Szijjarto discusses migration with Netanyahu in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, November 16 (MTI) – Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto discussed Hungary’s position on the migration crisis in Europe with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, in Jerusalem on Monday.

Szijjarto highlighted Europe’s increased security risks in the wake of hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants “entering the community without any regulation or control”. That tendency has “in fact made Europe indefensible from developments such as we have regrettably seen in the past few days”, Szijjarto said.

The Paris events have sent a clear signal that “a lot of things cannot go on and must be changed”, Szijjarto insisted. Europe must have the capability of protecting its borders; with no border protection “Europe will continue to be defenceless,” he argued.

Szijjarto praised Hungary for “reducing a daily 6,000-10,000 illegal immigrants to practically zero”. “We are a successful example of protecting a country through protecting its borders, therefore I think a whole continent could be protected if its borders are protected”, he said.

“Israel understands and appreciates that Hungarian position”, the minister said.

Szijjarto and Netanyahu also agreed that “unless we are able to manage the causes, there will be no long-term solution to this extraordinary crisis and challenge”. Peace and stability must be created in the Middle East and in North Africa as soon as possible to avoid a protracted crisis, Szijjarto said.

Parties at the talks agreed on an action plan to make better use of potentials in bilateral ties. Hungary wants to see bilateral trade, of a current turnover of 500 million dollars a year, “enter a higher dimension”, Szijjarto said after the meeting. Hungary and Israel have agreed to open a credit line of nearly 400 million dollars to finance bilateral business ties focusing on innovation, start-ups, farming, info-communications, food export and energy, he said.

Szijjarto also had talks with Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid party.

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