Hungarian FM calls for direct talks to end Israel-Palestine violence

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on Monday called for a halt to the violence between Israel and Palestine and said direct talks between them was the only road that could lead to balanced and effective cooperation between Europe and the Middle East.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with Palestine's Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Malki, Szijjarto called on the international community to support the two sides in their conciliation efforts.

Hungary, he said, supports all international initiatives to re-start the peace process, emphasizing that the sole acceptable outcome was a political solution.

Szijjarto noted the deterioration in the security of the region surrounding Europe is the main cause of Europe's woes, one factor of which has been the repeated failures of the Middle East peace process.

Palestine's Riyad al-Malki underlined the significance of advancing Hungarian-Palestinian ties, noting that there were multiple opportunities for cooperation.

Hungary is interested in increasing its food and agricultural exports, Szijjarto said, adding that the planned canal linking the Red Sea and the Dead Sea was also sure to attract multiple Hungarian businesses. Enditem