Szijjártó: Hungary accepts Ukraine refugees, rejects illegal immigrants
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Hungary accepts all refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, but its borders remain closed to illegal immigrants, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told the general assembly of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday.
“Hungary has been led by a Christian Democratic, nationally minded, patriotic right-wing government for 12 years which bases its policies on Christian values, guaranteeing the full enforcement of human rights,” the foreign ministry cited Szijjártó as saying at the council’s session held as part of Hungary’s Universal Periodic Review.
The war in Ukraine is violating the most fundamental of human rights, which poses a serious security risk, Szijjártó said. Hungary’s government must guarantee that the country’s inhabitants can live in peace and security, on which there can be “no compromise”, he said.
Szijjártó said Hungary’s government had to guarantee the security of the Hungarian people, prevent the country from being dragged into the war and ensure that Hungarians are not made to pay the price of war.
A significant portion of Hungary’s armed forces has been deployed to the east of the country, Szijjártó noted, adding that in the interest of minimising risks, Hungary has decided against sending troops and weapons to Ukraine and has banned the transit of lethal aid across the country.
“At the same time, we know, understand and respect that some of our friends and allies have chosen differently,” he said.
The minister also noted that Hungary’s government opposed decisions that would threaten the country’s energy security.
Szijjártó said it was not realistic to cut dependence on Russian energy “from one year to the next, let alone from one day to the next”.
He said Hungary was taking in all refugees fleeing Ukraine, noting that more than half a million people have arrived in the country so far, but more refugee waves could be expected if the situation in Ukraine deteriorated.