migration

Hungarian FM: Clear distinction must be made between refugees, illegal migrants

Hungarian FM

The international community should make it clear that there is a distinct difference between refugees and illegal migrants, and act accordingly, the Hungarian foreign minister said in Geneva on Wednesday.

The foreign ministry cited Péter Szijjártó telling the plenary session of the Global Refugee Forum that Hungary was under dual pressure, from the east by the war in Ukraine and from the south by the serious challenge posed by protecting the EU’s external border from the direction of the currently busiest Western Balkans migration route.

International law clearly states that people forced to flee a country have the right to stay temporarily in the first safe country they enter but they have no right to cross through several safe countries in order to reach the destination of their choice, he said.

“Hypocrisy should be abandoned and it should be clearly stated that there is a distinct difference between refugees and illegal migrants,” Szijjártó said.

Those that flee from war and arrive in the first safe country must be regarded as refugees there who have the right to stay temporarily but those that cross through a series of safe countries by violating borders must be regarded as illegal migrants and they must be stopped, he said.

At the event co-hosted by the UNHCR, Szijjártó highlighted Hungary as the best example of respecting international law in this regard.

Hungary lets in all refugees which is best illustrated by the over one million refugees arriving from neighbouring Ukraine since the start of the war there, he said. Those refugees have received all necessary services, and equal access to health care and education, with more than 1,500 Hungarian schools and kindergarten receiving refugee children, he added.

At the same time, the authorities are making all possible efforts to stop illegal migrants, with 275,000 illegal border entry attempts registered last year and nearly 200,000 this year already, the foreign minister said.

He expressed regret about the violent behaviour of certain migrants and people smugglers, saying that several of them were carrying weapons and fired shots at Hungarian border guards in several instances.

“In order to protect the security of Hungary and Hungarians, we will never let in such people,” Szijjártó said.

Read also:

  • Hungarian Minister believes Germans will flee to Hungary for better future, details HERE
  • Orbán: Ukraine is corrupt, Hungary will not be mixed nation

Hungarian Minister believes Germans will flee to Hungary for better future

germany hungary flag

Hungarian Minister of Economic Development, Márton Nagy, scrutinises Germany’s economic standing in a recent Magyar Nemzet article, instead of addressing Hungary’s economic situation.

Nagy suggests that due to Germany‘s failing budget policy, many German nationals may flee their country in a bid to escape the German stagnation.

Did the Germans mess up?

Nagy delves into the intricacies of the three-party political coalition steering Germany, highlighting the diverse political views within. He states that these conflicting positions, represented by the coalition’s constituent parties, are pulling the German economy in disparate directions, resulting in the implementation of a “shadow budget.” Nagy details this unconventional economic approach and explores potential consequences, including a potential trend of German migration to Hungary.

Telex  provides a more in-depth analysis of the situation, explaining how the coalition shifted a significant portion of state assets into special funds to maintain the appearance of budgetary balance. These off-budget funds now surpass the annual budget itself, effectively creating a second budget. Nagy labels this a “technocratic takeover” by the German coalition, asserting that the Constitutional Court’s ruling on 15 November deemed the way the coalition managed the taxpayers’ and creditors’ money unconstitutional.

Diverging paths

The Minister writes that diverging paths further complicate the economic landscape. Nagy outlines the reasons behind Germany’s economic struggles, attributing them to the conflicting goals of the coalition. Pursuing the green-energy transition, inclusive growth and fiscal discipline simultaneously proves challenging, with only two out of the three achievable at any given time. The Minister criticises misguided policy measures, such as the gradual phase-out of nuclear energy and the push for complete energy independence, asserting that these policies have exacerbated the situation, pushing the German budget policy to the brink of collapse. Since the Minister doesn’t touch on that in his writing, you can read more about Hungary’s financial state in this article.

Meanwhile in Hungary..

In contrast to Germany, Nagy anticipates widespread political repercussions. He predicts a political crisis in Germany and foresees a short-lived career for Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Nagy asserts, “Hungary can expect an influx of Western political and economic refugees due to our anticipated economic growth in Europe by 2024, fostered in a stable, predictable and secure environment, while Germany unfortunately faces stagnation.”

Concluding his article, Nagy emphasises Hungary’s approach as rational and pragmatic rather than ideological, advocating for the transformation of the traditional energy industry into a new, sustainable one. He contends that those capable of producing and storing green energy will secure a prosperous future. Whether Nagy’s predictions hold true remains to be seen, but the pursuit of a green future is undoubtedly a crucial endeavour. Check out this article to learn more about Hungary’s progress in this area.

Orbán: Ukraine is corrupt, Hungary will not be mixed nation

Orbán_Ukraine is corrupt, Hungary will not be mixed nation

Ukraine’s integration into the European Union “is extremely untimely”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told the French weekly Le Point in an interview published on Friday. Orbán said accession was not being prepared adequately, and its structure did not ensure “it will bring in more than it costs”, Orbán said in a wide-ranging interview covering migration, NATO’s role, a joint European defence system and the EP elections.

Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world

Ukraine “is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and it is not ready for EU accession,” he said.

Hungary, as Ukraine’s neighbour, “knows exactly what’s going on there, no matter what they think in Paris, Brussels or the Hague,” Orbán said.

He rejected the charge that Hungary was vetoing EU initiatives. “Let’s just say we don’t consent to them.”

Ukraine’s EU membership would burden the other member states, which would have to pay more contributions, he said. France, he added, would have to contribute 3.5 billion euros more every year than they had done so far.

Folding in Ukrainian agriculture into the EU system would “ruin” the sector in other countries, he warned.

Orbán proposed establishing a strategic partnership with Ukraine, saying this would open possibilities to signing agreements on agriculture, tariffs and security.

“I agree with elevating cooperation, but not with membership,” he said.

Regarding the Hungarian minority in Europe, Orbán said minority rights were not up for negotiation. Ukraine must respect those rights, regardless of their accession plans, he said.

Also, the matter did not depend on whether the EU would pay the 10 billion euros it has been withholding from Hungary, Orbán said. “Technical issues such as finances must not be mixed up with historic challenges.”

He said more than two-thirds of Hungarians were opposed to starting accession talks with Ukraine – as was the country’s parliament.

Orbán noted he had never supported sanctions against Russia, “as it would be hard to find an example in European history when sanctions worked.”

Europeans “betrayed”

He insisted Europeans had been “betrayed” on the issue of badly phrased, badly implemented” sanctions.

“How do you explain that although Russia is under sanctions, the US has doubled its purchases of nuclear fuels? When we talk about sanctions, others – especially the US – circumvent them and conclude successful business deals.”

Asked about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Orbán said: “Russia is a different country in terms of its history, politics and geography . It can’t be compared with Europe . where freedom is one of the fundamental values.”

He said preserving unity, rather than freedom, was the key issue. “We can’t expect Russia to be like Europe,” he said.

“The question is whether our differences stop us from cooperating,” he said, adding that such logic would make cooperation impossible “with two-thirds of the planet”. “Russia is here and it’s strong,” he said.

Orbán said that as he grew up in a communist country he had experienced a “dichotomy” that put the West on the one side and the Soviet Union on the other. He said he wanted to avoid a resurgence of an approach of “us against the world”.

Hungary will not support mixing cultures

Concerning migration, the prime minister said: “Hungarians may not necessarily follow the examples of other countries such as France. We cannot be fully assured that mixing cultures will be any better than our traditional society,” he said.

Put to him that he could help the Italian government handle illegal migration, Orbán said he was “trying to be as helpful as possible” but the European Union’s new migration pact “simply went in the wrong direction”.

He said he was experienced on the issue of migration and was “proud” that “no migrants are in Hungary”. “Every now and then some will manage to get into the country, but sooner or later they are pushed back,” he said.

He said the Hungarian government was working to ensure that nobody could enter without a Hungarian permit, and this practice “should be copied by every European state”.

Asylum seekers are required to stay outside Hungary and wait for the Hungarian authorities to assess their request, he noted. “This is the only good formula for handling illegal migration.” He warned that if illegal migrants entered Europe before being granted legal entry, “they may never be sent back”.

Asked what he would do if Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, asked Hungary for a plane to take illegal migrants back to Africa, Orbán said: “I have made that proposition at least a hundred times.”

Concerning the EU’s migration policy, Orbán said if the European Commission declared a migration emergency, Hungary would be required to accommodate migrants or pay a fine. “I am willing to pay if the EU takes over at least 30 percent of our border control costs . we have spent over 2 billion euros,” he said.

London’s secession has weakened central Europe

Meanwhile, Orbán said several countries in Europe had a “democracy deficit”, with “people considering politics as something for the elite and . turning to movements outside the elite”. He said Europe was dominated by “two kinds of dynamics: one is centrist and the other focused on national sovereignty . when they are balanced the EU works well.” He added, however, that the equilibrium had been upended by Brexit and “London’s secession has weakened central Europe”, resulting in “a strengthening of sometimes extremist elements advocating national sovereignty”.

Concerning the rule of law, Orbán said the EU Treaties did not include a definition. “Rather than the states jointly coming up with a definition, the rule of law has become a weapon in the hands of those working to build a more centralised EU,” he said.

He noted that the EU had launched a rule-of-law mechanism against Hungary when ruling Fidesz quit the European People’s Party. “We are innocent but also vulnerable,” Orbán said, adding that the rule of law “should be taken more seriously and not used as a political weapon”.

Hungary’s constitution honours the separation of the branches of government as well as religious freedoms, Orbán noted.

On another subject, Orbán said his Fidesz party was in consultations with Meloni’s European Conservatives and Reformers group, and “Budapest would be glad to join either before or after next summer’s EP elections.”

He said the Identity and Democracy group of parties was also “close to Fidesz” and regretted that the two groups had not yet negotiated a cooperation deal. “Unless the non-traditional right-wing parties are willing to cooperate, we will never have a majority,” Orbán said.

He said the EP elections could bring about a turnaround because “the liberal elite, the Brussels bureaucrats, no longer represent the EU’s fundamental goals”. While the EU had been “a pledge of peace and welfare”, currently “there is no peace and life has not improved”. “The time has come for parties outside mainstream politics, the non-traditional right-wing parties, to take the reins and restore peace and security.” the prime minister said.

Read also:

  • Politico: EU politicians shocked by Orbán’s threats
  • Former Ukrainian President planned meeting Orbán but wasn’t let out of Ukraine?

Hungary has demonstrated how to protect the border

Hungarian border fence

Hungary has demonstrated how to protect the border, Bence Rétvári, parliamentary state secretary of the interior ministry, said on Thursday.

The European Union’s external land borders span 440km, while its internal borders add up to 7,500km, and it is obvious that it is the shorter section that needs to be protected against illegal migration, Rétvári told public radio.

Rétvári spoke in connection with a meeting of the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council he attended this week, where he played a video of the attacks Hungarian police officers have to endure from armed illegal migrants on the southern border.

Hungary’s border protection works but will only be effective in protecting the whole of Europe if it cannot be bypassed, the state secretary said. “This is what should be done on the Bulgarian and Greek borders, too,” he added.

Rétvári said there had been attempts to talk the Hungarian delegation out of playing the video, but once the video was played, it was met with “stunned silence”. Many at the meeting, he said, had snapped photos of the scenes in the video or asked for a copy.

“The reason why they were stunned by the video was because in their mind the job of border guards isn’t to protect the border but to help illegal migrants submit their asylum applications,” Rétvári said.

He said western European media did not report on what is happening on Hungary’s southern border, “and whatever isn’t covered in the papers doesn’t exist to decision-makers, either”.

The state secretary said Brussels was working on adding exceptions to the EU’s planned migration directive that provide a basis for taking in migrants. He added that Hungary was hopeful the central European member states could reach an agreement on the need to protect the bloc’s external border in the region.

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FM Szijjártó afraid of migration wave

szijjártó east west cooperation

Instability and a lack of security in African countries could send off further waves of migration to Europe, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Wednesday.

Hungary has a vested interest in having security and stability in Africa, and the government works together with other governments firmly committed against terrorism, Szijjártó said, noting the support of “Kenya and Defence Minister Aden Duale, as well as the United Nations and Special Envoy Hanna Serwaa Tetteh”.

“The goal is to achieve peace in as many African countries as possible and prevent further waves of migration,” he said.

He said “the pressure of migration (on Hungary) is on the increase primarily due to armed conflicts spreading in the world, that is why the UN peace keeping missions are especially crucial in preventing new waves of migration.”

Hungary and Serbia share a challenge of “the migration situation along the Western Balkans route, where people smugglers operate in a military system and use weapons,” the minister said.

“We must be clear: illegal migration must be rejected,” he said, adding that he had discussed the subject with Serbian defence state secretary Nemanja Starovic, in Accra.

On another subject, Szijjártó said Hungary had excellent energy cooperation with Bangladesh, where “a similar nuclear plant is being constructed as in Hungary, only they are 7-8 years ahead”. Hungarian experts are in contact with their Bangladeshi colleagues because their experience “could be useful in the next phases of Hungary’s Paks project”, he added.

Szijjártó noted a record trade turnover with Bangladesh, adding that bilateral agreements on investment protection and the elimination of double taxation would soon be signed by representatives of the two countries.

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Fidesz: Change needed in Brussels

European Commission Brussels member states

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, according to Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch, “has again made shocking statements” on helping people from Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan to reach Europe legally.

He noted events of the past week during which “a group of migrants broke down the door of peaceful locals in a small town in France and stabbed them to death” and how Dublin was “in flames after an Algerian migrant stabbed small children among others”.

Still, Brussels wanted to “send invitations to migrants” and ease their path to Europe, Deutsch said in a video statement on Wednesday.

“Change is needed in Brussels,” he said, appealing to citizens to respond to the government’s National Consultation questionnaire.

The Fidesz MEP said that while Hungary was “protecting Europe at its southern border”, with border guards “risking their lives”, Brussels was still determined “to force on us its disastrous migrant-embracing policy”.

“We must say ‘no’ to this yet again,” he said.

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VIDEO: Swiss fighter jets caught the Hungarian foreign minister’s plane

Swiss fighter jets caught the plane of the Hungarian foreign minister

Of course, it was just a drill and Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, willingly participated.

As reported by 24.hu, Szijjártó flew to Switzerland on Tuesday for a conference in Geneva addressing migration issues. Mid-flight, the Swiss Air Force’s fighter jets simulated an interception of his plane. Witness the thrilling footage:

EU migration policy must change to stop human smugglers

Ahead of a meeting at the General Assembly of the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Geneva, Péter Szijjártó took to Facebook. He highlighted that nearly 200,000 illegal migrants had been thwarted at the Hungarian border this year alone, with border guards facing attacks from human smugglers wielding automatic weapons.

Szijjártó asserted the need for a radical shift in EU migration policy to stop the flow. “Encouraging migrants and sustaining the business model of human smugglers must cease,” he declared. Committing to a robust representation of Hungary’s anti-migration stance at the meeting, he underscored the imperative for change.

Read also:

  • Hungary resumes residency sales for the wealthy – Read more HERE

Migrants and smugglers resort to firearms against Hungarian border guards

Addressing the alarming situation of migrants and smugglers resorting to gunfire against Hungarian border guards, Szijjártó deemed the current migrant situation in Europe “unacceptable”. Speaking at the General Assembly of the United Nations IOM, he emphasised Hungary’s firsthand experience, positioned on the EU’s external border along a bustling migrant route through the Western Balkans.
Szijjártó stressed the dangers migration poses to transit and target countries, citing frequent border violations and non-cooperation with authorities. He called for adherence to international legal regulations defining refugee status.

“International legal regulations must be respected by everyone and these regulations clearly define who qualifies as a refugee,” he said, adding that persecuted people were eligible for temporary asylum in the first safe state they entered. However, this did not mean they were allowed to illegally cross the borders of safe countries to reach a destination of their choice, he added.

While Hungary accommodated 1.1 million Ukrainian crossings, Szijjártó argued that the situation differed at the southern border. He reasoned against asylum eligibility for migrants crossing multiple safe countries illegally. Noting the escalation with 275,000 illegal border crossing attempts last year and nearly 200,000 this year, he condemned criminal acts involving automatic weapons, advocating for decisive action against perpetrators.

“People should not be encouraged to set foot towards Europe and risk their lives,” the minister said. “The business model of human smugglers must be dismantled, and efforts should be focused on handling the root causes of illegal migration.”

Szijjártó said armed conflicts should be redirected towards peaceful resolutions and promoting investments in impoverished areas while addressing environmental concerns.

Highlighting Hungary’s contributions, he mentioned initiatives in Africa worth USD 200 million, scholarships for 1,425 African students in Hungarian universities, emission reduction coupled with economic growth and a commitment to cooperate in managing the root causes of migration

Affirming the government’s readiness to sustain collaboration in tackling migration’s root causes, Szijjártó emphasised the goal of enabling people to live safely in their homes rather than being compelled to leave.

Hungarian President Novák discusses illegal migration, Gaza Strip with Egypt’s Sisi

Hungarian President Novák discusses illegal migration, Gaza Strip with Egypt's Sisi

President Katalin Novák discussed illegal migration, the importance of peace and economic issues, among other topics, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Monday.

The two heads of state reviewed their diplomatic activities and agreements of recent years and discussed topical issues pertaining to the future, Tamás Schanda, the Sándor Palace‘s cabinet chief, told public media.

Concerning illegal migration, Egypt was a key player in the region, adding that Hungary and the whole of the European Union counted on the north African country to keep illegal migration at bay.

Novák and el-Sisi, who talked behind closed doors for over an hour and a half, also touched on the situation in the war zones in their countries’ neighbourhoods. They were in agreement that both of their countries had a vested interest in stability and peace in their regions.

As regards economic ties, Hungarian businesses were present in the Egyptian market and Hungary had fulfilled an “unprecedented” order of rolling stock by Egypt.

Hungary is confident that it will be able to export more transport vehicles to Egypt in the future.

Egypt was a strategic partner of Hungary, calling it a key player in the region with a decisive say in attempting to implement solutions in crisis zones. Hungary and Egypt were also each other’s natural allies and were bound by their strategic thinking as well as the joint projects and achievements of recent years, he added.

Both presidents and countries considered traditional values like family important, the cabinet chief said, adding that Novák and el-Sisi had also discussed the Stipendium Peregrinum scholarship scheme for Hungarian students who have applied to the world’s best universities.

According to a statement on the Egyptian presidency’s website, Novák expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in safeguarding stability and peace in the Middle East.

The two heads of state were in agreement on the need to condemn the targeting of all civilians, reject forced displacement and prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region.

Concerning the Russia-Ukraine war, Novák and Sisi were in agreement on the importance of robust international action to resolve the crisis.

Regarding developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, President el-Sisi underlined the importance of reaching a lasting ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian assistance, adding that the conflict must not spill over into the West Bank. The region’s stability and security was closely linked to the international recognition of the Palestinian state, along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as the capital, he said.

During her official visit to Egypt, Novák also held talks with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Gebaly.

Hungarian President Novák discusses illegal migration, Gaza Strip with Egypt's Sisi
Photo: MTI

On Tuesday, she will meet Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and on Friday she will address the United Nations COP28 climate summit.

As we wrote earlier, the Egyptian pyramids came closer to Hungary: new Wizz Air flights, details HERE.

  • read also: László Almásy’s achievements are being revived in Egypt, details HERE.

Visegrad Group interior ministers meet with the counterparts of Germany and Austria

Visegrad Group interior ministers meet with the counterparts of Germany and Austria

By defending its own borders Hungary is also protecting the public security of other EU countries, Sándor Pintér, the interior minister, said on Monday in Szeged, in southern Hungary, where Visegrad Group counterparts met with the interior ministers of Germany and Austria.

At the meeting, he briefed his counterparts on how Hungary is going about protecting the external Schengen borders as well as forms of international cooperation the country is now engaged in and future related plans, he told a joint press conference.

Whereas Hungary “is ready to cooperate and accept proposals”, it will not agree to the mandatory relocation of migrants, he said, adding that this was a matter of sovereignty.

Czechia’s Vit Rakusan said joint action was required to handle migration and protecting the external borders was a common interest.

Given pressure from the Western Balkan migration corridor, law enforcement cooperation with third countries would continue, he said, noting that Czech police have been involved in border protection since 2015, and Czechia plans to continue this assistance in 2024.

The ministers agreed to hold regular meetings to evaluate migration processes, he said, adding that controlling internal borders was far less preferable than protecting the external borders. A common European solution was needed, he said, but finding a compromise “is not straightforward”.

Germany’s Nancy Faeser the pressures of secondary migration had led many member states to introduce internal border controls, even though all EU countries preferred open borders within the EU.

She said joint action against people smuggling was required and Frontex must be strengthened.

Protecting human rights was “the basis of European cooperation”, she said, adding that this was especially so in the case of migration policy and the defence of the external borders.

Austria’s Gerhard Karner said his visit to Hungary had highlighted the importance of protecting the external borders, noting that Austrian, Czech and Slovak police officers were assisting these efforts effectively.

Slovakia’s Matus Sutaj-Estok said his country stood ready to provide help in protecting the bloc’s external borders, and the state of affairs was “favourable right now” thanks to “the action of the Serbian authorities and the weather” but preparations were needed to handle what would inevitably be renewed migration pressure in the spring.

Poland’s Bartosz Grodecki, the deputy interior minister, said the Schengen zone was a core value of the EU that must be maintained.

As we wrote a week ago, Hungary resumes residency sales for the wealthy, details HERE.

  • read also: Why do German pensioners flood Hungary? – VIDEO

Orbán’s MEP talks about ‘dirty power game’ in the EU

Hungarian MEP Tamás Deutsch fidesz tisza

The left-wing majority of the European Parliament, according to Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch, is playing a “dirty power game” to prevent the unfreezing of EU funds which Hungary is legally entitled to.

“No matter what the left-wing … does, we’ll defend Hungarian sovereignty,” the head of the Fidesz EP delegation told Hungarian journalists in Strasbourg on Tuesday after an EP plenary debate on the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Hungary.

The aim of the “political hysteria” whipped up by the left wing, he said, was to put pressure on the European Commission and to create a political environment in which the EC would not “have the courage to state the facts” and declare that “Hungary has met all conditions required” for its funding to be unfrozen.

Fidesz and Christian Democrat MEPs stated clearly in the debate that “no matter how much pressure Brussels puts Hungary under, they would still insist that “war madness” must end in Ukraine, that illegal migration must be stopped and the external EU borders protected. Further, “gender ideology madness” must be opposed, and children protected, by preserving the Hungarian Child Protection Act, Deutsch said.

He added that “dollar left” MEPs were using the EP to attack their own country.

Read also:

  • Central bank governor talks about euro introduction in Hungary – Read more HERE
  • Minister: “We don’t need people like that in Europe” – Details in THIS article

Hungarian defence minister: Chad security vitally important

chad hungary mission

Chad is the only stable state in the Sahel, and it can be seen as “an exporter of stability” in the region, the defence minister said, adding that its security was of special importance to Europe and Hungary.

After talks with counterpart Dago Yacouba, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the fact that Yacouba’s first visit abroad since he entered office took him to Hungary showed that both countries considered cooperation as a matter of strategic importance.

The ministers signed an agreement on military cooperation prior to the press conference.

The Hungarian government is determined that problems must be resolved where they arise, and has therefore decided to play an active role in preserving Chad’s stability, he said. As part of a complex support package,

a mission of 200 soldiers will be sent to Chad.

They will offer training and mentoring to the Chad army in the fight against terrorism, and with a view to reducing illegal migration, he added.

Hungary will play special attention to EU participation in the Sahel during its presidency of the European Union Council.

Yacouba said developments in the Sahel had an effect on world peace, and Chad needed help from the EU, Hungary and Africa in order to cope with numerous challenges such as terrorism, smuggling and illegal migration. Cooperation between Chad and Hungary is crucial for establishing peace, he added.

Hungarian government demands release of Hamas’s Hungarian hostages – UPDATE

United Nations Hungary Szijjártó

Hungary’s government demands that Hamas release its Hungarian hostages and that the international community do everything in its power to secure the release of those abducted from Israel by the terrorist group, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in New York on Monday.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Szijjártó noted that thanks to the joint efforts of Israel and Egypt, the Hungarian citizens who had been stuck in Gaza and wanted to leave had been successful evacuated. He also underscored the importance of minimising civilian casualties in the conflict.

In the video on Facebook, the minister also noted that Hamas was holding five Hungarian citizens hostage. “Therefore we can’t accept any declaration, decision or resolution that doesn’t explicitly and clearly call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” he said.

“We demand that Hamas release the hostages and that the international community do everything it can to secure their release,” Szijjártó added.

Meanwhile, he emphasised the importance of Egypt’s stability, calling the north African country one of Europe’s “main bastions of defence”, given Cairo’s key role in curbing migration pressure.

Szijjártó said he will also meet leaders of the UN’s counter-terrorism body as well as the under-secretary-general responsible for African relations.

Meanwhile, addressing the issue of migration, the minister said the Hungarian authorities last year prevented 275,000 illegal entries and more than 170,000 so far this year, adding that the migrants coming to Hungary’s borders were increasingly aggressive.

“This is, unfortunately, a direct consequence of Brussels pursuing a migration policy that encourages and inspires migration, and constantly fuels the business model of people-smuggling rings,” the minister said. “We have to put a stop to this, because it will have tragic consequences.”

Szijjártó said migration pressure on Europe originating from Africa would become “unbearable” later on if it was left unaddressed. This requires Europe to combat terrorism, as it is one of the root causes of migration waves, he said, noting that this was why Hungary was sending 200 soldiers to Chad in the interest of upholding the stability of the Sahel region. Details: Hungarian government to send military mission to Africa

The minister also underlined the need to bring economic development to the region. “That’s why it’s important that Europe bring developments and investments there that will create jobs, instead of attracting migrants from Africa,” he said.

He noted that Hungary is providing 140 million dollars in tied aid to Africa in addition to carrying out 30 million dollars’ worth of social development schemes. Hungary also supports the survival of Christian communities in 18 countries and offers scholarships to 1,425 students each year to study at Hungarian universities, he added.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó said Hungary’s foreign policy was “highly respected” on the world stage because the government pursued “an honest and sovereign policy”.

“So when it comes to Hungarian foreign policy, everyone knows full well that its rules are written in Budapest instead of being dictated from somewhere else,” he said. “And this sovereign Hungarian foreign policy is indeed respected here in New York, in the UN and on the world political stage.”

As we wrote today, Hungarians worry about Islamist terrorism and sympathise with Israel – latest poll

Joint efforts from the international community can prevent Middle East escalation

A united effort from the international community can prevent conflict escalation in the Middle East, and the countries in the region could return to the hopeful path towards peace carved by the Abraham Accords, Szijjarto said.

It should not be forgotten that the current conflict began with a “really brutal terrorist attack” a month and a half ago, Szijjártó told an informal session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a ministry statement.

Preventing a repeat of “such a heinous attack” was in the interest of not just Israel, but the entire world, he said, adding successful actions against terrorism were also a global interest.

Highlighting the Hungarian aspects of the situation, Szijjártó said the Hungarian citizens who had been stuck in Gaza and wanted to leave had been successfully evacuated. He expressed thanks to his Egyptian and Israeli counterparts without whom, he said, “it would not have been possible to evacuate those 14 Hungarian citizens who wanted to leave the Gaza Strip”.

He also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the five Hungarian citizens held hostage by Hamas. For this reason, he said, Hungary could only accept resolutions, decisions and statements that called for the immediate release of those being held captive.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó underlined the critical need to preserve Egypt’s stability, calling the north African country “one of the major bastions of European security”.

While the international community asks Cairo to take in everyone fleeing Gaza, it should also contribute to preserving the country’s stability, he said, noting that Hungary has offered 100,000 euros in aid to Egypt for the procurement of medical supplies to treat those who have fled Gaza.

Szijjártó said Europe was facing severe security challenges, and the situation in the Middle East had a direct impact on the entire continent.

Hungarians, he said, therefore had a vested interest in the peace and security of the Middle East. He said that in the short term, the international community must do everything possible to prevent escalation and an interstate war in the region.

“Because if this action against terror becomes war between countries, then in the Middle East it would have absolutely … unpredictable consequences, which I think none of us would like to see,” he said, urging members of the international community to “behave very responsibly”.

In the long run, Szijjártó said, it was important to return to the principle of the Abraham Accords which were “the best attempt to offer hope” for peace in the Middle East. He asked the signatories of the normalisation agreements and those “who plan to be part of it” not to give up and to “try to come back to the Abraham Accords”.

“And we do believe that if we join our forces, then we can avoid escalation … in the Middle East, and we will be able to come back to a hopeful path of ensuring that all people in the Middle East can live in peace and under a stable situation,” Szijjártó said.

Hungary resumes residency sales for the wealthy

budapest night chain bridge buda

In a move similar to the controversial Golden Visa scheme of the past, Hungary’s government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is introducing residency sales for foreign investors in Hungary. 

The guest investor status

According to Népszava, the residency sales form part of the “tightening” of the migration policies in response to the “crisis situation caused by mass immigration”. The revised act introduces a “guest investor status” aimed at attracting foreign investors. This status permits stays exceeding 90 days and multiple entries. Additionally, there’s an option to apply for a guest investor residence permit, facilitating unrestricted entry and exit to Hungary, akin to the now-discontinued Golden Visa programme. Read more about it HERE.

Orbán-linked real estate funds

The initiative is raising eyebrows due to its potential impact on real estate funds associated with Orbán’s son-in-law, István Tiborcz. Beneficiaries of the new programme include real estate funds connected to Tiborcz, notably the Central European Real Estate Fund (CEI) and Diófa Thales. These funds, listed among the 24 funds registered with the Central Bank, have the potential to significantly boost their turnovers.

Investment criteria

To qualify for guest investor status, individuals must invest in Hungarian real estate funds or meet specific criteria, such as purchasing real estate worth at least EUR 500.000  or providing a grant of EUR 1 million to a designated higher education institution. As we reported earlier, there is already a record number of foreign buyers in the Hungarian real estate market. Adding to this trend, the most cost-effective route to obtaining a residence permit appears to be through investment in real estate fund units.

EU’s reservations and concerns

The European Commission (EC) has expressed reservations about investor resettlement schemes. Furthermore, they are concerned about potential issues like money laundering, tax evasion and corruption. In a recommendation issued last March, the EC urged governments to conduct rigorous checks before granting residence permits under such programmes. The EU body is particularly concerned about the possibility of sanctioned individuals from Russia and Belarus obtaining Schengen visas through these schemes.

Minister: “We don’t need people like that in Europe”

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Hungary’s government will not give up national interests or the use of common sense, especially since “the two coincide”, the minister of foreign affairs and trade told ruling Fidesz’s 30th party congress on Saturday.

The past four years have seen two great upheavals in the world, bringing crises, conflicts and wars, “but also resulting in the majority of the European political elite practically losing their common sense”.

Szijjártó said some had contracted “war psychosis and think that weapons deliveries will create peace”.

“Others take it as a personal slight if a man takes a woman’s hand in public . yet others are offended that there isn’t a welcoming sign every 50 meters on the green border,” he said.

The European elite is also trying to force those “crazy ideas” on everyone, he said. “With some, they use a phone call, a mean glance, an army of NGOs or media attacks.”

But Hungary “cannot be brought to its knees . not even if they invest tens of millions into the opposition,” he said.

A neighbour of Ukraine, Hungary can see clearly that brokering peace is the only way to save people’s lives, and the circumstances for peace talks are “deteriorating day by day”, he said.

“Those bringing weapons into our neighbourhood are prolonging the war. The longer the war, the more the casualties and the greater the destruction.”

As a millennium-old Christian country, Hungary also “knows that nations are based on families, and a family consists of a father, a mother and children”. “And they can’t withhold so many billions of euros we are entitled to so that we allow NGOs into schools to explain to boys that they can wear girls’ clothes even though they’re boys,” he said.

Regarding migration, Szijjártó said the Hungarian authorities had thwarted 275,000 attempts of illegal entry on the border last year.

“We know that military-trained would-be terrorists who shoot at our border patrols, storm our border fence and ignore our rules will not bring progress to Europe,” Szijjártó said. “We don’t need people like that in Europe, especially not in Hungary, and we will never allow them to enter Hungary, no matter the quotas accepted.”

“Besides standing up for peace, our families, the protection of our children and our country, we will also reject the pressure of the liberal mainstream,” he said.

Hungary will have to be ready for intensifying attacks, and the government will need the strength represented by Fidesz, “Europe’s strongest party family,” he said.

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  • Special border gendarmerie will be introduced in Hungary? – Read more HERE
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Minister cleared government’s stance about Hungary’s EU membership

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Hungary’s EU membership is not a question, the EU could be a very useful platform for cooperation, but rather than strengthening the member states “what we see is the European Commission turning into a political commission”, EU affairs Minister János Boka said in an interview published by Austrian daily Kurier.

Speaking about the funds withheld from Hungary, Boka called the issue politically motivated, insisting that there was no legal ground of the rule of law mechanism which therefore should have been closed against the country long ago.

Asked about Hungary’s veto on Brussels starting accession talks with Ukraine, Boka said that Ukraine had not met all of the seven criteria of being granted a candidate status.

Concerning immigration, the minister referred to “two pillars” of Hungary’s position which include the protection of the EU’s external borders and a regime requiring the processing of asylum applications outside the EU.

In connection with Gaza, Boka said Hungary’s position was in line with that of the EU which is that states fighting against terrorism have the right to self-defence and the hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Read also:

  • Hungarian minister calls for ‘strategic debate’ on EU policy on Ukraine – Read more HERE

Szijjártó: Unlike EU, Morocco an ally Hungary can rely on

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Unlike the European Union with its “irresponsible policies”, Morocco is a partner Hungary can continue to rely on in the fight against illegal migration, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Rabat on Wednesday.

With the multitude of security challenges faced by Europe, Hungary greatly appreciates its partners that can contribute to improving the situation, rather than make it worse, Szijjártó told a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, according to a ministry statement.

There are armed conflicts on the continent as well as in its direct neighbourhood, while migration pressure is continuously rising and becoming increasingly difficult to manage because of the EU’s “completely irresponsible” policy, Szijjártó said.

He said the EU this year saw a record number of illegal entry attempts on its external borders, adding that Hungary, too, had registered 173,000 illegal border crossing attempts since the beginning of the year.

“Brussels’s migration policy is an irresponsible one, so we can’t rely on Brussels,” he said. “We’re very lucky to be able to rely on north African countries that pursue responsible security policies, such as Morocco.”

“We consider Morocco a bastion of defence of European security,” Szijjártó said. “We owe Morocco our gratitude for its efforts to keep migration at bay, the steps it has taken in the interest of the region’s stability, and because of its firm actions against terrorism.”

“Peace and security in Africa are a fundamental prerequisite for peace and security in Europe,” the minister said.

Migration towards Europe, he said, could only be halted if its root causes were eliminated. This, he added, was another reason why it was important for Hungary and Morocco to cooperate in bolstering Africa’s security, fighting terrorism and developing the economy.

Szijjártó said migration needed to be stopped, rather than encouraged, praising the cooperation between Hungary and Morocco.

He said bilateral cooperation was based on mutual respect. “The reason why this could be established is because we are two sovereign countries that pursue sovereign foreign policies and put their national interests first, don’t give in to pressure, attempts at interference, or the pressure applied by the international liberal mainstream,” he added.

Turning to economic cooperation, Szijjártó welcomed that Morocco had become Hungary’s top trading partner in Africa. Bilateral trade turnover came close to a record 300 million dollars last year, and has grown by 36 percent this year, he said.

Also, some 1,300 Moroccan students applied this year for the 165 scholarships offered for studies at universities in Hungary, he added.

Read also:

Hungarian FM: Europe, Africa should step up anti-terrorism cooperation

Szijjártó Rabat

Africa and Europe should strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, as European security strongly depends on that of Africa, the foreign minister said in Rabat on Wednesday.

Speaking at the local United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Péter Szijjártó said European security was the weakest since the cold war, having to face a war in Ukraine and one in Israel amid a growing threat of terrorism.

Europe has also seen a “massive flood of immigrants” in the past eight years, he said. Hungary thwarted 230,000 illegal entry attempts last year and 173,000 so far this year, he said. He slammed the EU migration policy as “irresponsible” for “practically encouraging illegal immigration and handling the protection of external borders as a human rights issue rather than a security one.

“We Hungarians see a robust and strict border protection as a necessity, an issue of sovereignty as well as security. We consider illegal entries as a crime and an attack on our sovereignty.”

Szijjártó said terrorism and the “massive migration waves” created a vicious circle. Terrorism is both a root cause and consequence of migration, as terrorists may hide in the masses to travel around the world, he said. The foreign minister said illegal migration had resulted in growing threat of terrorism, creating “parallel societies” in several European countries, “no-go zones where the police can’t keep the order, and gang wars have become more frequent.”

Hungary has a vested interest in a successful fight against terrorism due to the double security challenge it is facing, one posed by the war in Ukraine and one through migration along the Western Balkan route, he said.

At the same time, the fight against terrorism is a global responsibility, he said, saying it was “unacceptable” that the UN covered only 3 percent of UNOCT’s budget, expecting member states to make up the rest.

He said he supported the Secretary-General’s proposal to increase funding.

Budapest is home to the second largest UNOCT office employing 24 experts, Szijjártó said. Hungary is also part of a programme aiming to filter out potential terrorists, he added.

The fight against terrorism cannot succeed without Africa, and European security starts with that of Africa, he said.

Hungarian govt submits comprehensive legislation tightening immigration rules

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The government has submitted to parliament a draft law that would tighten regulation on immigration, the interior ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The measure was prompted by mass migration, the statement said. “Hungary belongs to Hungarians and they are the ones primarily entitled to the jobs here,” it said.

The legislation aims to determine who is entitled to live in Hungary and the time they are allowed to spend here, the statement said. Residence in the country will not be unlimited and foreigners won’t be able to prolong it automatically.

The proposed legislation will also determine the legal requirements and conditions to foreigners’ residence and employment in Hungary, it said.

Those failing to adhere to Hungarian laws and regulations will have to leave immediately or will be expelled, the statement said.

Foreigners may take on jobs only if there are no Hungarian applicants for the position. The number of guest workers brought in may not exceed the number of vacancies. Their residence will be for a limited time only, the ministry said. Foreign citizens will be allowed in Hungary only if the requirements, legal grounds, time frame and conditions set by the Hungarian state are observed, the statement said.

Third-country citizens are only allowed long-term residence and employment with the express permission of the state, and only if their presence “serves the interests of the Hungarian society and does not put even a single Hungarian citizen at a disadvantage,” it said.