Hungarian FM: Hungary supports strengthening Bosnia-Herzegovina’s stability

Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

Hungary will support every measure aimed at strengthening peace, stability and the economy in the Western Balkans, and Bosnia and Herzegovina within the region, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after talks with Christian Schmidt, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Budapest on Thursday.

At a joint press conference, Szijjártó said Europe was facing serious challenges and Hungary was under “double pressure” posed by migration from the east and the south. “In such a situation the last thing we need is another security challenge,” he said, calling on the international community “to keep the Western Balkans in sight”. “Failing to do so would be a serious mistake and would have serious security consequences,” Szijjártó said.

He called the region’s stability “critically important” for whole of the European Union and added that ensuring peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina was essential. “This is why it is high time to speed up the region’s [EU] integration,” the foreign minister said.

The stability of Bosnia-Herzegovina is particularly important for Hungary due to that country’s geographical proximity which is why the Hungarian government supports every measure aimed at strengthening stability and rejects any proposal that would further destabilise the country, and the region, Szijjártó said.

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The Hungarian foreign minister underlined the importance of continued dialogue based on mutual respect between leaders of the international community and the Western Balkans. He said that “with political tools such as interfering in internal affairs and a policy of sanctions no success can be achieved in the Western Balkans”.

He stated Hungary’s full support to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s EU integration and to extending the mandate of the EU peace-keeping mission with 134 Hungarian soldiers serving in it.

In terms of support, Szijjártó also noted the 35 million euro business development programme Hungary has launched to help strengthen Bosnia-Herzegovina’s stability via developing its economy.

Asked about the recent proposal by Manfred Weber, the president of the European People’s Party(EPP), on an equitable distribution of natural gas arriving in the EU, Szijjártó said that “Hungarian gas storages will remain in Hungarian ownership, the gas purchased with Hungarian taxpayers’ money and kept in Hungarian gas storages will be used in Hungary. Weber’s proposal somewhat reminds us of communism,” the foreign minister said.