FM Szijjártó talks about Hungary-Azerbaijan friendship

The friendship and strategic partnership between Hungary and Azerbaijan is based on mutual respect and values as well as shared interests, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Baku on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting of the Hungarian-Azeri mixed economic committee, Péter Szijjártó said the 14-year ties between the two countries had been mutually beneficial, the ministry said in a statement.

“Those who condemned us for it then are now jostling for a photo with your president,” he said.

Bilateral trade hit a record 120 million dollars last year, Szijjártó said.

Szijjártó noted that the Hungarian delegation to the meeting comprised 34 company leaders from 23 Hungarian firms, scheduled to conduct 152 meetings with Azeri companies.

Energy cooperation with Azerbaijan has greatly boosted Hungary’s energy security, a key factor under current circumstances, he said. The start of natural gas deliveries will be a “milestone”, and both parties are open to increasing the volume, he said.

Hungary is also contributing to rebuilding the village of Soltanli in Nagorno Karabakh, a region Azerbaijan re-occupied last year, he said. The reconstruction is slated to end by end-2025, he said.

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