Hungarian foreign minister: We are glad that the Dutch ambassador is leaving

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Thursday “most firmly rejected” recent, “outrageous” remarks by Gajus Scheltema, the Netherlands’ ambassador, who is soon to leave his post in Budapest.

“We particularly reject in the strongest possible terms the fact that the Ambassador drew parallels between the terrorists and the Hungarian Government with regard to motivation and methods”, he emphasised.

“This is an accusation that practically nobody allowed themselves to make even during the most heated debates of 2015”, he said.

In an interview for Hungarian news portal 168 óra (168 hours), Gajus Scheltema said that extremist Islamists “create enemies according to the same principles as the Hungarian Government”.

Mr. Szijjártó also indicated that until he returns to Holland the Dutch Ambassador is a persona non grata at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will most certainly not be received at any level.

“I’m glad the Dutch Ambassador is going home, and I hope he does so at the earliest opportunity. Nobody should have the audacity to treat Hungary and the Hungarian people in this manner!”, the Minister said.

On August Hungarian FM Szijjártó also critized Martin Schulz, the Social Democrat candidate to become Germany’s chancellor: He should rather preoccupy himself with the matters of his own party than condemning Hungary and its premier, Viktor Orbán.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI