German Chancellor, Hungarian PM underline economic ties after Budapest meeting

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke about the importance of the economic ties between their countries after a quick visit by the former here on Monday.

Addressed a news conference in parliament together, Orban said that 6,000 German businesses operating in Hungary were offering jobs to 300,000 Hungarians and that one quarter of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Hungary came from Germany. In addition, 25 percent of Hungary's exports were to Germany, he said.

Merkel said she hoped Hungary's economic advance would continue.

Both leaders acknowledged that Ukraine had been one of the topics on their agenda. Orban noted Hungary was highly dependent on Russian gas to meet its energy needs and all of that gas came by way of Ukraine.

He added that there were 200,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine. This, he said, meant that Hungary could not accept any proposal that would intensify the conflict.

Merkel said that her country's goal was a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis. That meant a cease fire as soon as possible combined with a stability that would ensure Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Both leaders ruled out support giving weapons to Ukraine.

Merkel called on European countries to upgrade pipelines running between their countries so that they operate in both directions. She underlined the need to diversify energy sources, acknowledging that 30 percent of Germany's gas currently came from Russia.

Merkel later left parliament to pay a courtesy call to Hungarian President Janos Ader. Endit