FM Szijjártó: Unfair to accuse Hungary of being pro-Russian
It is unfair to accuse Hungary of being pro-Russian, the foreign minister said on Wednesday, adding that no one could lecture Hungary on history and freedom because Hungarians knew full well what it was like to live under oppression “unlike those who haven’t experienced this”.
Addressing a panel discussion on the future of the Visegrád cooperation at the Economic Forum in Karpacz, in Poland, Szijjártó expressed criticism of those who he said accused Hungary of being “pro-Russia” and “Putin-friendly”, saying: “I don’t have to explain it here in Poland to the Polish that perception does not always equal reality.”
Hungary had to fight for its freedom and received no help in 1956 despite Radio Free Europe announcing at the time that the country would get support from the United States.
The ones trying to lecture Hungary on history, freedom, the Soviet Union and communist oppression today are those who never experienced it, the minister said.
He said it was unfair to accuse Hungary of being “pro-Russian”, arguing that it was the physical reality and the existing infrastructure that determined Hungary’s energy supply, and the European Union was not doing anything the develop alternative delivery routes.
“Okay, I’ll cut the gas contract with Russia, fine, we don’t buy the gas from Russia. And then what happens tomorrow?” Szijjártó said. “Who will explain it to the Hungarian people?” “The same with the nuclear … fine, we’ll cut the contract with Russia, no problem. Who is the one to stand here and say that I’ll replace these 2,400MW for you, same price, same schedule?” he said.
Hungary’s government is working to diversify its natural gas resources, but the capacity of the energy infrastructure in southeast Europe is very limited and the EU does not want to finance its development, Szijjártó said.
Similarly, 85% of Hungary’s oil consumption is covered from Russian sources, but the Croatian authorities have increased the transit fee five-fold via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the only alternative route, and no one in Europe is protesting this, he added.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said the United States had purchased twice as much uranium from Russia in the first half of this year as during the whole of last year.
On the subject of the Visegrád Four cooperation, Szijjártó said the grouping was still a strategic focus of Hungarian foreign policy, as the central European countries had a better chance of overcoming difficult circumstances if they were united.
The Visegrád cooperation has made achievements in recent years that have served the interests of not just Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, but the whole of Europe, he said.
Szijjártó argued that if the four countries had not presented a united front against Europe’s planned mandatory migrant quotas, the continent would be full of illegal migrants waiting to be distributed.
He also noted that the Czech, Polish and Hungarian militaries were cooperating in policing Slovakia’s airspace and that the other three countries had assisted Hungary with its border protection efforts when migration pressure peaked.
The V4 have also contributed significantly to getting enlargement on the EU’s agenda, he said, arguing that they were united in their support for the EU integration of the Western Balkan countries, unlike several western European leaders, who he said only supported it in public.
Given that the V4 comprises four sovereign countries, they will never be in 100% agreement on the various issues, and it is natural to have “ups and downs” in relations due to disagreements, Szijjártó said, adding, however, that the countries had always been capable of separating these disagreements from other aspects of their cooperation on which they were united.
Concerning the V4’s economic weight, he said the combined GDP of the four countries would put them in 14th place in the global ranking, adding that trade between Germany and the V4 was double the trade volume between Germany and France.
Szijjártó welcomed that the current Czech V4 presidency sought to focus on practical accomplishments, pointing out that central Europe would be willing to purchase natural gas from Qatar, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, though the southeast European energy infrastructure did not have the capacity for this and needed to be developed.
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Szijjarto talks about energy supplies from Russia as being the sore point of criticism of Hungary as Russia friendly. He has completely avoided mention of Hungary’s continual attempts to block financial and military aid to Ukraine, Hungary’s continuous obstruction of NATO enlargement, Hungary’s continuous obstruction of EU sanctions on Russian companies and individuals such as Patriarch Kirill, Hungary’s cooperation with Russia to headquarter their “spy-bank” in Budapest which the US pressured Hungary to close down with sanctions, Hungary’s continuous issuance of hundreds of Schengen visas to Russian spies, Hungary’s continuous pumping of anti-US and anti-EU propaganda through the media to portray the helpers of Ukraine as war-mongers without any media presentation of Russia and Putin as the barbaric, war mongering invader criminals that they are, etc., etc.
Of course it’s unfair but the aggressive, globalist-socialist Left lives in a completely black-and-white world. You’re either wholesale pro-Ukraine and pro-Zelensky and make totally any and every sacrifice whatsoever for their benefit, regardless of how much it harms you, and worship them, and beatify them, and attack everyone expressing any doubt because Ukraine and Zelensky can do absolutely no wrong ever period… – or you’re a Russian spy, stooge, agent, blah blah. It’d be laughable if it didn’t pertain to such a deadly serious situation.
Hungary is not pro Russia Peter, YOU and VICTOR are pro Russia. YOUR policy to stop sanctions, to stop helping Ukraine, to block funding on the ridiculas idea that somehow “ethnic” Hungarians would come rushing back if Russia decided to take over Hungary. Those that you use as a wedge, the “ethnic” Hungarians forgot about Hungary long ago. If it was so bad for them in Ukraine, they would have left and come here. Imagine that they choose a war zone over Hungary! YOU and VICTOR are the outcasts here, outcast in Europe, outcast in the Visagrad Group, outcasts in most of the world because of your pro Putin, pro Trump statements.
I don’t believe that the Hungarian government I “pro Russian.” However, Hungarian diplomacy sucks. Hungary does not have good relations right now with the EU. Hungary does not have good relations with the US. Even relations with the V 4 is strained. Many people in NATO have difficulty trusting Hungary. Hungary has very few friends in Europe or among the great powers. Very similar situation to the conditions around the end of WWI and Trianon. Not a good position to be in.
Cherry picking reasons, facts tell the truths.
Orban wants 10 more years.
Laughable, imagine Hungary 10 years on.
We are barely surviving at this point in time through the “ways” – the path over 14 years in Government, that Orban has taken us.
Mounting thousands of Hungarians monthly are becoming desperate in surviving, having all of there life qualities DESTROYED by Orban and his Government.
The Foreign Minister – Peter Szijjarto the “look alike” – Heinrich Himmler, the “Puppet on a String” to Victor Orban, continues to “collapse” relationships with “other” country’s, that sees us Hungary, being continuously pushed deeper into a BLACK Hole, that will WORSEN.
Who are Orbans & Szijjartos – country of FRIENDS ?
Who listens to them ?
Who writes there speeches that are accompanied with PROPAGANDA ?
Russia & China – are there FRIENDS but “others” governed under DEMOCRACY, these ALL get further angered by the comments direction that Orban leads Hungary, supported by the Foreign Minister _ Peter Szijjarto.
It ALL will WORSEN sooner than later.
I disagree with Larry on NATO.
Why should it be enlarged?
Sweden and Finland and Ukraine all had stable relationships with Russia. In particular Finland had very productive economic ties with Russia.
NATO is the method by which America controls the European continent. No more, no less.
It is not, never has been and will never be an alliance of equals. Why would America destroy Nordstream? Why is there such discontent in the countries of Europe?
If the EU was doing its job properly then it would not go along with these highly destructive American plans but would develop its own working relationship, economic ties and stable relations with Russia.
The conflict suits Anerica because it is not using its own soldiers, for Russia it is an inconvenience but for the whole of Europe it is an absolute disaster.
Trump was right when he said NATO was obsolete!
Having relatives in Finland including ones who are dead and buried fighting the invading Russians in WWII, I know the Finnish situation better than most. The Finns chose to join NATO after careful consideration of the high risk the rabid fascist Putin regime poses. Finland never fully trusted Russia at all. That is why Finland has the most powerful artillery force in Europe and has bunkers that can house 20% of the population. I actually toured one which is used in the summer as an underground cross-country ski training facility. No one forces anyone to join NATO. Every member joins NATO having decided Russia is a huge threat. It’s pretty simple to understand unless you have been brainwashed by the Russian propaganda that is continuously put out including by the Fidesz government.
Ukraine has been at war with Russia since 2014, righ after the peopple of Ukraine decided democratically to lean towards west for a more brighter future than what tighter cooperation with Russia could provide.
Finland and Sweden were always living under the fear of Russia who regularly threatened them. Doing business with Russia was always considered as a very high risk business.
I would not call these as “stable relations”.
Finland with its strong military is a great asset for NATO. I hope we see Sweden joining soon also, and Ukraine after Russia is beaten out of Ukraine.