Hungary and the Hungarian people are already paying a high price for the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said at an open debate in the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday, adding that “the great powers” should focus on peacemaking instead of taking steps that risked escalating the conflict.
Hungarians from Transcarpathia pay a high price for the war
The ministry said that Szijjártó had expressed thanks to the body’s Japanese presidency for convening the meeting, adding that the debate was “timely” and “singular” as international political discourse was still “ruled by war rhetoric”. “War rhetoric is very loud while the peace rhetoric can hardly be heard,” he said. As a neighour of Ukraine, Hungary directly feels the severe negative effects of the armed conflict, so the government is interested in peace, he said.
More than one million refugees have left Ukraine through Hungary, which is carrying out the largest humanitarian scheme in its history, he said. The annual cost of Hungary’s energy imports have grown from 7 billion euros to 17 billion euros and inflation is sky-high, he added. In addition to Ukrainians, a large number of ethnic Hungarians from Transcarpathia have died in the war, he said. Hungary has already paid a high price for the war, despite the fact that the Hungarian people never wanted a war and are not responsible for it, he added.
“Hungarians made it very clear at last year’s parliamentary election that this is not our war…” he said. Commenting on the tragic consequences of the war, he said thousands of people had died and millions had been forced to leave their homes, while the sanctions posed an enormous challenge to European economies.
War rhetoric needs to be replaced
“Perhaps all this looks different from many hundred or thousand kilometres away, or from the other side of the ocean, but believe me, we who live next door see the situation as a very serious one,” he said. “Please take this message from a next door neighbour: this war must end without delay because we are in the 25th hour and we must focus on peace,” he added.
He called on the international community to “replace war rhetoric” with statements of peace, adding that great powers should avoid measures or even remarks that carried the risk of prolonging and escalating the war. Instead of intensifying arms supplies, he called for efforts to focus on establishing a ceasefire and the immediate start of peace talks.
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Source: MTI
7 Comments
The mandarine of foreign affairs of Orbánistan thinks the same way as his 5XL master, whose office features the globe of more than 100 years ago… poor men, they live out of History, their mindset belongs to the XIX century. Otherwise they would know that the deads in question here are Ukrainian citizens, not Hungarian. And their country is Ukraine, not Hungary. They die for their country.
Mario, in a fact, in Transcarpathia (Ukraine) lives a significant Hungarian minority, that’s what the minister was referring to.
Mario is absolutely right. Fidesz claims that Hungary is hurt in this war, but compared to Ukrainians pain, it is nothing. These brave ‘Hungarians’ are defending land that Fidesz would give to Russia. Why is this? Because these ‘Hungarians’ are actually Ukrainians, defending their homeland. And Fidesz is defending their political and economic interests. It is shameful, and the Hungarian whiny outlook is pathetic. Just like the posters that show sanctions on Russia as bombs on Hungary, when Ukrainians are actually being bombed. Fidesz is making Hungary a joke. I love Hungary, but I’m ashamed of it.
Hungary must repatriate all 13, 14, 15, year old boys. They should not be sacrificed for a war that they do not support. Zelensky made a great mistake of oppressing minorities. It has now backfired. Zelensky, is not forced to practice genocide to control the minorities.
There is no reason for Hungary to add to the expansion of the war. Yes, Hungarian economy was hurt. There is nor was there a good reason to start the war with Russia, instead of using diplomatic channels for Ukraine’s joining the EU and NATO. Hungary is helping to keep Ukrainian refugees. That costs money. Hungary is not a wealthy country and should not be made to bear the cost of a war that has nothing to do with Hungary.
Mario and Janos, you both should probably study some history and realize that they are Hungarian-Ukrainians. Yes, they live in Ukraine (prior to the Treaty of Triannon) but they also speak Hungarian and have Hungarian customs/traditions, thus that is what the minister was talking about. Going on your point Janos, why would Fidesz give Transcarpathia when it had historically been Hungarian?
So, according to The Realist, Romans for instanceshould be claiming half of Europe, including what is today Western Hungary, since it once all belonged to Rome’s empire.
Just one of many possible examples.
@Mario
That is a poor example, considering the Roman Empire fell centuries ago and doesn’t exist anymore. A better example would be Finland asking for the territories of Eastern Karelia back, which Finland has the right to do so if they wish. Considering they lost it due to the illegal invasion of the USSR in the Winter war/Soviet-Finnish war.
Yeah, try to come up with better examples.