Hungarian FM supports strong Ukraine

Hungary supports a politically and economically strong Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said after a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin here on Wednesday.

Szijjarto called for all parties to the Minsk Agreement to do everything in their power to see that it was fulfilled. That, he said, was the prerequisite for lifting sanctions against Russia, a policy that was not only hurting the target but other countries as well.

Klimkin welcomed Hungary's position, underlining that adherence to Minsk deal was the only way to secure peace. He noted that fighting was continuing in certain parts of his country and that residents of these areas were living under inhumane conditions.

He thanked Hungary for its support in efforts toward European integration and visa-free travel for Ukrainian nationals, and called for cooperation between Hungarian and Ukrainian businesses.

Klimkin acknowledged that some Ukrainians had been forced to flee their country because of the fighting, but denied that there was a large-scale exodus.

Szijjarto said that Hungarian economic, foreign and national policy was to boost cooperation and ties with Ukraine. It was also concerned for the safety of the 150,000 strong ethnic Hungarian community living there.

Szijjarto pointed out that the security risks triggered by the fighting had cut Hungary's bilateral trade with Ukraine by half in the past two years. Endit