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Hungary Aims to Contribute to Peace-building between Azerbaijan and Armenia

MTI-Hungary Today 2024.09.11.

If there is one country in the world that truly supports connectivity and economic cooperation initiatives instead of warfare, it is Hungary, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Tuesday at the Yerevan Dialogue forum in Armenia.

Speaking at a panel discussion, the minister said that Central Europe, including Hungary, has been caught in the global bloc formation of the world during the Cold War, and Hungary is facing all the negative consequences of the war in Ukraine, too. He warned that today all political movements are pointing towards a renewed bloc formation of the world, and unfortunately the European Union is contributing to this.

Hungary, following its national interest, opposes the renewed bloc formation and supports connectivity and the creation of conditions for civilized East-West cooperation,”

he stressed.

In response to a question from the moderator, Péter Szijjártó said that

Hungary can contribute as a mediator to peace-building in the South Caucasus, as it is in a position to negotiate with both Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of mutual respect. 

He underlined that diplomatic relations between Hungary and Armenia were re-established two years ago, and since then bilateral trade records have been broken, direct air links were established this year, and a total of around 1,000 refugee children have been able to attend camps in Hungary.

Hungarian-Armenian trade flow between 2007-2023. Exports to Armenia / Imports into Hungary (million HUF). Source: MTI

In addition, the government has recently allocated EUR 800,000 to the Armenian Christian Church to support families in need. Energy cooperation will also be launched soon, a joint economic committee will be set up to further develop the relationship, and the two countries will reopen their embassies in each other’s capitals, the politician said.

In the meantime, he stressed,

Hungary is also pursuing strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan, which will allow the finalization of the peace treaty between the two countries to be facilitated.

According to him, Budapest could also be the venue for the signing of this agreement. “I believe that we can help bring about a peace agreement, giving millions of people back their right to live in peace and security,” he concluded.

Fact

Azerbaijan and local ethnic Armenians have had a conflict over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh for a long time. The region was entirely claimed by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh in 1994. In September 2023 a ceasefire agreement ending the Azerbaijani military offensive against the self-proclaimed ethnic Armenian Republic of Artsakh was reached, after a blockade lasting several months, and Azerbaijan gradually re-established control over Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding districts. The agreement was brokered by the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the region since 2020. The Republic of Artsakh was formally dissolved in January 2024.

Interchurch Aid Sends Urgent Supplies to Armenia
Interchurch Aid Sends Urgent Supplies to Armenia

Hungary is also supporting the humanitarian work of the Armenian Red Cross Society with EUR 102,000.Continue reading

Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter


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