this and we will do everything we can to achieve this on behalf of the Hungarian government,” he concluded.
MTI
Cover image: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto (J) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrei Sibiha at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade after their meeting on September 30, 2024.
Source: MTI/Robert Hegedus
