Hungarian foreign minister meets Central Asian counterparts

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held talks with his Tajik and Kyrgyz counterparts in Budapest on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said.

They attended the foreign ministerial meeting of the Visegrád Group and Central Asia.

Szijjártó discussed the security situation in Europe with Tajik deputy Foreign Minister Muzaffar Huseynzoda, the ministry said.

With its 1,300km border with Afghanistan, Tajikistan plays a crucial role in European security, the officials agreed. Recognising the importance of preventing a flow of migrants and terrorists from Afghanistan into Europe, Hungary will urge the EU to earmark more border protection funding for Tajikistan in its next seven-year budget cycle, the ministry said in a statement.

Szijjártó earlier in the day held talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Erlan Abdyldaev.

The officials discussed opportunities for Hungarian companies to participate in water industry projects, including the construction of reservoirs and hydropower plants as well as water purification plants in Central Asia, the ministry said in a statement.