President: Hungarians want peace in Ukraine

President Katalin Novák condemned an attack against Israel early Saturday by militants of Palestinian Islamic organisation Hamas.

“I strongly condemn the attacks against Israel that claim human lives. Hungary affirms its unwavering support for Israel. My thoughts and prayers with [Israeli President] Isaac Herzog and the Jewish people in these difficult times,” Novák said in a post on the social media platform X. According to the latest reports from the Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency ambulance service, at least 40 Israelis have died, while hospitals report several hundred injured.

President Novák urges peace at Arraiolos summit

Hungarian President KatalinNovák pressed for peace in Ukraine as soon as possible, while warning against an escalation of the war, after a meeting of the Arraiolos Group, which comprises heads of state of European parliamentary republics, in Porto on Friday. At a press conference, Novák said participants at the summit had agreed on support for Ukraine and a show of unity. She noted that Hungary had offered, political, material and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

In addition to establishing a sustainable peace in Ukraine, she said the sides had discussed the future of the European Union. Outlining her position on the union, she said the EU needed strong leaders, efficient institutions free of corruption, and strong member states. Everyone needs to comply with the Treaties, show mutual respect and focus on demographic challenges, she added.

A selfie with the European presidents:

She said the EU required strong leaders who could manage internal conflicts and were capable of showing the EU’s weight on the global political and economic stages, too. She pointed to the importance of observing the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity in the Treaties. Novák urged an acceleration of the process of accession for the Western Balkan countries and advocated Bulgaria and Romania’s inclusion in the passport-free Schengen zone “as soon as possible”.

She said addressing demographic challenges would be a key issue as Hungary took the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2024. The presidents of 13 countries participated at this year’s meeting of the Arraiolos Group: Italy, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Malta, Latvia, Poland, Finland, Portugal, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary.