German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Budapest on Monday sends a very important signal in view of international policy, Hungary’s former ambassador to Germany said. Gergely Prőhle, who was posted in Berlin and is now a deputy state secretary in the ministry of human resources, said Merkel is seeking a solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as well as tensions between the European Union and Russia.
Hungary is obviously interested in easing these tensions, he added. Merkel is sending the signal with her visit that the interests of Hungary and Germany are the same in this area, he said. Prőhle said the visit would further boost the confidence of German investors in Hungary and noted the “blossoming” German automotive industry in Hungary. In addition to economic ties, Hungary and Germany’s friendship is based on a whole list of other factors.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán said last Friday that there were no problem areas in Hungarian-German cooperation. The German Chancellor’s visit in Budapest on Monday attracts attention to the “long-lasting and stable friendship and strategic cooperation” between the two countries that is likely to continue in the future, Orbán said. According to press reports, Angela Merkel and Viktor Orbán will negotiate in private for several hours today. The talks will be followed by an international press conference, however, it is still unknown whether any agreements will be signed at the meeting.
via hungarymatters.hu and MTI photo: Alexander Kurz – CC