Turkish Foreign Minsiter Mevlut Cavusoglu in Budapest

Budapest, February 9 (MTI) – House Speaker László Kövér discussed the migrant crisis and bilateral relations with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Parliament on Tuesday, parliament’s press chief said. Turkey alone cannot be expected to carry the burden of the migration crisis, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said, adding that the European Union has “tasks and responsibilities”, too.

Parliamentt speaker, Turkish FM discuss migration, bilateral ties

They agreed that a solution for the migrant crisis must be found in Syria and it requires joint efforts by the world’s leading powers and cooperation of all European states, Zoltan Szilagyi said in a statement.

Kövér and Cavusoglu described bilateral relations as friendly and excellent and highlighted cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments in many areas.

They praised cultural relations that were boosted through opening new cultural institutions in both countries and student exchanges under state scholarships.

Hungary: Turkey cannot be left alone with refugee problem

After talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Budapest, Szijjártó said Europe should provide protection to areas along its southern borders, which, he said, necessitated a second line of defence in Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Szijjártó said he saw no sign of solving the migration crisis, noting that the local conflicts in which the problem was rooted were escalating.

Szijjártó praised Turkey for measures it has taken to implement the EU-Turkey action plan. But the EU must not “sit back and think that’s it,” he added.

Europe’s task is not to accommodate migrants but help them return to their homeland as soon as possible. Turkey’s contribution is indispensable in this, he said.

Concerning bilateral cooperation, Szijjártó said that Hungary’s Eximbank is ready to provide loans totalling 200 million dollars to promote ties between businesses of both countries.

The Turkish foreign minister called on Russia to stop its air attacks in Syria. He argued that the attacks also hit the moderate opposition and was deepening the crisis. He also said that resolving the crisis was not possible unless the situation in Syria and Iraq is settled.

Cavusoglu said that in wake of the Russian attacks some 50,000 refugees gathered at the Turkish border. About 10,000 have been provided shelter, and while further camps are being set up, even more people could arrive if the attacks continue, he added.

Cavusoglu noted Hungary’s support to his country’s efforts to join the EU, and stressed that the community and Turkey relied on each other.

The Turkish minister will later meet Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for talks.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters