In Dr. Nassar's view, there is a multitude of misconceptions circling around both about Hungary and PalestineContinue reading
Hungary Today have been invited to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh’s offices in Ramallah. We have posed the same question to the PM as we did previously to Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, just to receive a reply in a more conciliatory tone.
– The Palestinian Authority, Palestinian leaders and the Embassy of Palestine in Budapest have decided to invite to, and meet Hungarian journalists in Palestine. What is the reason behind this renewed interest behind the Hungarian Palestinian relationship. What can the Palestinian leadership and the people of this land expect from a renewed cooperation?
– Our relationship with Hungary, historically speaking, has been the best. Unfortunately, in international relations, as Winston Churchill said, there are no everlasting enemies and no everlasting friends either. International relations are dictated by mutual interest. From our side there is no way on earth that we would accept to continue to have our relationship with Hungary as it has been recently. This is a situation that I would call as “unusual”, and we prefer things that are unusual not to continue. We want the usual to continue, which would mean that Hungary stands solid for the two-state solution and Hungary stands solid for international law and human rights protection. We and you both stand solid on these issues. We are fighting for two states, we are working to protect human rights, and we are also asking everyone else to stand firm by the international law and UN resolutions.
So the period where Hungarian-Palestinian relationships were not at their best, I think this is behind us. There are number of issues that stand solid for us and for you. But one important issue is where Europe stands. Europe stands for two states, for international law and by UN resolutions. Europe also stands for its own political agenda. And Europe has been very generous in its support for Palestine.
Hungary is a very important component of this package. In fact, in our deliberations with your colleagues in Europe it has been really one of the best relationships. We went through difficult times, but we have overcome these, and we did engage in a very good dialogue with European leaders and we have reached a point where things have been settled in the best way possible.
I have met with the Hungarian Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi. He has his point of view which we respect, but of course its not always possible to achieve that point of views should collide in a positive way. I think though that we have come to a positive conclusion when it comes to European assistance to Palestine. Europe has been with us from day one, and I think Europe understands the Palestinian reality clearly. You have European and national representatives here, and we are engaging extremely well.
I hope this chapter will be behind us. I am actually looking forward to visit Hungary. I will be asking the government to bridge the relationship with us. This is because we need you, we need your voice, and we need your friendship. And what is more important for a people under occupation than the friendship of people and governments like the one in Hungary, who are important players in the international arena as well as in European politics.
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