Foreign minister: Hungarian border protection represents the only solution

“Only extremely strict Hungarian border protection and the fence along the Hungarian-Serbian border have provided a solution to illegal immigration recently”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said at a press conference in Budapest on Monday.

“Migration pressure is far from over, as proven by the fact that over 50 thousand illegal immigrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, 47 percent more than during the same period last year, and 1054 migrants have entered Romania, which represents an increase od 70 percent”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

The Minister also spoke about the fact that we must also calculate with several worrisome factors with regard to the future, including the onset of good weather, during which migration pressure always increases. “Another problem is the fragile nature of the migration agreement between the EU and Turkey, because European leaders are continuously criticising Turkey, despite the fact that they have placed the continent’s security in the hands of the Turkish President. In addition, the unstable political situation in Macedonia is also cause for concern in view of the fact that we cannot know whether the new political leadership will be capable of continuing or intends to continue the country’s previous border protection activities”, Mr. Szijjártó continued.

“And instead of searching for a solution to the problem, the European Union is placing pressure on countries who have solved the problem, or who have ideas concerning a possible solution”, the Minister said.

A few weeks ago George Soros was received in Brussels with the respect usually only reserved for heads of state and government, after which the European Parliament issued its decision on the “Soros Report”, Mr. Szijjártó continued.

“It is outrageous that in a period in which we are facing such challenges, in which we should be dealing with the issue of energy security, with Brexit, or with the situation in Ukraine, the European Parliament is capable of adopting a resolution in which it rushes to the aid of a Syrian migrant called Ahmed H., who has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for terrorism”, Mr. Szijjártó said, refereeing to the fact that last week the EP voted to trigger Article 7 infringement proceedings against Hungary. This is “the latest example of Europe ruining of its own future”, he added.

Mr. Szijjártó also told reporters that if the Government observed that the Western Balkan migration route was shifting towards Romania, then border protection would be expanded and construction would begin on a new border security fence along the Hungarian-Romanian border, following regular discussions with the Romanian administration.

Asked about press reports regarding a migrant “attack” on a vehicle carrying Hungarian students at Calais in France, the foreign minister called such incidents unacceptable, adding that all this demonstrated the deterioration of Europe’s security situation. He said Hungary’s diplomatic mission had been asked to take steps to help the group if need be.

Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI