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Hungarian, British FMs focus on Ukraine, EU issues and ISIS

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called for adherence to the Minsk ceasefire agreement on Ukraine, and discussed ways of boosting EU competitiveness and of combating ISIS, the so-called Islamic State, at a news conference in Budapest on Friday.

Hammond has been in Budapest since Thursday, and was received by Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday morning.

On Ukraine, Hammond charged the separatists with violating the ceasefire accord. Acknowledging that the level of fighting had declined, he warned that it could easily escalate once again. He voiced the view that Russia was increasingly active in its effort to divide the European Union countries in the hope of ending EU sanctions. Those sanctions were effective, and had to be maintained, Hammond said, until all provisions of the Minsk agreement were met.

On Hungary's part, Szijjarto underlined that his country would adhere to all EU decisions on the matter, just as it had so far.

Hammond said that they could not allow the Ukrainian military to fall apart although, at the moment, they were not supplying it with weapons.

Both officials called for boosting EU competitiveness which included the need for long term cooperation with countries outside of Europe. Hammond underlined that the EU needed to manage the challenge of emerging economies and boost its economic efficiency but that living standards had to be sustained.

Szijjarto pointed out that both Hungary and Britain were growing economically. If negotiations with the United States on a free trade agreement with the EU were favorable for Hungary, he added, the Hungarian government would recommend its ratification by parliament.

Hammond felt that the accord with the U.S. would be good for the EU.

On Islamist extremism, Hammond said he hoped Hungary would offer military support in combating ISIS. Szijjarto called for an end to the killing and the persecution of Christians and other communities. The Hungarian cabinet, he said, had called on parliament to consider how Hungary could increase its contribution to the international coalition against ISIS. Endit