Szijjarto: Hungarian government ‘says what it does and does what it says’

Written by BT/MTI

The Hungarian government “has always been honest about its strategy and goals”, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Boston on Friday. This was thanks to Hungary’s “unique” political stability, the minister said at a panel discussion held in Harvard University.

Szijjarto also noted at discussion held at the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics that the financing package for Ukraine adopted at the recent EU summit had met Hungary’s two preconditions for its support, so there had been no need to veto the joint decision.

Meanwhile, the minister said Hungary’s parliament may vote on Sweden’s NATO accession by the end of February if Sweden’s prime minister paid a visit to Hungary first.

“I met my Swedish counterpart on numerous occasions … and I told him: do something to rebuild the trust. Otherwise we can’t guarantee anything,” Szijjarto said during a panel discussion.

“What we could guarantee we have done. We have put the issue on the agenda of parliament with the very clear signal that the government supports ratification.”

He said both the Swedish premier and foreign minister had visited Turkiye before Turkish MPs ratified its accession. “We just asked them do so with Hungary as well,” he said, adding that there was “a good chance” that ratification could take place on Feb 26 and 27, when Hungarian lawmakers reconvene for the spring session. “But this invitation should be accepted by the Swedish prime minister,” he said.