Orbán signs Modern Cities cooperation with Socialist mayor of Szeged

Szeged, January 30 (MTI) – Prime Minister Viktor Orbán signed a cooperation agreement under the government’s Modern Cities scheme with László Botka, Socialist mayor of Szeged, in southern Hungary, on Monday.

Orbán said after the signing ceremony that Szeged had “all the potential to become an outstanding regional centre” and he wished the city “as much success as it is entitled to in light of its history”.

Botka said that the partnership was aimed at making maximum use of European Union funding, which he called a “fundamental national cause”.

Concerning his talks with the prime minister, Botka said that they had discussed plans for 19 development projects in his city on top of 104 investment schemes already under way.

Under the partnership agreement, the government will provide assistance to such projects as upgrading highway 47, development of the Szeged-Mako railway line and Szeged’s airport, construction of a food processing plant, a bridge, an industrial park and several sports complexes. The government will also provide assistance to a switch-over to electricity in the city’s public transport system.

MIGRATION, OLYMPICS

Answering a question on illegal migration, Orbán said that reinforcing Hungary’s southern borders was a must. Border protection must be “modern and efficient”. He added that Hungary should use all means to ensure stability in southern Europe, but “apart from that we must have the ability to protect ourselves”.

Asked about Hungary’s bid to host the Olympics, Orbán said the government would accept “a decision made in a form acceptable to the public”. The prime minister said he would not comment on the current referendum initiative seeking to block Hungary’s bid to host the Games until the period available for collecting the signatures is over.

Following the talks, Orban and his internal security advisor György Bakondi saw the fence along the Serbian border, visited the transit zone in Röszke, and talked with the police officers, soldiers and officials on duty, the prime minister’s press chief Bertalan Havasi told MTI.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI