Orban: Hungarian diplomacy successful in EU-Turkey talks

Brussels, March 18 (MTI) – Hungary’s diplomatic efforts were successful in achieving the country’s goals regarding the migration deal between the European Union and Turkey, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Brussels on Friday.

“We averted the biggest threat,” Orbán told a press conference after a two-day EU summit on migration, referring to a proposal by the European Commission that would have obligated EU member states to take in refugees. Under the deal agreed to on Friday, the resettlement of migrants in EU member states will be carried out on a voluntary basis.

Orbán noted that the Visegrad Four countries had been against the mandatory redistribution of migrants since the start of the crisis.

Concerning the agreement to provide financial aid to Turkey to help refugees, Orbán stressed that Hungary will not make any commitment that would put “unbearable” financial burdens on the country.

Referring to a preliminary agreement reached in Brussels, Orbán called it another success of Hungarian diplomacy that Ukraine will get a visa-free status before Turkey.

Orbán said the biggest political achievement of the past six months in Europe was the western Balkan countries’ decision to protect their own borders and thwart illegal crossings over the so-called green border before the deal with Turkey was signed.