Szijjarto opens consulate-general in Kazan

Budapest (MTI) – Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, opened a Hungarian consulate-general in Kazan on Friday.

“It lies in Hungary’s interest to pursue pragmatic and successful cooperation based on respect for one another and for international law,” the minister told MTI after the ceremony.

Szijjarto reaffirmed Hungary’s interest in a quick and peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. He also said that Hungary has an interest in the revival of effective cooperation between eastern and western Europe.

The minister said the EU sanctions against Russia and the subsequent Russian embargo on some European deliveries had hit hard the European nations. Hungarian export to Russia, for instance, declined by 510 million dollars, or 15 percent, in 2014.

During the visit, the minister attended a session of the Hungarian-Russian economic mixed committee in which several agreements were concluded. He said the accords were aimed at boosting cooperation and counterbalancing losses due to sanctions in areas unaffected by the embargo.