Orbán government for strong Hungarian representation in Belgrade parliament

The strongest possible parliamentary representation for Vojvodina Hungarians in the regional parliament and Belgrade “is an important economic and security issue”, the foreign minister said in Subotice (Szabadka), in northern Serbia, on Thursday.

Stronger than ever representation

Speaking at the campaign closing event of the ethnic Hungarian VMSZ, Péter Szijjártó said a successful electoral performance was key to keeping up the successful cooperation of past years.

“Let’s hope we will have representation in Belgrade and the regional parliament that will be stronger than ever,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

“If we have a strong enough representation, we can also achieve greater security, so that people living here wouldn’t need to meet illegal migrants or hear shots,” he said.

He noted that four new border crossings have been opened between the two countries since 2010, and there is a renewed rail link between Subotica and Szeged, in southern Hungary. The line between Subotica and Baja will also be revamped, he added.

The economic development programme started in Vojvodina has also led to investments in Transylvania, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia and Transcarpathia, he said.

“But the Serbian authorities’ approach was by far the fairest”.

“The resulting trust between Serbs and Hungarians is the basis of similar cooperation in the future,” he said.

The two countries helped each other during the coronavirus pandemic by providing equipment. The fact that that Hungary “receives almost all of its natural gas imports” through Serbia, and the latter stores a significant portion of its reserves in Hungary, was especially important during times of an energy crisis, he said.