The foreign minister said it is a welcome development that pro-peace politician Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, and chances are better than ever before for peace to return to central Europe.
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary and Morocco see almost all global challenges similarly, which is no surprise considering that they both have patriotic, sovereigntist leaders who do not accept pressure exerted from the outside.
Speaking in Rabat on Wednesday, Minister Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Nasser Bourita, his Moroccan counterpart, that the world was living in an era of dangers, with Hungary, too, forced to face directly the challenges of the Ukraine war for some 1,000 days. It is therefore a welcome development that pro-peace politician Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, and chances are better than ever before for peace to return to central Europe, he added.
“At the same time, we can witness on both sides of the Atlantic that the pro-war forces do not respect the people’s will and they make every effort to make peace efforts in Ukraine impossible,” Minister Szijjártó said.
The minister said it was an important subject also at the talks with Bourita that the upcoming two months will be the most dangerous period of the Ukraine war and as a result of irresponsible decisions, the chance for the escalation of the armed conflict is greater than ever before.
“Morocco and Hungary are proud to be members of the pro-peace global majority,” he said, adding that they could clearly see that both Europe and Africa would be on the losing end of the war in Ukraine.
He cited the negative consequences of the war that include high inflation, and increasing energy and food prices, which he said had resulted in difficulties for both continents.
“This is why we both have a vested interest in the soonest possible end to the Ukraine war,” he said. “Being in the neighbourhood, we hope that the new US president will manage to achieve that goal,” Minister Szijjártó added.
Minister Szijjártó said illegal migration and terrorism were two security challenges that had to be simultaneously overcome, adding that they formed a vicious circle, both being cause and effect for each other.
“As a result, we greatly appreciate Morocco’s efforts in the fight against terrorism, and we greatly appreciate Morocco’s extremely responsible policies in terms of migration,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Brussels pursues pro-migration policies, putting European and African countries into a difficult situation,” he added. “We believe it is very dangerous if people in a difficult situation are encouraged to leave their home, and pay to people smugglers,” Minister Szijjártó said.
A comprehensive development strategy would be needed for Africa, which could help the countries of the region to keep their radically increasing population at home, so that proper education, health services and jobs could be provided to their population growing by hundreds of millions in the upcoming decades, he added.
He highlighted the importance of preserving the stability of the Sahel region, adding that Hungary was doing all it could, for instance helping to improve security under the arrangements of a partnership agreement with Chad.
The minister said that for the first time last year, Morocco was Hungary’s number one trade partner in Africa. Bilateral trade was up at 400 million euros, representing a five-fold increase since 2010.
“Hungarian companies in food industry, health care and water management are not getting an opportunity to be successful in the Moroccan market. And we aim to ensure that Hungary should be Morocco’s strategic partner in implementing its future nuclear programme,” he added.
He also said that 165 Moroccan students were able to study on a scholarship at Hungarian universities each year, adding that 1,806 students applied which well demonstrated the popularity of the program.
