Newly elected Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni closed the ports to NGO ships carrying hundreds of illegal migrants.Continue reading
Hungarian President Katalin Novák arrived in Rome on Wednesday for an official visit, where she is meeting her Italian counterpart, members of the government, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She also gave an interview to Corriere della Sera.
The Russo-Ukrainian war was the main topic of discussion between Hungarian President Katalin Novák and Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Tuesday.
We agreed that Putin has crossed the Rubicon by starting the war. Our common goal is to stop the war as soon as possible and to finally have peace,”
Novák wrote on Facebook. At the meeting, she stressed that the 150,000 Hungarians in Transcarpathia are 150,000 reasons to make peace as soon as possible. Mattarella said that if Ukraine really wants to join the European Union, it will be important to settle the situation of minorities as soon as possible.
Epoch-marking meeting in #Rome w/President Mattarella @Quirinale . We agreed that the speedy EU integration of the Western-Balkans is in the interest of Europe, energy diversification contributes to our common security & the protection of Christians is our common responsibility pic.twitter.com/Vnn2qXInKP
— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovakMP) January 31, 2023
Energy, bilateral relations, and the EU integration of the Western Balkans were also on the agenda. The Italian President also expressed his strong support for persecuted Christians, and indicated that Italy intends to introduce a program similar to Hungary Helps.
On Tuesday, Novák held talks with Ignazio La Russa, President of the Italian Senate, and Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Chamber of Deputies.
Received by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies @Montecitorio, @Fontana3Lorenzo during my official visit in #Italy, with whom we touched upon matters of our common #European policy. pic.twitter.com/aSs3VGz6Ke
— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovakMP) January 31, 2023
On Wednesday, she met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Thrilling discussion with @GiorgiaMeloni, the Prime Minister of Italy on the push and pull factors of #migration, where both #Hungary and #Italy has a clear view, illegal migration is a no go! pic.twitter.com/O3zZJ2p9QI
— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovakMP) February 1, 2023
In this time of war, we need strong European leaders, frank closed-door discussions, joint strategic thinking and respect for each other. 2022 was a year of war. I wish 2023 to be a year of peace!”,
Novák said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. According to the president, “the true task facing Europe is to find unity while accepting that our history, our local conditions, our culture, our ways of thinking are different in many respects, while also being the same in the essentials.” “I see the common ground in the Judeo-Christian roots, in Christian culture. The European Union can still prove to be a success story in the historical perspective, if we do not abandon our Christian culture and if we can continue to make unanimous, common decisions,” she added.
Photo: Sandorpalota.hu
It is no secret that we have had a friendly relationship with Giorgia Meloni for years,”
she said, answering a question regarding the incumbent Italian prime minister. “I know her as a strong, family-oriented person of conservative values, open to the world but who would give her life for her country. She is a trustworthy and reliable person,” Novák stressed, adding that “the interests and the intentions of Hungarians and Italians point to the same direction also in fields like taking a firm stance against illegal migration, the need for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, the protection of Christians, and standing up for family values.” The whole interview is available in English on the Novak’s website.
Featured photo via Facebook/Novák Katalin