Cornerstone laid for the new 3,000 sqm Hungarian Embassy in Ankara

Cooperation between Hungary and Turkey has always been a key focus of Hungarian foreign policy, and this will continue to develop, the foreign ministry said in a statement in connection with a visit by Peter Szijjarto to Ankara on Tuesday.

The big election win by the incumbent parties is a guarantee of Turkey’s place in the country’s foreign policy, Szijjártó said.

The foreign minister told a press conference held with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu that the economic and security challenges presented by the war in Ukraine underlined the importance of further developing the strategic partnership.

Szijjártó said Hungary valued Turkey‘s role in mediating between the sides and promoting peace talks.

The minister also underlined Hungary’s stance that Hungary’s security was paramount, saying “we will do everything possible to prevent our country from being dragged into the war.”

He said the government’s stance had been vindicated on several occasions, most recently when arms deliveries to Ukraine were bombed near Lviv.

“We don’t want to witness such scenes in Hungarian-inhabited areas near the Hungarian-Ukrainian border,” he added.

Szijjártó said Hungary at the same time backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and it was still engaged in the biggest humanitarian operation in Hungary’s history while taking care of refugees.

Meanwhile, the minister gave warning that the Islamic State terrorist organisation was planning further attacks in Europe, and this heightened the significance of border protection and action against illegal migration.