Hungary, Italy working together for international security, says Hungarian foreign minister in Rome

Rome, March 8 (MTI) – Budapest and Rome are in a close alliance and work together for international security, the Hungarian foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Speaking in Rome before talks with his Italian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó said that the two countries’ positions on migration were far apart, but they both supported efforts to promote stability in the western Balkans and to fight terrorism.

Apart from migration, the two governments see eye to eye concerning Hungary’s security priorities, Szijjártó said. As an example, he mentioned the two countries’ support for the European integration of the western Balkan countries.

“Tension is mounting in the western Balkans, which could be managed through speeding up (the region’s) European integration”, he said.

Szijjártó also said that Hungarian and Italian troops both participated in military operations against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, and noted a close cooperation to protect Christian communities in the Middle East.

Hungary and Italy are working together to contribute to a common European defence system to “reinforce NATO’s European leg” and to increase the community’s competitiveness, Szijjarto said. He added that Italy was Hungary’s fifth largest trading partner and eighth largest investor.