Szijjarto discusses energy security, open issues with Nuland

Dubrovnik, Croatia (MTI) – Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto met Victoria Nuland, US assistant secretary of state, for bilateral talks on the sidelines of an international forum in Dubrovnik on Friday.

At the meeting, Nuland voiced her country’s appreciation for Hungary’s efforts to increase energy security in central Europe, Szijjarto told MTI.

Defence cooperation between Hungary and the US is smooth, Szijjarto said, adding that Hungary was following up on its commitments made at NATO meetings in Wales and Antalya last year. Szijjarto also quoted Nuland as making a special mention of Hungary’s contribution to the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation.

At their meeting, Nuland mentioned Hungary’s electoral system, media regulations, and the judiciary as open issues. In response, Szijjarto said that Hungary’s rules and their application in those areas “fully stand the test of European laws and values”. “Hungary is a modern democracy with well-functioning democratic institutions,” he said. He added that though there remain unresolved issues in several areas, the two parties agreed to stay in a close cooperation and continue consultations on bilateral political subjects.

Concerning Ukraine, Szijjarto told Nuland that Hungary would not supply arms to Ukrainian territory and would only accept a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis.

Szijjarto met Daniel Mitov, his Bulgarian counterpart, and discussed the necessity of close cooperation to fight illegal immigration. He highlighted similarities between Hungary and Bulgaria, in terms of the influx of immigrants and similar measures to handle that pressure.

Szijjarto also had talks with Hashim Thaci, foreign minister of Kosovo, and Rui Machete, his Portuguese counterpart.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters