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Viktor Orbán received Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the Carmelite Monastery on Saturday, Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s Press Chief, informed the press.
During their meeting, Viktor Orbán and Rumen Radev discussed the program of the Hungarian EU presidency, the main focus of which is the stability of the Western Balkans. The parties agreed that cooperation between Hungary and Bulgaria is the key to promoting peace and development in the region.
President Tamás Sulyok also met with the Bulgarian Head of State. Their talks included the issue of national minorities and Hungarian-Bulgarian economic relations, with a focus on energy security. The two presidents agreed that migration must be stopped and that the causes, not the symptoms, must be tackled. They also agreed that a diplomatic solution to the Russian-Ukrainian war must be found and that a ceasefire and a just and lasting peace must be achieved as soon as possible.
Tamás Sulyok stressed that
Hungary remains committed to the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
Ceremony with military honours – I welcomed Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to Sándor Palace
We, Hungarians and Bulgarians, are united not just by our common historical fate, but also by friendship. #Hungary #Bulgaria pic.twitter.com/PSqM8XU9fi
— Dr. Tamás Sulyok (@DrTamasSulyok) May 25, 2024
He added that Bulgaria plays a key role in the transit of Russian natural gas supplies to Hungary, and it is of the utmost importance for Hungary that gas transit through Bulgaria remains stable.
From July 1, Hungary will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, the President noted, adding that the importance of enlargement and regional stability was also touched upon at the meeting. He mentioned that one of the priorities of the Hungarian EU presidency is to promote the enlargement process in the Western Balkans.
Rumen Radev said that during the meeting with Sulyok, they also saw many opportunities for cooperation, such as in the high value-added economic sectors, the defense industry, and in other defense-related industries. The Bulgarian President named energy security and energy as key topics. He emphasized that
Bulgaria can promise to continue to be an important and stable partner for gas transit.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister held talks with the Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, who accompanied the Bulgarian President on his visit. Péter Szijjártó emphasized that the majority of Hungary’s natural gas supplies are currently routed through Bulgaria via the TurkStream pipeline, running from Russia through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Last year, 5.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas came via this route, corresponding to around 65 percent of Hungarian consumption.
It is therefore in our clear interest that the TurkStream pipeline continues to be a safe and predictable transportation route for natural gas supplies to Hungary,”
he emphasized.
Szijjártó said that more than 2.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas have already been transported via this route this year, and this volume is expected to more than double by the end of the year.
On Saturday, the Bulgarian Educational and Cultural Center in Budapest was inaugurated in the presence of the Presidents of Bulgaria and Hungary. In his speech, Sulyok recalled that the Hungarian Constitution states that the culture of the nationalities living in Hungary, including the Bulgarian community, is a value, a heritage that enhances and enriches the cultural life of our common homeland.
We inaugurated the Bulgarian Educational and Cultural Centre in Budapest
We envision a Europe where populations do not throw away their national identity, but consider it essential for themselves. #Bulgaria #Hungary pic.twitter.com/BHY0ris6E5
— Dr. Tamás Sulyok (@DrTamasSulyok) May 26, 2024
“It is good to see such a strong, cohesive Bulgarian community in Hungary,” Radev stressed in his speech. The establishment of this center has made the home of Bulgarian spirituality a reality, he said, thanking the Hungarian government for its support in enabling Bulgarians living in Hungary to preserve their identity, culture, language, and traditions.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Benko Vivien Cher