Hungary has interest in normalisation of US-Russia ties, says Hungarian FM in Moscow

Hungary has a vested interest in Russian-US relations getting back to normal, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Speaking over the phone on Tuesday after a Monday meeting with Lavrov, Szijjártó said “history has made it clear for us that good relationships between East and West, between Russia and the USA are in the best interests of central Europe, and that bad relations between the eastern and western powers do harm to our region.”

The minister said that Russia is looking forward to the first meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, at the Hamburg G20 summit.

Szijjártó confirmed for Lavrov that Hungary has an interest in peace being restored in Syria which it sees as a condition for security in Europe, and that it appreciates all international efforts to that end.

Concerning North Korea, another issue on the agenda, Szijjártó said that Hungary considers that country a global threat, and sees a need for the international community to take concerted actions against Pyongyang.

Lavrov showed keen interest in the EU infringement procedure launched against Hungary in June because of its refusal to accept the EU migrant resettlement quota scheme. Szijjarto assured him that Hungary is prepared to withstand all pressure and is not going to let illegal migrants into the country.

Szijjártó met Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo: Árpád Szabó

On Wednesday, he will hold talks with sports minister Pavel Kolobkov, first deputy speaker of the Federation Council Nikolai Fyodorov and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI