Szijjártó: Netanyahu’s visit ‘opens new political, economic dimensions’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance in support of Hungary “is a clear refutation of the mendacious and abusive charges of anti-Semitism against the country,” the Hungarian foreign minister told public television on Wednesday.

Péter Szijjártó said that Hungary is one of the European countries to have done the most to successfully combat anti-Semitism. Hungary has a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, and the history of the Holocaust is a part of the school curriculum, he said, adding that the country also financially supports the renovation of synagogues on its territory and beyond the borders.

Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest has brought about “a new dimension in the political and economic spheres, too,” the minister said, citing an agreement on cooperation in the auto industry. Cooperation between Hungary and Israel on the latest automotive technology developments is hugely significant and carries great potential for the Hungarian economy, he added.

Politically, the visit was important because Hungary has always striven to ensure a politically balanced and fair attitude towards Israel on the part of the European Union, Szijjártó said.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó also addressed the issue of migration in the interview. In response to press reports that Italy was considering issuing so-called emergency visas to migrants, who would then be free to travel to other EU countries, the minister said there would be “serious trouble” if this were acted on. He added that he had spoken to his Italian counterpart in Brussels on Monday and assured him that Hungary is ready to help stop the migration wave. At the same time, he said it was regrettable that border-defence solutions were still only at the stage of being thought about and discussed in Europe.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI