Hungary's FM calls for openness to new allies at meeting with Georgian counterpart

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Tuesday said that isolation during a time of a serious security crisis was a bad idea and called for willingness to work with new allies and partners.

Addressing a news conference with his visiting Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze, Szijjarto said Georgia was ready to take the next steps towards integration into the EU and NATO, and that Hungary was ready to support its endeavor.

Szijjarto warned that Europe, facing the most serious security crisis since World War II, had to enhance its security, which meant including all countries ready to become members of the EU and NATO structures. "The more of us there are, the stronger we are," he said.

Janelidze underlined the significance of boosting economic ties with Hungary and noted that a business delegation had accompanied him to Budapest.

Regarding the EU, Janilidze underlined that his country was a reliable partner to the EU, and was very much a part of Europe, albeit in the east. Europe is facing serious challenges and needs to respond by enhancing unity and expanding, he said, adding that Georgia was ready to contribute to European security. Endit