FM Szijjártó: Hungary-Russia cooperation based on long, fruitful traditions

Economic cooperation between Hungary and Russia is long-standing and successful, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Facebook on Thursday.

Hungary-Russia cooperation

Many Hungarian companies and their products have attracted strong demand in Russia.

“We have now consulted with leaders of Hungarian companies active in Russia, because developing Hungarian-Russian economic ties further in areas not affected by sanctions is high on our foreign economic agenda,” the minister said.

Last year Hungary’s exports to Russia continued to exceed one billion dollars, Szijjártó said, adding that “the presence of the largest Hungarian companies such as Mol, OTP and Richter in Russia could make other Hungarian companies feel secure there”.

Those companies operating in pharmaceuticals, food processing, water management, health, construction, and farming have expressed a desire to stay active on that market, the minister said, adding that the government would “provide the necessary support for this”.

Szijjártó: Europe should aid Africa’s development instead of encouraging migration

If the European Union continues to “encourage” migration instead of bringing development programmes to Africa, Europe will be “flooded” by immigrants, Szijjártó said, adding that this would lead to “unforeseeable security challenges”.

Addressing a joint press conference with Musa Timothy Kabba, his Sierra Leone counterpart after a meeting of the Hungary-Sierra Leone economic mixed committee, Szijjártó said Africa’s population was projected to grow by 750 million over the next 20 years, warning of the “enormous challenge” it would be to ensure Africans’ access to education, health care and drinking water.

“So if the European Union continues to encourage people to set off for Europe rather than taking development programmes to Africa, the EU will be flooded by migrants, and we’ll be facing unforeseeable security challenges,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

He said implementing development schemes required responsible governments such as that of Sierra Leone, praising the country’s efforts against terrorism, its defence of security interests and openness to cooperating with Europe to retain its population.

“And we’re prepared to work together with responsible African countries, support their economic growth and support them in retaining their growing populations by improving their standard of living,” Szijjártó said.

He said Hungary was not just “paying lip service” to aiding Africa, but also following up its words with actions.

Szijjártó said a business forum held earlier in the day had highlighted food supply, agriculture and water management as the areas with the most opportunities for cooperation between Hungary and Sierra Leone.

He said Hungarian companies were prepared to contribute to food security and water supply in the west African country and had started talks on two future investment projects aimed at ensuring 300,000 people’s access to clean drinking water.

Hungary’s government is prepared to contribute to both the financial and technological side of these projects, he added.

Szijjártó also said the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences was prepared to work with its local partners in Sierra Leone to create the framework for high-quality and secure food supply.

Meanwhile, he said there were currently 84 university students from Sierra Leone studying in Hungary, noting that Hungary offered scholarships to 50 students from the west African country each year.

Szijjártó said the war in Ukraine had a “serious impact” on both countries, underlining the global problems caused by soaring energy prices, inflation and challenges related to food supply.

“And peace is the only way to prevent these dramatic effects,” he said.

“That’s why we will continue to stand up for peace efforts at international forums in the interest of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine and preventing its dramatic effects from impacting the countries and people who have nothing to do with this war and are in no way responsible for it,” the minister said.

In response to a question, Szijjártó called the migration pact approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday “the legislative body’s most dangerous decision of the last five years”.