Péter Szijjártó told a joint press conference that ties had revolved around the pillars of the economy and defence, but ever since the Republican administration assumed power, political relations had started to improve rapidly. The secretary of state’s visit to Hungary is a testament to this trend, he said.

Szijjártó said the Hungarian government and the Trump administration shared an identical or very similar approach to various political and international issues. Both governments pursue patriotic policies with priority given to national interests, he added.

They both believe that one of the basic tasks of the state is to guarantee the security of its citizens, the minister said. This is why the US and Hungary have cooperated in fighting against the United Nations Global Migration Compact, he added.

Both countries are determined to protect Christian heritage and Christian communities worldwide, and they are both active in international organisations that promote the fair treatment of Israel, he noted.
 

Hungary's Foreign Policy 'Based On Mutual Respect'

“Our foreign policy enables us to be honest,” he said at the joint press conference held with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It has enabled the discussion of such issues as relations with Russia, the growing economic influence of China and Hungarian-Ukrainian relations, he added.

“The lives of 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine are important to Hungary and therefore Hungary cannot consider the situation in Ukraine purely as a geopolitical matter,” he said.

Szijjártó noted that Hungary’s share in EU-China trade amounted to 1.2%. He added that it would be “hypocritical to criticise Hungary” for maintaining close links to Russia while “deals are being brokered” between western Europe and Russia.

Szijjártó said a new bilateral defence cooperation agreement that updated the one signed between the US and Hungary in 1997 was a response to novel security challenges. Relevant talks have been concluded, he said, adding that the draft agreement will be submitted to the defence committee of Hungary’s parliament next week.

He said Hungary was a reliable defence and military ally. Important talks have been held on acquisitions, and the defence committee will be contacted in the near future in connection with talks about the intermediate-range air defence system, he added.

Szijjártó said he had asked Pompeo’s help to urge ExxonMobil to come to a decision as soon as possible on extracting gas in Romania, allowing Hungary to move forward in diversifying its gas purchases.

Szijjártó said Hungary’s cooperation with China and Russia did not have a bearing on its credibility as a NATO ally. He said criticism of Hungary due to its ties with Russia was “enormous hypocrisy”, adding that it was not Hungarian or central European energy companies that were cooperating with Gazprom to build a gas pipeline.

Central Europe, he noted, is dependent on Russia for its energy supplies. “We have done everything we can” to buy gas from other sources, he added. Szijjártó said diversification hinged on “our allies”.

“But it is not in western Europe’s interests today for central Europe to succeed, otherwise it would not be building its new gas route between Russia and Germany,” he said. Western Europe’s energy security will improve as a result, he said, adding that: “We are waiting for our allies to make decisions so we, too, can [buy gas] via another route.”
 

Pompeo Meets NGO Leaders In Budapest

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met representatives of NGOs in Budapest, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) said in a joint statement. “Concerns regarding the rule of law and the situation of NGOs were highlighted at the meeting,” the statement said.

The statement said that co-head of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Márta Pardavi, raised issues such as “impairments to the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers”. It added that she had also raised “government measures that weaken constitutionality and legislation approved in recent years that impairs Hungarian democracy”.

TASZ managing director Stefánia Kapronczay highlighted “the importance of an independent and diverse press,” while K-Monitor director Sándor Léderer presented a report on “the situation in Hungary in respect of corruption”.

The NGOs said the fact that Pompeo had met them and had expressed an interest in their opinions demonstrated that top US officials were dedicated to protecting the values of constitutionality and the role of civil society, even when it came to relations with allies.
 

MTI Photo: Szecsődi Balázs