Foreign Minister: Croatia move violation of Hungary’s sovereignty

Budapest, September 19 (MTI) – Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Saturday accused Croatia of violating Hungary’s sovereignty by “flooding” Hungary with migrants instead of registering them.

The minister said it was a “blatant lie” that there was a bilateral agreement that Croatia could transport migrants, escorted by police, to Hungary.

“This is a lie that the Croatian prime minister has now admitted to,” Szijjarto said. He said Croatia later cited an agreement among local police, “but neither versions are true”.

“Interior Minister Sandor Pinter never had any agreement with his Croatian counterpart,” Szijjarto insisted.

The minister said that with its “shameless behaviour”, Croatia has “abandoned” cooperation, not just with Hungary, but with the whole of Europe.

“By ignoring EU rules — and they are not the only ones to do so — it has once again become clear that Hungary has been left to fend for itself. Despite this, we will protect Hungary and the borders of the Schengen Zone,” the minister said.

Szijjarto said Hungary-Croatia relations are now at an all-time low, adding that there is little chance for ties improving before Croatia’s general election.

On the topic of Hungary’s relations with Serbia, Szijjarto noted that the Asotthalom border station has been reopened and the two countries’ interior ministers are scheduled to discuss the opening of the motorway leading into Serbia on Sunday.

Answering a question about his recent sharply-worded criticisms of his colleagues and the ministry’s summoning of a number of ambassadors, Szijjarto said that “in a situation like this there is no room for diplomatic niceties.”

“I will continue to use such sharp words whenever we are attacked without reason,” he said, adding that Hungary will continue to send diplomatic notes of protests to foreign ministries if necessary.

Asked whether the Croatian police escorting migrants to Hungary by train on Friday had been disarmed, Szijjarto said the investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters