Hungary condemns Russia's military attack and the war but will not allow Hungarian families to be made to pay the price of war, Orbán said in London.Continue reading
The British Prime Minister wrote a congratulatory letter to Viktor Orbán, commenting on the “fantastic relations” between the two countries and the planned cooperation on energy security.
Johnson referred to the historical ties and common interests of the two countries, as well as the direct relations between the Hungarian and British people. He pointed out that the formation of the new Hungarian government comes at a critical time for Euro-Atlantic security when Europe and NATO need to show unity in the face of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
The British Prime Minister underscored the importance of the planned sanctions on Russian hydrocarbons while acknowledging that Hungary faces unique challenges in terms of energy security. To this end, he offered the support of the UK.
Boris Johnson already congratulated Orbán earlier as well on his election win.
Congratulations to Fidesz and Viktor Orban on winning the elections in Hungary. We look forward to working with our Hungarian friends to further develop our close partnership. #UKandHungary
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2018
Not everyone agreed with Johnson expressing his congratulations. As Sky News reported at the time, responding to the Foreign Secretary’s congratulations to Hungary’s Prime Minister, Labour’s shadow foreign minister Fabian Hamilton said: “Given the already damning reports from international bodies on how this election was conducted, it seems hugely inappropriate for Boris Johnson to congratulate Viktor Orbán on winning it.”
Hamilton added it was “disgraceful” that Johnson failed to mention the Hungarian government’s “shameful record on political freedom, women’s equality and LGBT rights” or Orbán’s “Islamophobic rhetoric” or “anti-Semitic attacks” on Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.
Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish Prime Minister, also sent a letter congratulating Viktor Orbán on his re-election as Hungary’s prime minister.
“Poland and Hungary are bound together by many centuries of friendship which has been a basis of the two countries’ cooperation so far,” Morawiecki said in his letter. “The shared history of the two countries has provided a lot of evidence of mutual support. I trust that we can continue to develop and strengthen our relations.”
The Polish Prime Minister underscored the particular importance of solidarity among allies “in the current situation” when “the Russian aggression against Ukraine has destroyed the foundations of peace and stabilization in Europe.”
Featured image via Zoltán Fischer/MTI/Prime Minister’s Press Office