Melia’s talks in Budapest focus on rule of law

Washington, DC / Budapest, March 7 (MTI) – The United States will continue to advocate for good governance, rule of law, and human rights in Hungary, the US state department said in a statement in connection with a March 1-2 visit by Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas Melia.

“Dialogue in the bilateral relationship with Hungary will continue to include the United States’ concern for fundamental freedoms, democratic procedures and rule of law, and the weakening of constitutional checks and balances,” the statement said.

In meetings with Hungarian officials, Melia “encouraged the Hungarian government to enhance its anti-corruption efforts” and he also encouraged further cooperation with civil society organisations “that focus on transparency and good governance.”

The deputy assistant secretary also welcomed the government’s efforts to engage with the Jewish community but noted “ongoing concerns” concerning the government’s relationship with religious groups. The government should “revise substantially” the law on recognition of religions, “as called for in recent decisions by both the Hungarian Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights,” the statement said.

Melia also met various opposition representatives and said that the US “continues to advocate for implementation of OSCE election recommendations as part of ensuring a level playing field for all political parties in Hungarian elections.”

Referring to the situation in Ukraine, Melia underlined the importance of maintaining effective targeted sanctions against Russia.

The foreign ministry said in a statement earlier that parliamentary state secretary Laszlo Szabo and the deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor reviewed the region’s energy security. Szabo said that Hungary counted on European Union help and products from America’s shale gas market to ensure this.

In connection with Ukraine, Szabo confirmed that Hungary is committed to restoring the country’s territorial integrity and full sovereignty and it continues to supply Ukraine with gas and humanitarian assistance. They discussed the situation of ethnic Hungarians in the western part of the country, and Melia emphasised that the US is paying special attention to its minorities, including to the Hungarian one.

Szabo expressed hope that “the two countries’ political relations will be raised to the same excellent level” that economic and security ties enjoy, the statement said.

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Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters