Foreign minister: Eastern partnership countries deserve positive feedback

The European Union should give continuous positive feedback to Eastern Partnership countries, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told leaders of the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries at a summit in Brussels on Friday. Pursuing cooperation with these countries is in the political, economic, energy and security interests of the bloc, he said.

At a press conference, Szijjártó said Hungary’s position is that the EU can only regain its strength and competitiveness if it “gets as many allies, strategic partners and friends as possible”. Hungary strongly supports the enlargement process, as “the more countries there are in the EU, the stronger the bloc will be”.

“Hungary has always advocated an ambitious Eastern Partnership programme encouraging participants in their aspirations,” Szijjártó said, adding that with no positive feedback, “political forces with a European direction” will lose support and credibility in eastern Europe. That is why, he said, Hungary supports the EU’s association and no-visa agreements with Georgia and Moldova. Hungary supports talks with Azerbaijan aimed at a framework agreement, as well as lifting the EU’s sanctions against Belarus, Szijjártó said. Hungary also supports the EU’s renewed partnership agreement with Armenia, he added.

Answering a question, Szijjártó denied allegations that he would replace János Lázár as head of the government office. He also dismissed suggestions that his ministry of foreign affairs and trade could be split after next year’s elections.

Meanwhile, on the topic of Ukraine and its education law, Szijjártó said

Hungary would not “sacrifice” ethnic Hungarians living in western Ukraine “on the altar of world politics”.