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Hungarian PM espouses political, economic cooperation with Russia

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hungary intends to sustain political and economic cooperation with Russia, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told a radio station on Friday.

He made the remarks after announcements were made that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be visiting Hungary.

Orban told public radio Kossuth his meeting with Merkel "will be part of Hungary's usual way of thinking and diplomatic order." Merkel's visit is scheduled for Feb. 2 while the agenda for Putin's visit has not been set.

Hungary "needs to keep out of all conflicts that are not our conflicts," Orban said.

Hungary seeks security in relations with both Germany and Russia, he said, adding that Hungary had to protect economic interests common to both Hungary and Russia.

Regarding Hungary's relations with the United States, which were upset by corruption issues in recent months, Orban said he refused to allow any component of national sovereignty to be questioned. However, he added, economic and military cooperation with the United States was faultless.

Analysts suggest that one major reason for the Putin visit at this time may be to try to convince Orban to veto the extension of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia, which were initiated following Russia's annexation of Crimea and will expire in March. A single EU member can end the sanctions with a veto.

Another possible topic might be the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a free trade accord between the United States and the EU soon to be put to a vote and opposed by Russia. If such an agreement would permit the import of genetically modified food products into Europe, Hungary is likely to veto it.

Merkel's visit may be an attempt to preempt Hungarian vacillation on both of these issues.

Opposition political parties are calling on Orban to use the Putin visit to break a contract under which a Russian firm is to build two nuclear reactors for an existing power plant and to cancel a loan agreement with Russia to finance the construction.

The opposition also fears that Orban may sell a portion of Hungary's gas storage reservoirs to Russia's Gazprom, thus increasing its dependence on Russia for energy. Endit