Foreign minister: Basic principle of UN migrant package does not accord with reality

The principle on which the UN’s current migrant package is based has nothing to do with reality, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Prague after talks with his Czech counterpart Martin Stropnicky.

“The principle laid down in the draft document [that migration has positive effects and cannot be stopped] is false and fabricated,” Szijjártó told reporters, adding that Hungary rejects this statement.

“Migration is dangerous and it can be stopped,”

he said, underlining his earlier statement that Hungary would start proceedings to quit United Nations talks on the migration package if the UN releases its draft document on February 5 as pledged.

Szijjártó thanked the Czechs for their contribution to Hungary’s border protection efforts aimed at quelling the migrant wave of previous years. “We have demonstrated together that migration can be stopped and borders can be protected in a joint effort,” he said.

Border protection efforts must be stepped up in response to a recent increase in the number of illegal border crossing attempts, he said, adding that dozens and, on occasion, hundreds of migrants attempted to enter Hungary illegally on a daily basis.

The UN’s global migration package would ultimately thwart the ability to restrict border offenses, Szijjártó said.

“Our standpoint is just the opposite; crossing borders illegally is a crime and we will protect our borders, which are also the EU’s Schengen borders, to provide security for Hungarians,” he said.

“Let the UN set whatever regulations it wants; we will protect Hungary’s borders and the Schengen borders,” Szijjártó said, insisting that its migrant package was “rather reminiscent” of the alleged plan of US billionaire George Soros.

Featured image: MTI

Source: MTI