FM Szijjártó: Hungary-Russia cooperation based on long, fruitful traditions

Economic cooperation between Hungary and Russia is long-standing and successful, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Facebook on Thursday.

Hungary-Russia cooperation

Many Hungarian companies and their products have attracted strong demand in Russia.

“We have now consulted with leaders of Hungarian companies active in Russia, because developing Hungarian-Russian economic ties further in areas not affected by sanctions is high on our foreign economic agenda,” the minister said.

Last year Hungary’s exports to Russia continued to exceed one billion dollars, Szijjártó said, adding that “the presence of the largest Hungarian companies such as Mol, OTP and Richter in Russia could make other Hungarian companies feel secure there”.

Those companies operating in pharmaceuticals, food processing, water management, health, construction, and farming have expressed a desire to stay active on that market, the minister said, adding that the government would “provide the necessary support for this”.

Szijjártó: Europe should aid Africa’s development instead of encouraging migration

If the European Union continues to “encourage” migration instead of bringing development programmes to Africa, Europe will be “flooded” by immigrants, Szijjártó said, adding that this would lead to “unforeseeable security challenges”.

Addressing a joint press conference with Musa Timothy Kabba, his Sierra Leone counterpart after a meeting of the Hungary-Sierra Leone economic mixed committee, Szijjártó said Africa’s population was projected to grow by 750 million over the next 20 years, warning of the “enormous challenge” it would be to ensure Africans’ access to education, health care and drinking water.

“So if the European Union continues to encourage people to set off for Europe rather than taking development programmes to Africa, the EU will be flooded by migrants, and we’ll be facing unforeseeable security challenges,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

He said implementing development schemes required responsible governments such as that of Sierra Leone, praising the country’s efforts against terrorism, its defence of security interests and openness to cooperating with Europe to retain its population.

“And we’re prepared to work together with responsible African countries, support their economic growth and support them in retaining their growing populations by improving their standard of living,” Szijjártó said.

He said Hungary was not just “paying lip service” to aiding Africa, but also following up its words with actions.

Szijjártó said a business forum held earlier in the day had highlighted food supply, agriculture and water management as the areas with the most opportunities for cooperation between Hungary and Sierra Leone.

He said Hungarian companies were prepared to contribute to food security and water supply in the west African country and had started talks on two future investment projects aimed at ensuring 300,000 people’s access to clean drinking water.

Hungary’s government is prepared to contribute to both the financial and technological side of these projects, he added.

Szijjártó also said the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences was prepared to work with its local partners in Sierra Leone to create the framework for high-quality and secure food supply.

Meanwhile, he said there were currently 84 university students from Sierra Leone studying in Hungary, noting that Hungary offered scholarships to 50 students from the west African country each year.

Szijjártó said the war in Ukraine had a “serious impact” on both countries, underlining the global problems caused by soaring energy prices, inflation and challenges related to food supply.

“And peace is the only way to prevent these dramatic effects,” he said.

“That’s why we will continue to stand up for peace efforts at international forums in the interest of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine and preventing its dramatic effects from impacting the countries and people who have nothing to do with this war and are in no way responsible for it,” the minister said.

In response to a question, Szijjártó called the migration pact approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday “the legislative body’s most dangerous decision of the last five years”.

“This decision once again proves that Brussels and the European Union are pro-war and pro-migration,” he said. “It has made it clear that a strong rightward shift will be needed in early June in order for Europe to be a safer and more competitive place.”

Meanwhile, he said Hungary and Ukraine had yet to achieve a breakthrough in their talks on the rights of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community, insisting that the government would not compromise on this issue.

ChristDem MEP: Africa’s future lies in educating youth

“Education is a long-term investment,” György Hölvényi, MEP of Hungary’s co-ruling Christian Democrats, said in Brussels on the sidelines of a conference on Thursday held on the role of the European Union in African education, adding that “Africa’s future depends on providing education to the continent’s youth.”

“It is in Europe’s interest for young generations in Africa to grow up to be a resource rather than a problem,” the MEP told MTI.

Africa needs educated young people to contribute to economic and social development, he said, adding that “assistance provided to ensure the prospect of prosperity in the homeland is especially important.”

“Assistance in place” includes aid for education and training in Africa to help young people seek out opportunities in their own homelands, he said. Education could create the necessary conditions for them to stay at home rather than opting to emigrate, he added.

The situation in Africa, Hölvényi said, was critical. Around 260 million children on the continent do not attend school, he said, adding that the United Nations World Food Programme was about making school attractive by providing daily meals there. He also warned that by 2030 Africa would need at least two million more teachers.

The churches are in the forefront of education in Africa, with 40 percent of schools run by church organisations, Hölvényi said.

He said aiding education in the long term involved a political and financial commitment, adding that “the EU and its member states cannot make things change by themselves; partner countries must be willing to participate.”

Hungary chief of staff meets EUMC head

Robert Brieger, the head of the European Union Military Committee, visited Hungary on Thursday, and met with Gábor Böröndi, the chief of staff.

At a press conference after the talks, Böröndi said the visit was “the overture to the military programme of the Hungarian EU presidency”.

Regarding the military priorities of the Hungarian presidency, Böröndi said the EU Strategic Compass programme should be supported in the areas of crisis management, military capabilities and the development of the defence industry. He said it was important to develop Europe’s rapid response forces, adding that the Hungarian presidency would support Europe’s defence technology and industrial funds. “Hungary’s defence industry is an integral part of that,” he said, adding that Hungary would contribute to setting up the first European combat group in 2025.

Böröndi said the Western Balkans continued to be a priority for Hungary and its armed forces, noting that this year, for the first time in the history of the EUFOR Althea operation, a Hungarian commander is in charge of the EU’s military mission there.

Hungary supports an informal document signed by Austria, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands aimed at “putting the Western Balkans in the European Union’s centre of focus to an even greater extent”, Böröndi said.

The Hungarian military will host European Union member states’ chiefs of staff in October and present Hungary’s military capabilities at the Brave Warrior exercise, Böröndi said.

Brieger said his visit was aimed at reinforcing cooperation, and his talks focused on issues closely related to EU common security and defence policy.

“The current situation in Ukraine and at the Red Sea definitely required a personal meeting,” he added.

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