Once the railway line is fully completed, the journey time between the Serbian and Hungarian capitals will not exceed 2 hours and 40 minutes.Continue reading
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić received Hungarian Head of State Tamás Sulyok in Belgrade on Monday. Following the meeting, Mr. Vučić stressed that Serbia considers Hungary not only a strategic political partner, but also a sincere friend.
At the joint press conference, the Serbian President pointed out that “after a difficult common past, relations between Hungary and Serbia are at a historic peak.” Hungary is very popular among Serbs and Hungarians are considered as their friends, he emphasized. Aleksandar Vučić expressed his conviction that Monday’s meeting will be another link in the strong friendship.
Belgrade. It’s about to begin.▶️
Serbian President @avucic received me with military honors.
I’m looking forward to a busy day: after meeting with the President, I’ll also hold discussions with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House.#Serbia #Hungary pic.twitter.com/MxcmUkPZsn
— Dr. Tamás Sulyok (@DrTamasSulyok) October 28, 2024
The Serbian President thanked his Hungarian counterpart for Budapest’s support for Serbia’s European integration. According to the Hungarian President, it is crucial for Hungary and the European Union that Serbia becomes a full member of the EU as soon as possible, as “without Serbia’s accession, the Balkans cannot be stabilized.”
Therefore Hungary will provide all political and professional assistance for the accession process to succeed as soon as possible,
he added.
Aleksandar Vučić expressed his gratitude for the fact that Hungary and Serbia are jointly implementing a number of strategic projects. One of them is the Budapest-Belgrade railway line. Tamás Sulyok congratulated the Serbian partners on completing the railway line ahead of schedule this year, adding that traffic on the Hungarian section is expected to start in 2026.
On the subject of energy, the two heads of state also discussed the interconnection of gas and oil pipelines and electricity networks. The Hungarian President stressed that there is no energy security in Hungary without Serbia, just as there is no energy security in Serbia without Hungary, and the two countries are interdependent.
Mr. Vučić pointed out that
Serbia will continue to be a reliable partner for Hungary in the gas sector, as Hungary has been at Serbia’s service for years.
He also expressed the hope that the electricity networks of the two countries would be interconnected by the end of 2028.
Aleksandar Vučić underlined the role of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ) in the good relations between the two countries and the two peoples. He said that he was convinced that whoever leads Serbia in the future, the policy of reconciliation and friendship will remain, and the VMSZ is the bridge of this friendship between Hungarians and Serbs.
On the reconciliation process, Sulyok emphasized that
it could not have been achieved without the capacity for mutual understanding and forgiveness.
“That is why I am honored that today we will visit Curug and Zabalj, where we will jointly pay our respects to the monuments of the innocent Hungarians and innocent Serbs executed during World War II,” he said.
Just a day ago, on Sunday, the Hungarian President held talks with the President of the VMSZ, Bálint Pásztor. Sulyok pointed out that he considered it important to hold talks with the leaders of the Hungarian interest groups in Vojvodina before his official meetings in Belgrade on Monday.
After their meeting, Sulyok stressed that the VMSZ is an active and inescapable factor in Hungarian-Serbian relations. He noted that the Hungarian community in Vojvodina has for many years been respected in Serbia, both collectively and individually, and the acquired rights of Hungarians have not been and will not be diminished.
MTI, Featured image: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
