New Hungarian-Serbian border crossing opened
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Foreign ministers Péter Szijjártó of Hungary and Ivica Dacic of Serbia opened a new border crossing between Hungary’s Kübekhaza and Serbia’s Rabe on Friday afternoon.
Hungary’s relations with Serbia are based on cooperation and constructive efforts, Szijjarto said at the ceremony. He noted that bilateral relations had been hostile over some periods of history, but have by now developed to an unprecedentedly good level.
The two governments have realised that both countries would be losing out on a bad relationship, Szijjártó said, adding that good relations benefit everybody, Hungarians and Serbians alike, on both sides of the border.
The Hungarian-Serbian border has become well-known in Europe over the past few years, the minister said.
“It was stormed by thousands, tens of thousands of illegal migrants in 2015, violating the sovereignty and laws of both countries,” he said. The task now must be to make sure that nobody can cross this border illegally, Szijjártó said, adding that the swiftest and most civilised entry must be ensured to all those who obey laws.
The minister thanked police officers and soldiers for protecting Hungary’s southern border over the past years, adding that the fence erected there would stay in place to keep illegal migrants out.
The new border crossing is the ninth one along the Hungarian-Serbian border and the fourth one opened in the past few years, Szijjártó noted.
It allows straight crossing for travellers from one locality to the other eliminating the 50 km detour they were previously forced to take, he said.
Plans are afoot for opening another crossing station to connect Hungary’s Baja with Vojvodina’s Zombor (Sombor), upgrading the crossing at Roszke and developing cargo transport logistics at Hercegszanto, Szijjártó said.