Consultations with Parliamentary Parties Promote Diplomacy, Says Szijjarto
Budapest, October 9 (MTI) – Regular consultations with parliamentary parties can contribute to successful foreign policy, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said today.
After gaining an understanding of each other, the parties can come to a consensus over the long term, Szijjarto said after a first meeting with representatives of the parliamentary parties. The participants agreed to maintain consultations and meet again in early November, he added.
Every party except for the opposition E-PM was represented at the meeting. The participants welcomed the start of dialogue between the ministry and the parties.
In the case of a commonly understood strategy, the chances of a successful foreign policy are higher, he said, adding that two strategies are being drafted. One concerns foreign affairs and trade and the other a programme for training diplomats, and the parliamentary parties will be consulted on both in November. The foreign affairs and trade strategy is expected to be submitted to parliament by the end of the year, Szijjarto said.
Responding to a question concerning recent statements made by US officials, Szijjarto said that “leaders of the United States have made rather strong statements” about the situation of the civil sector in Hungary. He said the remarks had been excessive.
“Legal proceedings under way against a few of Hungary’s 60,000-80,000 civil organisations on suspicion of inappropriate use of public money” are not the same as a general clampdown, he said. Hungary, he added, has balanced relations with Norway which, however, “are certainly not helped by the issue of the distribution of funds under the Norway Grants scheme.”
“Everyone in Hungary must comply with its laws” Szijjarto said. Hungary’s strategic interest is to nurture balanced relations with every country, Norway included, he added.
Concerning Hungary’s relations with the EU, Szijjarto anticipated further disputes, which should be dealt with in a “calm and composed manner”.
Representatives of the parliamentary parties welcomed the dialogue.
Bertalan Toth, a Socialist lawmaker, called the meeting “constructive”, adding, however, a long time would be needed to reach a consensus over certain issues.
Andras Schiffer, co-leader of LMP, said Hungary’s foreign policy should not be solely driven by external economic goals. He called the policy of good neighbourly relations a “basic interest” of Hungarians. He proposed strengthening cooperation with countries in central Europe, as well as in southern and eastern Europe. Schiffer also addressed the issue of talks concerning a free-trade agreement between the United States and Europe, which he said would be against Hungary’s interest and that of the region were it to come to fruition.
Marton Gyongyosi, deputy group leader of radical nationalist Jobbik, welcomed the integration of foreign affairs and trade under one roof. Jobbik agrees with the government’s policy of opening to the East but maintaining a western orientation is also important, he said.
Lajos Olah, representing the Democratic Coalition, said that over the past five years positions on foreign policy had been “far apart” and that in order to represent the country’s interests properly, a consensus must be won. The parties have declared their readiness to work together on the basis of a crafted strategy, he added.
Photo: MTI – Attila Kovacs
Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters
please make a donation here
Hot news
Does Budapest not pay taxes to the government?
Traffic between Slovakia and Hungary to resume on several railway lines
Hungarian tourism is reviving
Breaking: Hungarian politicians paid by Moscow to spread Putin propaganda?
Alarming: Thousands of Hungarians missing again
Surprising: Romania more developed than Hungary, people may live better