Hungarian foreign minister: Hungary-Slovakia ties ‘at their best’

Ties between Hungary and Slovakia are “at their best” and based on mutual respect, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told a press conference in Bratislava on Wednesday.

Szijjártó said that the two countries are “building success stories so that they can address serious issues”.

The minister said that Hungary and Slovakia were planning to complete 9 major joint projects by 2023, including a new bridge over the River Danube connecting Komárom and Komarno, a motorway between Budapest and Prague, as well as three new bridges across the River Ipoly. He also mentioned such projects under way as linking the electricity grids of the two countries, planned to be completed by 2020, and preparations for a high-speed rail service between capitals of the four Visegrád countries.

On another subject, Szijjártó said the government would press ahead with its scheme promoting Hungarian businesses in southern Slovakia.

So far, over 1,500 bidders have been awarded, he said, adding that the scheme would also benefit Slovakia’s economy.

Concerning Slovakia’s upcoming municipal elections, Szijjártó noted the ethnic Hungarian MKP party was fielding over 2,250 candidates. He said hopefully Slovakian Hungarians would cast ballots in large numbers.

Hungary and Slovakia see eye to eye on most issues concerning the European Union’s future, Szijjártó said.

He noted that 10 out of Slovakia’s 13 MEPs had refused to support the Sargentini report on the rule of law in Hungary and expressed thanks to those deputies for “supporting Hungary’s sovereignty”.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also discussed ways to tighten Visegrád Group relations at talks with Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcak and House speaker Andrej Danko. The talks with Lajcak focused on the challenges facing central Europe, Szijjártó said after the meeting.

Due to their migration policies, the countries of the region have been subjected to a series attacks, mainly within the European Union, which are expected to continue, he said.

Their reactions, however, have made it clear that the Visegrád Group is stronger and more united than ever before, he added.

The talks with Danko focused on the House speaker’s proposal for a resolution in which the Slovak parliament could defend Hungary’s sovereignty as against the Sargentini report, Szijjártó said.

Featured image: MTI

Source: MTI