Navracsics On Gaza Conflict, Restructuring, Ukraine

Budapest, July 17 (MTI) – Hungary’s foreign minister discussed the Gaza conflict, Hungarian plans to restructure its foreign missions and the situation in Ukraine, in an radio interview on today.

Tibor Navracsics, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, told Kossuth radio that the Gaza conflict would be on the agenda of a meeting of EU foreign ministers next week. Like its European partners, Hungary’s wants the two sides to move towards a peaceful settlement as quickly as possible, Navracsics said. This current conflict “hints at a very gloomy future” and is unsustainable, he said.

Regarding Hungary’s diplomatic missions abroad, Navracsics said the planned restructuring served to ensure that “not a single Hungarian person is left without protection in the world.” It also aims to streamline the use of Hungarian taxpayers’ money, he added. In some countries Hungary needs a stronger presence and in others “indirect” representation is sufficient. Its Helsinki embassy will subsume its “near-by” Tallinn one, for example and the Hungarian Institute in the Estonian capital will see to cultural diplomacy. Similarly, its Athens embassy will take the Nicosia one under its wing, he said.