Hungary wants to speed up the EU accession of the Western Balkans, says FM Szijjártó in Bosnia

Peace and stability in the Western Balkans is in Hungary’s national interest, and the government is working at full force to speed up the European Union accession of countries in the region, the foreign minister said on Friday.

Regional stability important

The ministry cited Péter Szijjártó as telling a joint press conference with Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, that the importance of regional stability and calm was continually growing in the current era of dangers.

He said that Hungary, in line with its responsible neighbourhood policy and also in its capacity as the current president of the European Council, was working to speed up EU enlargement.

“We believe the EU needs the Western Ballans because we need the freshness, dynamism and new impetus that could come from the region,” he added.

Szijjártó and Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Bosnian Serbs. Stronger together. Source: FB/Szijjártó

Szijjártó said it was disappointing that the candidate countries of the region had been waiting for accession for more than 14 years.

It is important that EU members and Brussels institutions should respect the decisions of Western Balkans residents, he said, adding that every nation has the right to decide about its own future and decide its leaders.

“As a result, we continue cooperation on the grounds of mutual respect with Western Balkans countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, and with the two entities in the country,” he said. “We continue to oppose that certain western European countries lecture and threaten Western Balkan leaders and they even bring up the prospect of introducing sanctions,” he added.

Successful cooperation

He praised the success of cooperation between Hungary and Republika Srpska.

As a result of a joint agricultural tender, farmers in Republika Srpska carried out more than 40 million euros worth of investment, which involved purchasing 4,700 pieces of agricultural equipment from 54 Hungarian companies, he said.

“In line with an earlier agreement, Hungarian companies joined three important development projects that were originally going to be financed by various German banks and institutions,” he said. “After the Germans have practically exited these projects, Hungarian companies are going to build a solar park, a wind farm and a waste water treatment plant in Republika Srpska,” he added.

Hungary friend of Republika Srpska, says Hungarian foreign minister

Hungary is a friend of Republika Srpska and continues to be ready for cooperation in all issues that help the development, stability and peace of Republika Srpska, the foreign minister said in Banja Luka on Friday.

The ministry cited Szijjártó addressing a campaign closing event of President Milorad Dodik, stating that Hungary was also a friend of Republika Srpska because of many common characteristics, such as the great pressure that most countries must endure.

“Those that exert the pressure do not respect us, they want something bad to us, they want to interfere in our domestic affairs, and they question our nation’s ability to make decisions about our own future,” he said.

“We know their methods, they threaten us, introduce sanctions and give financial resources to our enemies,” he added.

Current era of dangers

“It is important to resist the pressure and threats. It is important that we stand up for our own interests, because failing to do that, someone else will surely do it,” he said.

Szijjártó said that in the current era of dangers, it was important to have such important anf strong leaders as Milorad Dodik, who stands up for the interests of Bosnian Serbs.

“It is thanks to Milorad Dodik that strategic cooperation has developed between Hungary and Republika Srpska,” he said.

Under the arrangements of this cooperation, a programme to support agricultural businesses in Republika Srpska has been launched, resulting in developments totalling 40 million euros, he said.

Read also:

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