Hungary would like Iran to return to the system of peaceful coexistence

Hungary and Iran are working on developing economic cooperation in line with the policy of common sense and a pragmatism, and this could contribute to Tehran returning to a peaceful coexistence in the international community, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday.

The ministry cited Szijjártótelling a press conference after the second meeting of the Hungary-Iran economic mixed committee in 2022 that Tuesday’s missile incident in Poland “finally forced everyone to realise that it would be best for the whole world if as many conflicts as possible could be ended.” “This requires common sense and a pragmatic approach. We apply a policy of common sense and pragmatism when working on developing economic cooperation between Hungary and Iran,” he said.

“We’d like Iran to be able to return as soon as possible to the system of peaceful coexistence within the international community, and considering that the global economy is facing serious challenges, we believe that [economic cooperation] could be a first stage in this return,” he added. Szijjártó said the participants at the meeting had reviewed the possibilities for developing economic cooperation, adding that 96 companies from Hungary and Iran were represented at a business forum held parallel with the meeting.

He welcomed a 45 percent increase in the volume of bilateral trade last year — and 55 percent this year — thanks to the increase in Hungarian textile and pharmaceutical exports and plastics imports from Iran.

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Hungarian agricultural and food processing companies are accessing new export opportunities, and import licences are being issued for seed, poultry and certain medical instruments, he added. Some 2,000 Iranian students are attending university courses in Hungary, mainly in health sciences and the economy, and the Hungarian state maintains 150 scholarship places for students from Iran, he said.

He welcomed Iran’s efforts to stop migration waves and narcotics trading. He added that the country neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan had an important role to play in reducing the pressure of migration on Europe. He also said that Hungary was dedicated to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and supported the renewal of the Iran nuclear deal “which would strengthen global security”.

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He told a joint press conference with the Iranian finance minister that during the events of recent days “it was reassuring how global and European decision-makers maintained strategic calm and responsible behaviour”.

“An important lesson was that not everything is what it seems at first sight, and fake news and unfounded statements should not be trusted in such tense situations,” he added.

Source: MTI