Péter Szijjártó blames the international community for not acting on behalf of Christians "because of some misguided political correctness."Continue reading
The stability of Lebanon is key for peace in the Middle East, and the Lebanese people now have a serious chance of regaining their right to a peaceful life in the long term, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade wrote on Facebook before meeting on Tuesday with the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Lebanese Christian party.
Péter Szijjártó noted that peace requires the extension of the ceasefire agreement, the presence of UN peacekeepers, in which Hungary is participating with 16 soldiers, and the strengthening of the Lebanese army, to which the Hungarian government is contributing through the European Peace Facility.
He added that
this also requires the strengthening of Christian communities, to which end the government is supporting seven development programs this year through the Hungary Helps Program.
Minister Szijjártó and Gebran Bassil met in Beirut to discuss Hungary’s contribution to stability in the Middle East and the development of Hungarian-Lebanese relations. The Foreign Minister said that strengthening Christian communities in this region is an important foreign policy goal for Hungary.
In the past seven years, we have supported investments, developments, and programs worth some six billion forints (15 million euros) that have served to strengthen Christian communities,”
he pointed out. “During this period, we have renovated more than 60 old Christian churches, contributed to the maintenance of monasteries, schools, and health institutions, helped to create jobs, and in many cases provided humanitarian aid,” the minister detailed.
In implementing these programs, he cited the Free Patriotic Movement, “one of the largest and most traditional Christian parties in Lebanon,” as an important partner.
Featured image via Pixabay