The Council will not have to pay for the magnificent estate in the Budakeszi street, and it will function as the organisation’s office in Budapest.
According to index.hu, the estate is three-storeyed and 800 square metres. The Hungarian government bought it in 2016 together with the objects of art inside for almost 1.4 billion HUF.
Based on a bill accepted by the parliament, the Hungarian government will maintain the building and pay the employees there. Furthermore, the Turkic Council will get
tax relief on the equipment and properties of the office.
The tax exemption would not apply on the property tax, but Hungary will pay that.
No Hungarian authorities will be allowed to enter the building without the approval of its director only if there is a situation of catastrophe or fire. Authorities cannot search or seize their data, properties or equipment in case of a perquisition or judicial process.
the Turkic Council receives the same exemptions and right as the headquarters of any other international organisation in Hungary. Opposition parties said in the dispute over the bill in the parliament that the employees of the Turkic Council in Hungary are
a national security risk.
Jobbik added that the legal state of the Council’s headquarter is very similar to the Russian International Investment Bank of which many say that it is a centre of the spies of Moscow in Europe.
As we reported before, PM Viktor Orbán offered a bridgehead to Europe and the European Union for the Turkic Council this October during the 7th Turkic Council summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. Orbán noted that
Hungary’s Eximbank has opened a credit line with Turkic Council member states,
adding that 195 million euros were available for Hungarian-Turkish cooperation and 80 million euros each for Hungary’s Kazakh, Uzbek and Azeri business ties. Those with Kyrgyzstan will have a pot of 27 million euros available. He noted that trade between Hungary and the member states of the Turkic Council had doubled to 4 billion US dollars under his watch.
Further, Hungary provides more than 700 state scholarships to young people from the countries of the Turkic Council, he added. Meanwhile, Orbán told the summit that the UK would leave the EU at the end of October. He encouraged Turkic Council members to be quick to start talks with the British on new trade deals.
Members of the Turkic Council include Turkey as well as for Turkic countries Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan became a full member of the organisation at the Baku meeting.
Hungary has had observer status in the Council since 2018.
Turkey has deported 11 suspected Islamic State (IS) members of French nationality to their home country, the Turkish Interior Ministry said Monday.
The ministry made the announcement in a brief statement, without providing details or identifying the suspects.
Turkey has said it will send thousands of captured IS militants, including those from Europe, back to their countries even if their citizenship was revoked.
Ankara started to send foreign IS captives back to their countries of origin in early November. Around 60 IS suspects have been deported so far.
Those countries include Germany, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Leaders of 29 member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) gathered north of London Wednesday for a summit that has been dogged by squabbles, differences and the hurling of insults.
A tranquil golf-resort hotel in Hertfordshire was transformed into a fortress to enable the participants to meet in a heavily secure zone in what had originally planned as a 70th birthday bash for the alliance.
Arguments, however, have set the tone for the much-awaited NATO summit in London, with the Guardian reporting Wednesday that a video has emerged appearing to show world leaders joking at the NATO summit about U.S. President Donald Trump.
The BBC reported that NATO leaders were meeting as tensions between members threatened to overshadow a summit marking the military alliance’s 70th birthday.
The highly choreographed anniversary gathering, intended to show unity, has been unable to hide deep differences between member states, BBC’s defense correspondent commented.
British media reported that top of the agenda for Wednesday’s showpiece meeting would be Turkey’s threat to block a NATO plan for the defense of the Baltics and Poland unless NATO denounces the Syrian Kurds, and by extension endorses the Turkish incursion in October into northeast Syria.
Ahead of the three-hour summit starting, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said a solution to the issue had still not been found.
He told a media briefing: “I’m confident that we will be able to find a solution to the issue related to updating the revised defense plans.”
According to the NATO chief, he discussed the issue Tuesday night with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We are working on the issue as we speak,” he said.
This came after Macron’s recent comment that NATO is “brain dead”.
The main host, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, glossing over the squabbles, said Wednesday:
“There is far, far more that unites us than divides us, and I think one thing every leader here is absolutely resolved upon is the vital importance of NATO for our collective security.”
To experience something similar, you have to travel to Pamukkale (Turkey) or the Yellowstone National Park (USA).
The mineral water coming out from the slopes of the volcanic Mátra Hills runs down a series of cascades backed and lined with travertine. Meanwhile, the gleaming mineral precipitates from the water as it interacts with air at atmospheric temperatures. The travertine is locally called “salt,” while the cascade of water “Salt Hill” which is an exceptional natural beauty in the world – szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu reported.
The historical and geographical associations of Egerszalók have made it a favourite spa in Hungary. Since not all of the dissolved solids precipitate, the
Egerszalók spa pools contain water rich in calcium, magnesium, and hydrocarbonate minerals.
There are a total of 17 outdoor and indoor pools and the spa has a total water surface area of 1,900 m². The water there is good to cure bone injuries, joint gout and rheumatics.
Interestingly, the area’s waters have been in use since the 1730s, although the current Saliris Resort Spa and Conference Hotel and the adjacent spa we wrote about above only came into operation in 1961.
Those who visit the spa can take a walk in the forests surrounding the area or can taste the
Egri bikavér, one of the most famous wines of Hungary.
Moreover, a section of the hot springs has been officially signed and set aside for naturists.
Want more?
HERE you can read more about the beauties of Egerszalók. We reported HERE that Egerszalók’s salt hill was added to Hungary’s health resort map. Finally, HERE you can find photos and videos about the most breathtaking natural wonders of Hungary.
Olivér Várhelyi, Hungary’s nominee for European commissioner, told a hearing in the European Parliament on Thursday that national and European interests need not be considered separately because the common aim is to create a strong and successful community.
The situation of the European Union’s neighbours has strategic importance for the community and it is therefore important to maintain stability, security and prosperity in these areas, as well as to reduce gaps in their levels of development.
Different targets and approaches are needed for the various partner countries and it is not possible to apply a standard scheme, he added.
Accessions talks must be started with Albania and North Macedonia as soon as possible, as the credibility of the European Union is at stake, Varhelyi said, adding that the possibility of opening an integration process must be given to eligible states.
The EU must be prepared to accept new member states if they meet the requirements, he said, adding that the accession talks must be made more effective.
Várhelyi underlined that, if appointed, he would work towards closing the dialogue between the Serbian and Kosovo governments next year.
The Western Balkans is an integral part of Europe and it is also in the community’s interest to maintain the prospect of accession, he said.
Várhelyi expressed the view that no choice should be made between deepening and widening the European Union.
He called Turkey the EU’s key strategic partner in many areas. This cooperation must be strengthened, while “negative developments in the rule of law and human rights and an increasingly assertive foreign policy in Ankara must not be ignored”, Várhelyi said.
There are close to four million refugees in Turkey, Várhelyi said, urging continued assistance to be provided to that country in catering for them.
Turkey must also be helped in curbing illegal migration, he said.
Ankara is clearly moving away from European values and norms, so plans must be put forward on how future cooperation should be developed with the country, said Varhelyi.
Turkey is Hungary’s strategic partner when it comes to security and the issue of migration, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Budapest on Thursday.
Hungary’s foreign policy thinking starts from the premise that migrants heading for Europe cannot be halted without Turkey’s involvement, Orbán told a joint press conference in Várkert Bazár.
Orbán said
Hungary appreciated Turkey’s actions to stop 350,000 illegal migrants from travelling to the European Union this year, he said.
“Had [Turkey] not done so, all these people would be amassed along Hungary’s southern border,” Orbán said.
Budapest, Hungary. Photo: MTIBudapest, Hungary. Photo: MTI
Orbán said Hungary was capable of protecting its borders and it was certain that no illegal migrants could cross Hungary’s borders.
The PM pledged to take part in reconstruction programmes in Turkey’s neighborhood and in the safe zone commensurate with Hungary’s “weight”.
He said Hungary fell within a geographical area defined by Istanbul, Moscow and Berlin. Orbán noted that President Vladimir Putin and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visited Budapest recently. “This is just the foreign policy we want to pursue … and we’re working closely with the countries that are determiners for Hungary.”
Referring to Hungary-Turkey cooperation, Orbán noted that in 2013 a deal was reached in Ankara with Erdogan to establish a Supreme Strategic Council and meet each year.
He said military cooperation between Hungary and Turkey, both NATO members, was progressing well.
Hungary and Turkey, he said, have jointly funded programmes in Africa, including a medical mission to Kenya. Soon water and health aid to Ghana will get under way, he added.
Bilateral trade is worth between 3.1-3.2 billion euros a year, Orbán said, adding that the aim was to increase this amount to 6 billion.
Orbán said
the TurkStream gas pipeline from Turkey to central Europe is being built and Hungary should be receiving gas from the pipeline by the end of 2021.
The PM noted that Hungary had made its largest capital investment outside the country recently when oil and gas company MOL acquired a stake in an Azeri gas field coupled with a pipeline to Turkey. The deal, he added, needs to be approved by Turkey’s competition authority.
Meanwhile, Orbán noted that 150 Turkish students study in Hungary thanks to a Hungarian state scholarship.
On the topic of Turkey’s incursion into northern Syria, Orbán said Hungary would always show Turkey respect.
“If someone in Hungary fails to show such respect, my job as prime minister is to apologise to Turkey … We don’t accept any country or its leader being mocked by anyone.”
Orbán said Hungary wants to avoid having to halt hundreds of thousands of people at its southern borders. “We must back Turkish efforts to establish security zones in its neighborhood and repatriate migrants.”
Meanwhile, commenting on Hungary’s nominee for EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi’s prospect of taking over the enlargement and neighborhood portfolio, Orbán said: “Hungary’s commitment to enlargement … shows we’re not going for an easy win”, adding that there wasn’t a more difficult portfolio in the EU. Hungary, he added, would be able to put forward good arguments for enlargement.
Before the press conference, Orbán and Erdogan presided over the signing of several MoU agreements: archives cooperation and postal cooperation, education and culture, road transport, space exploration and diplomatic cooperation.
Photo: MTI
Hungary-Turkey relations are “excellent”,
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Budapest on Thursday. This level of good cooperation should be maintained in the future, too, he said.
Erdogan told a press conference after talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that almost four million refugees currently resided in Turkey and many would set out for Europe.
“Due to cooperation, we have held this crowd back with patience,” he said, adding that a security zone was needed so the migrants can be sent back home.
Erdogan said he had agreed with the United Nation’s secretary-general that a donor conference would be organised to implement Turkey’s plans.
Hungary supports Turkey in the fight against terrorism and the countries are allies and strategic partners in NATO, he said. The only way to fight against international terrorists is if NATO allies “refuse to talk to the terrorists”, he added.
Turkey has taken resolute action against Islamic State fighters, and its dedication to these efforts will be maintained, he said.
Erdogan insisted that Turkey had not received the sum the European Union had promised for taking care of refugees.
In response to a question, he said Turkey would continue looking after them but the country would not be able to handle everything. If no solution is found then the “gates will have to be opened and it is obvious in which direction people will set off.”
Meanwhile, Erdogan said Hungary-Turkey trade turnover was “realistically” targeted at 6 billion dollars.
He expressed appreciation for Hungary’s support for Turkey’s EU accession. The EU, he said, had recently handled Turkey “in a rather dismissive manner”. He said this also harmed the bloc since the EU could greatly benefit from Turkey’s membership. Turkey maintains good relations with the Visegrad group and plans to strengthen it, he added.
Photo: MTI
The fourth meeting of a Hungary-Turkey high-level strategic council was held in Budapest, covering many issues which could have a great impact on the future, he said. Among these issues, he cited politics, security policy, migration, trade and cultural relations, education and road haulage.
A group of 15 Turkish businesspeople are in Budapest to hold talks, he noted, adding that the government in Ankara is giving all its support for building business ties, he said. The same is expected from the Hungarian government, he added.
He expressed thanks to the Hungarian government for its support for the operation of a school by the Maarif Foundation in Budapest from September 2020.
Erdogan praised “exemplary cooperation” in nurturing the two countries’ common historical and cultural past. He noted that
the tomb of 16th century Dervish and poet Gul Baba in Budapest opened last year after being refurbished.
Erdogan noted that Hungary has observer status in the Turkic Council and an office of the organisation recently opened in Budapest. This, he said, also helped the development of ties with Central Asia.
In response to a question about his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, he said bilateral relations, the regional situation and trade issues would be discussed, and the most important topic would be the fight against terrorism.
Demonstration against Erdogan – PHOTOS
Demonstration against Erdogan. Budapest, Hungary. Photo: MTIDemonstration against Erdogan. Budapest, Hungary. Photo: MTI
Turkey ally to Hungary in NATO, to EU in stopping migration
Turkey is Hungary’s ally in NATO and Europe’s most important ally in stopping migration, Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, told a regular press conference on Thursday.
Hungary works to establish good relations with all its allies and all world powers, Gulyás said.
The three million migrants currently staying in Turkey would pose an irresolvable challenge to Europe should Turkey decide to stop catering for them, he said.
Last year, “almost all important EU leaders” met Erdogan, Gulyás noted. The EU has also pledged to provide substantial financial support for Turkey’s migration-related activities, he said.
Germany is Hungary’s most important economic partner and a strategic ally in a number of areas, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after talks with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Budapest on Monday.
At a joint press conference with Maas, Szijjártó said whereas the two countries disagreed on key issues such as “combatting migration”, they had spent more time on matters they agreed on.
Hungary and Germany are allies in the areas of defence and the economy as well as on the issue of European Union enlargement and developing the regions fled by migrants, Szijjártó said.
Concerning defence policy and the defence industry, Szijjártó said Hungary was the number-one importer of German arms in the first nine months of the year. This contributed to the modernisation of the Hungarian military as part of its pledge to meet the NATO defence spending target of 2 percent of GDP, he added.
The ministers also touched on the matter of joint international missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo as well as the proposal to create a central European multinational military, which Germany has backed, Szijjártó said.
Hungary and Germany are also allies when it comes to developing migrant-fled regions, he said.
Szijjártó noted that Hungary has contributed more than 300 million forints (EUR 913,000) to Germany’s water management projects in Uganda and the two countries are managing a joint forestry development project in Ethiopia and planning to launch a joint aid scheme in Lebanon.
Economic and trade ties are also close, Szijjártó said, noting that Germany was one of Hungary’s most important partners on foreign policy and its top trading partner. Bilateral trade turnover was just short of 55 billion euros last year and this year it has grown by four percent in the first eight months alone, he added. Over that same period, Hungarian exports to Germany exceeded 20 billion euros, he said, noting that the 6,000 German-based companies present in Hungary employ some 300,000 people.
Several major Germany companies have announced developments this year, the minister said, adding that the government will support them all.
Szijjártó said Hungary and Germany were on the same page regarding EU enlargement, with both countries working to make the integration of the Western Balkan region a reality.
Maas emphasised the importance of maintaining bilateral dialogue, adding that despite disagreements, the two countries should find common ground.
Furthermore, strengthening diverse economic, science and civil ties — including the Hungarian-German Youth Forum and sister city relations between Budapest and Berlin — serves Germany’s interests, he said.
The talks also covered topics such as constitutional norms, judicial independence and press freedom, he said. Unresolved issues such as the observation of the European Union’s fundamental values and certain financial matters will be included on the agenda during Germany’s presidency, he added.
Concerning China, the US and Turkey, efforts must be made to develop a common position shared by EU members, he said.
Maas expressed thanks to Hungary for opening its borders 30 years ago, adding that without Hungary’s solidarity and courage the reunification of Germany could not have happened. He also marked the anniversary of the crushing of Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.
In response to a question concerning whether Hungary could amend military cooperation with Turkey in light of the Syria offensive, Szijjártó noted that Turkey is a NATO member and military cooperation with the country was “natural”.
Maas added that since
Turkey was a NATO member, there was an expectation that it should act as a partner.
In response to a question concerning the expansion of the Malta agreement to get migrants off boats in the Mediterranean and distribute them among willing EU partners, Szijjártó said Hungary had made clear that it would not take in migrants and would not sign any agreement that could result in a mandatory quota.
Maas said the issue of migration had been openly discussed at the meeting and Germany would like to see progress made in common migration procedures.
There are countries that refuse to take in migrants but they undertake an increased role in other areas, such as in eliminating the causes of migration and in border protection, he added.
Kurdish women warriors taking part in the bloody war in Syria against the Turkish invasion forces have published a message on the Kurdish Female Fighters, a Facebook page that has more than 55 thousand followers.
444 reported that the post appeared on Saturday after midnight, and it says:
“To the ATTENTION of our followers from HUNGARY/ Magyars!
It seems like that jihadi terrorist Turkey/ ISIS leader, Erdogan is gonna visit Hungary on 7th November and we believe and trust the people of
Hungary is not gonna let jihadi terrorist Erdogan in their country!
Everyone from Hungary and even outside of Hungary can join this demonstration to condemn this jihadi terrorists so called “leader” and kick him out of Budapest/ Hungary back to where he comes from.
Sending our greetings to the people of Hungary.”
Turkey started an offensive against the territories of Syria occupied by Kurdish forces during the destruction of the Islamic State in early October after American troops retreated from there. Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said later that
the Turkish attack against the Kurds coincides with the interests of Hungary.
Because of the official visit of Turkish president Erdogan, there will be demonstrations in Budapest next week. We reported before that the government of Budapest permitted an organisation, led by PM Erdogan, to establish a primary and grammar school in the Hungarian capital. It came to light later that the school has connections to radical Islam.
Even members of the European People’s Party suggested the exclusion of the Hungarian government parties because of Budapest’s support towards Istambul regarding the invasion in Syria. Moreover, the Hungarian press discovered that
Budapest might buy tanks from Turkey
through one of the pro-government entrepreneurs, Lőrinc Mészáros’s business partner.
This is not the first time that Turkish president Erdogan has to face demonstrations during his visit to Hungary. In 2016, around fifty Turkish and Kurdish students studying in Hungary gathered at Deák Square in downtown Budapest to protest the Turkish government’s detention of journalists and opposition MPs.
Before, we reported that the Hungarian government helped the construction of a school in Iraqi Kurdistan. Furthermore, back in 2015, Hungarian troops participated in training Kurdish fighters against the Islamic State.
A delegation of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora led by the Mr. Fuad Muradov Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora visited Hungary on October 24-26. In the framework of the visit the delegation had meetings with Mr. Gergely Farkas the head of the Hungary-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group, Ambassador János Hóvári, the Head of the Budapest Office of the Turkic Council, as well as with the Azerbaijani diaspora and students. The meeting with Hungarian turkologists and the representatives of Turkish Diaspora also took place in the framework of the visit.
During the talks with Hungarian officials, the sides exchanged views on the issues of diaspora and migration. Gergely Farkas spoke about the history and effective development of friendly relations between the two countries, the diaspora policy on Hungarian communities living abroad.
Hóvári shared his views on Hungarian communities around the world, migration problems, the integration of diasporas into local communities in different countries, and the joint activities of the Turkic-speaking diasporas.
The Chairman of the Committee Fuad Muradov expressed his views on diaspora policy of Azerbaijan, structure, activities and large-scale projects of the committee, work done by the Azerbaijani communities abroad, integration into the local community, as well as the protection of national identities, the educational life of Azerbaijani students in Hungary. He noted that the formation of inter-state friendly relations between diaspora organizations has already become a necessity.
Fuad Muradov gave detailed information about the Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic -Speaking States in Baku, meetings of Turkic-speaking diasporas in different countries and said that the State Committee, which has defined the establishment of the World Azerbaijanis Network as a strategic target, is now taking steps to establish all-Turkish diaspora network.
At the meeting Mr.Vilayat Guliyev Ambassador of the Azerbaijan Republic to Hungary said that such meeting is a positive step at the time when our countries are experiencing an important period of development. He gave information about Azerbaijani youth living in Hungary and noted that they pay special attention to their study in Hungary.
During the meeting with the Azerbaijani diaspora and students the Chairman of the Committee spoke about the diaspora policy of Azerbaijan and organizing opportunities of Azerbaijanis in the world.
Fuad Muradov emphasized the need for such open discussions with Azerbaijanis and said that every Azerbaijani, regardless of where he lives, should work towards preserving the independence of the Azerbaijani state, promoting Azerbaijan in the world.
Hungary and Slovenia are both “well aware of what migration and illegal border crossings mean”, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Monday in Budapest, after talks with Marjan Sarec, his Slovenian counterpart.
“We both know what it means when masses attempt to cross our borders and transit our countries illegally,” he said. “We know what it’s like when they’re not coming to us but just want to pass through and we know what it’s like when the law, national interests and the humaneness of handling things the right way are in conflict with one another.”
Hungary and Slovenia are planning to deliver medical equipment to Africa together, “in line with the idea that we should not import trouble but take the help where it’s needed,” he said.
Hungary is “very sympathetic” towards Slovenia’s efforts to defend its borders, Orbán said.
He said there were 96,000 migrants currently navigating the Balkan migration route on their way to western Europe. Orbán added, however, that it was impossible to tell whether they would try to make their way to Hungary or to Slovenia via Croatia.
Hungary, however, has a “heartland” together with the Visegrad Group, Orbán said, adding that the V4 had an agreement that if the migration pressure on Hungary were to suddenly increase, the Czech Republic, Poland and Sloviakia would send patrol units to the Hungarian-Serbian border.
“We’re also ready to cooperate with Slovenia in the most specific and deepest way possible if it serves Slovenia’s interests,” he added.
Regarding the European Union’s enlargement, Orbán said that “now that the EU has botched the decision on starting accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia”, it should at least step up the talks with Serbia “to keep the prospect of [joining] the EU open for the Balkans.”
He noted, at the same time, that some member states believe that the entire enlargement process needed to be rethought.
On the topic of Hungarian-Slovenian relations, Orbán praised the competitiveness of Slovenia’s economy, saying:
“There’s plenty we can pick up and learn from them.”
He said that although bilateral economic cooperation was improving each year, it was expanding at a slower pace than Hungary’s cooperation with the rest of its neighbours.
Hungary’s Eximbank has opened a 165 million euro credit line to promote business ties between Hungarian and Slovenian companies, the prime minister said, adding that Hungary will be a guest of honour at Slovenia’s biggest economic fair next year.
Orbán also said that the Hungarian government has recently transferred 900 million forints (EUR 2.7m) to the Raba region — the area in Hungary with the largest indigenous Slovene population — for the economic development schemes to be carried out there. In addition, the government has so far spent some 2 billion forints on development schemes to be carried out in Slovenia’s Mura region, he said. Concerning the government’s economic development schemes, Orbán said he had proposed to Sarec the establishment of a cross-border regional development fund.
Orbán said the Hungarian government was now spending four and a half times as much on supporting the local Slovene minority community as it had been in 2010.
He said
the expansion of the M70 motorway to the Slovenian-Hungarian border would be completed in mid-December,
adding that the planning phase of the Hungarian section of the Zalaegerszeg-Redics-Lendava railway line was also under way.
Asked about Croatia’s aspirations to join the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone, Orbán said Hungary supported the integration aspirations of all its neighbours, adding, however that Hungary had “special interests” concerning the Hungarian-Croatian border section. In this regard, Budapest wants a written agreement with Croatia that if Hungary were to face a significant inflow of migrants from that direction, then it could reinstate not just administrative, bur also physical border control measures along its border with Croatia.
Sarec said
bilateral ties were especially strong in the areas of the economy and tourism, adding that Hungary and Slovenia were cooperating on a number of EU-related matters.
He said his talks with Orbán had focused mainly on the deepening of economic cooperation.
Hungary and Slovenia are in constant dialogue and both want to intensify bilateral relations, Sarec said, underlining the importance of having a neighbour “who understands and respects us”.
He said
Hungarian and Slovene minority groups also had important roles to play in bilateral cooperation, commending the Hungarian government for devoting special attention to the local Slovene communities.
On the topic of migration, Sarec said the best solution would be to improve living conditions in the migrants’ countries origin so as to prevent them from leaving their homelands. He urged the EU to craft a joint policy in this matter.
In response to a question, the prime minister urged dialogue with Turkey. He said Slovenia was preparing for a variety of scenarios as regards Turkey and the migrants it hosts, expressing hope that Turkey and the EU would find a rational solution.
Sarec urged bolstering the border between North Macedonia and Turkey in case Europe were to be flooded by a significant wave of migrants.
Concerning EU enlargement, he said the EU should strive to deepen its ties with Serbia, adding that a stable Western Balkan region was in everyone’s interest.
It is in Hungary’s interest that Turkey releases migrants towards Syria rather than in the direction of Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told public radio on Friday.
Turkey hosts some three million migrants, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to “let them out” if Europe fails to take over some of the financial burden, Orbán said in an interview to Kossuth Radio.
Migrants can break out towards Europe or Syria, their homeland, Orbán said. The latter needs to be stabilised for them to go back, he added.
“That is what seems to have happened there”, he said, adding that Turkey had set up a safe zone in northern Syria recently.
If Turkey “opens the gates to Europe”, hundreds of thousands of migrants will flood into Greece, the Balkans and eventually all the way to the Croatian or Hungarian border, he said.
“It is in Hungary’s basic interest that this does not happen,” Orbán said. “One Röszke was enough,” he added, referring to a clash between border guards and migrants camped on the Serbian side of the Röszke border crossing in 2015.
Regarding Turkey’s offensive on Syrian soil, Orbán said the US and Turkey had “made an agreement”, and so “we have no further foreign policy task here … other than agreeing with the two largest military powers of NATO.”
Regarding the October 13 local elections, Orbán said he “regretted” that voters had chosen opposition mayors in many localities.
On the other hand, the 52-53 percent support of ruling party candidates gives the government “renewed empowerment” to carry on with their work, so they are not going to change course, he said.
Regarding Budapest, Orbán said that since the fall of communism, the city had gone through two phases. In the first, under the liberal mayor, Gábor Demszky, the city was “filthy, reeking and its development stalled”. It was “unworthy of being the country’s capital,” Orbán said, adding that the government had been forced to bail out Budapest from 200 billion forints (EUR 607.8m) of debt.
“I don’t understand how honouring Gábor Demszky can even be considered,” Orbán said, referring to Mayor Gergely Karácsony’s plan to award honorary citizenships to the former mayors, Demszky and István Tarlós. “Would that be for the insolvency or for ruining the city? And humiliating [Fidesz-backed former mayor] Istvan Tarlos by making him take the honour alongside him is pure insolence,” Orban said.
Orbán said Tarlós had saved Budapest from insolvency and “got the city in order”, so that Budapest was now one of the most dynamically developing cities in Europe. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way and the Demszky era doesn’t return,” Orbán said.
Commenting on investment projects in the capital, he said the standpoint of the municipal council was putting the fate of three stadiums in question including the Bozsik Stadium, a UEFA category 4 stadium under construction in the 14th district; an athletics stadium purposed to host the 2023 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships; and a stadium for the European Men’s Handball Championship which will be hosted by Hungary and Slovakia in 2022. Referring to the Liget project, a museums quarter planned by the state in the capital’s City Park, he said for cultural investment projects it is also necessary to wait for the decision of the municipal council.
Orbán said he would maintain the position that any development project the city’s leadership disagrees with should not be carried out.
The prime minister said he wouldn’t like to “tear down” any projects in the capital, but acknowledged that a decision by city leaders could mean that some state-funded investments “will not materialise in Budapest”.
“If the new city leadership does not want Budapest to be among the sporting capitals of the world, a clear decision has to be taken and the government will adapt to this situation,” Orbán said.
Commenting on Hungary’s economy protection action plan, he said that since “the European economy does not look good”, Hungary must make decisions guaranteeing that economic growth stays at 2 percent above the European Union average.
One of the important proposal packages has already been approved by the government, he said. This applies to the modernisation of the vocational training system in order to ensure that increasingly well-prepared young people get into the workforce, he added.
Commenting on Brexit, he said the agreement between London and the EU would protect the interests of Hungarians in the UK. The British government has already approved the basic principles of the agreement, he said, adding that Brexit was now only a technical issue because “the Brits are essentially out of the EU”.
The arrival of up to a million migrants at Hungary’s southern border must be prevented by every means possible, ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats MEP Tamás Deutsch said on Thursday.
Recent developments in Syria are reason for concern, including Turkey’s unilateral military action, Deutsch told MTI in Strasbourg. “But we mustn’t disregard the fact that Ankara provides an element of stability in the region,” he added.
It could prove tragic for Europe if the balance of the region is upset, he said.
“When it comes to imposing sanctions on Turkey … if Ankara were unable to safely repatriate refugees and migrants to Syria, a new wave of migrants to the European Union through the Western Balkans could be triggered,” he said. “Hungary would then be the first EU member state to face the wave of migrants,” he added.
Deutsch said that “on this important issue” the EPP parliamentary group had asked for a united position, and the Hungarian members of the EPP delegation duly voted in unison with the rest of the group, he added.
“We consistently represented the Hungarian national position during discussions and the preparation of the provision’s text,” he said.
“We did not support any amendment that could have contributed to the evolution of another migrant crisis at the EU’s southern border,” he added.
While condemning Turkey’s military operations in north-east Syria, the EPP issued a recent statement also saying: “While we remain committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, we also acknowledge Turkey’s concerns regarding its Southern Borders. However, these concerns can only be addressed by genuine political dialogue. This can only be achieved through a political transition where all Syrian parties are included under the UN-led Geneva process.”
The opposition LMP party has called on the government to follow in the footsteps of allies in condemning Turkish aggression in Syria.
Antal Csárdi, LMP‘s deputy parliamentary group leader, told a news conference on Tuesday that the Hungarian government was assisting in war crimes by supporting the Turkish leadership, which he qualified as “a perpetrator of genocide”.
“Doing so in the name of the Hungarian people is unacceptable,” he said, adding that the government’s justification of its support as being in Hungary’s security interest was a “lie”.
He said any escalation of a war situation was unlikely to reduce migration but lead to an exodus of hundreds of thousands of people.
Csárdi insisted it was conceivable that Hungary’s government and the ruling Fidesz-led alliance was backing Turkey’s offensive to stoke the reappearance of refugees, thereby reinvigorating its anti-migration campaign.
The government of Budapest gave permission to an organisation, led by PM Erdogan, to establish a primary and grammar school in the Hungarian capital.
24.hu reported that the Maarif Primary and Grammar School is located in District 9. Although education has not started yet in the institution, from this September on, the school is registered among the official educational institutions in Hungary. According to the school’s report this year, the institution would have started teaching with eighty students, but due to unknown reasons, this process did not start in September.
Next year, the school would like to welcome 240 new students: 160 in its primary section and 80 in its grammar school section.
According to other reports, this institution is a private Turkish establishment which did not open its gates because it is still being built. Furthermore, the school’s financial situation and support is also a matter of question, as well as the question of whether it is only for Turkish children or other nations as well. The company responsible for the institution is the Maarif Hungary Nonprofit Organisation. Before its bankruptcy, the organisation controlled the operation of 688 similar schools in 113 different countries. Currently, there are 315 institutions in 41 countries. In the European Union, Germany, Romania, and France have similar schools.
It also turned out that subjects related to the Quaran are mandatory in these institutions.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he considered the deals made with outgoing Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos to remain valid without changes.
Orbán, who is also the leader of the ruling Fidesz party, told commercial channel HirTV on Wednesday that the local council elections had been won despite some “poignant losses” suffered especially in Budapest and a few other large cities.
What’s most important from the government’s point of view is that an overall 1.8 million supporting votes were cast for the ruling parties, significantly more than for the opposition, Orbán said.
The decision of the people of Budapest must be accepted, he said. “Budapest has had a Demszky era, then a Tarlós era and now people have decided that something new should follow,” he added.
“My job is to give him a chance and provide the necessary conditions,” he added.
Orbán said the new Budapest leadership would work under unchanged conditions. Hungary is a democracy and people expect their leaders to work together, Orbán added, wishing Karácsony success.
The government developed fair relations with all local governments in the past and this will remain unchanged, regardless of party affiliations, he said.
Commenting on Zsolt Borkai, the mayor of north-western Hungary’s Győr who has been linked to a sex scandal, Orbán said it was difficult to tell how much this case had affected the local elections. He said it was not his job to pass judgement on the private life of any politician but in his capacity as Fidesz leader he had an obligation to make it clear that some things “just don’t fit” in the community.
“The consequences had to be drawn and that’s why Zsolt Borkai has left our political community,” Orbán said.
First it was necessary to wait for the people of Győr to decide about Borkai’s candidacy to remain the city mayor but after that Orbán said he had to act as party leader and do what was “evident”.
Concerning his party’s group meeting to be held in Balatonalmádi, Orbán said he would speak about the cabinet’s upcoming tasks.
These tasks, he said, could be divided into three categories: the implementation and possible expansion of the family protection action plan, sustaining economic growth and bolstering the Hungarian Village Programme. Regarding the government’s measures aimed at sustaining growth, Orbán noted that his cabinet was drafting an economy protection plan to be launched in the coming months.
On the topic of Turkey’s military incursion into northern Syria, Orbán said Hungary needed to view the affair with Hungary’s national interests in mind.
“This is not a conflict that’s distant from and irrelevant to Hungary where we can choose sides based on sympathy,” he argued.
More than three million migrants and refugees have fled from Syria into Turkey, the prime minister said, adding that Turkey would have to decide what to do with them over the coming weeks.
Either the Turkish authorities could decide to return them to Syria or to set them off toward Europe, Orbán said. “If Turkey chooses the latter option then these people will arrive at Hungary’s southern border in huge numbers.”
He said this was why he recommended that the European Union should provide financial aid to Turkey so that it could build cities in Syria with a view to sending the migrants and refugees there. Otherwise, Orbán added, these people will end up in Europe and Hungary is in a different situation than the European countries that are not adjacent to the Balkan migration route.
“They’re safe because we’re protecting them,” he said.
The prime minister warned that the current developments in Syria could soon have consequences in Hungary as well, given that it is an EU border country.
Orbán said there were currently 90,000 people trying to make their way to the EU via the Balkan route, adding that their numbers would soon reach 100,000.
“And if Turkey adds hundreds of thousands more to this wave, we’ll have to secure the protection of the Hungarian-Serbian section of the border by force,” he said.
Hungary can offer the Turkic Council a bridgehead to Europe and the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Baku on Tuesday.
Addressing the 7th Turkic Council summit, Orbán said Hungary was fighting to get the enlargement and neighborhood policy portfolio in the new European Commission.
“Our chances are not bad, but it’s a tough battle,” he said. “If we succeed … then there will be close cooperation with Azerbaijan within the Eastern Partnership and [EU] membership negotiations with Turkey.”
“We will be pleased to be at your service,” he added.
Orbán noted that Hungary’s Eximbank has opened a credit line with Turkic Council member states, adding that 195 million euros was available for Hungarian-Turkish cooperation and 80 million euros each for Hungary’s Kazakh, Uzbek and Azeri business ties. Those with Kyrgyzstan will have a pot of 27 million euros available.
He noted that trade between Hungary and the member states of the Turkic Council had doubled to 4 billion US dollars under his watch. Orbán also noted the recent establishment of a European representation of the Turkic Council in Budapest.
Further, Hungary provides more than 700 state scholarships to young people from the countries of the Turkic Council, he added.
Meanwhile, Orbán told the summit that the UK would leave the EU at the end of October. He encouraged Turkic Council members to be quick to start talks with the British on new trade deals.
Members of the Turkic Council include Turkey as well as Turkic countries Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan became a full member of the organisation at the Baku meeting. Hungary has had observer status in the Council since 2018.
It is in Hungary’s national interest that Turkey resolve the migration issue in the direction of Syria rather than in the direction of Europe, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Baku on Tuesday.
After talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Szijjártó said Hungary’s sole consideration with regard to Turkey’s actions in Syria was dictated by the Hungarian national interest, and this meant bypassing the possibility of “hundreds of thousands or even millions of illegal migrants” from turning up at Hungary’s southern border and being “forcibly held back” there.
The minister noted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that unless Syrian migrants were repatriated then he would “open the gates to Europe”.
He reaffirmed the Hungarian government’s standpoint on migration, namely that it was not a fundamental human right.
Hungary, he said, would “gladly work with Turkey” to ensure that families forced to leave their homeland could be installed in a safe zone in Syria.
Szijjártó noted that Turkey had so far spent 40 billion US dollars on the four million migrants staying in the country. Now, he was answerable to public opinion concerning how long to prolong the situation, Szijjártó said, adding that this is why Erdogan had decided to repatriate Syrian migrants to a safe zone.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed bilateral and international affairs with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku on Monday, the PM’s press chief said.
The two leaders also discussed the expansion of bilateral relations. Orbán said he was looking forward to the upcoming Hungarian-Turkish government summit to be held in Budapest on November 7.
Erdogan also thanked Orbán for the support Hungary has provided Turkey on the international stage.
Orbán and Erdogan were in agreement that the renovated 16th-century tomb of Gül Baba, a dervish, a poet and soldier sent to Buda in 1541 by Sultan Suleiman, was a popular destination for both Turks and Hungarians in Budapest, Havasi said.
Orbán is in Baku for a meeting of the Turkic Council to be held on Tuesday.
The Turkic Council’s founding members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. Hungary has had observer status in the organisation since 2018.
