Prime minister Orbán meets leader of Vojvodina Hungarians

Budapest (MTI) – Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with István Pásztor, the leader of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ), in Budapest on Thursday, Orban’s press chief said.

Pásztor briefed Orbán about the upcoming presidential elections in Serbia, noting the decision of VMSZ’s council to support Aleksandar Vucic, the current prime minister, as a candidate for the neighbouring country’s next president, Bertalan Havasi said.

VMSZ decided to support Vucic as it considers maintaining political stability in Serbia the most important objective, Pásztor said.

He said the only “rational” guarantee of the enforcement of the Hungarian community’s interests in Vojvodina lay in maintaining and fully implementing the coalition agreement signed in 2016.

At the talks Orbán told Pásztor he supported VMSZ’s decision.

Orbán said that the economic, educational and cultural development of Hungarian communities in neighbouring countries had taken an upswing over the past years, similarly to a recent improvement in Hungarian-Serbian relations, adding that this must certainly be continued.

Orbán and Pásztor agreed that the success of the Prosperitati Foundation aimed at promoting regional and community development in Vojvodina rested on mutual trust, and the organisation had been outstanding in effectively managing the Hungarian government’s three-year grant programme.

Building on these achievements the Hungarian government will remain VMSZ’s strategic partner, Havasi said.

Source: MTI