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The better the relations between Hungary and Slovakia, the better the living conditions of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in an interview with Danubia Television.
Speaking after the recent inauguration of the Károly Róbert Bridge in Ipolydamásd (50km North of Budapest), the minister stressed that Slovakia is the second most important trading partner for Hungary. Trade between the two countries reached 17 billion euros last year, a record amount, he said. “I believe in a practical foreign policy,” he said, adding that
ideologies and “scientific thinking” are important, but “in the end it is always the interest of the people, that is the starting point.”
The minister recalled that the Slovak police officers had helped to defend Hungary’s southern border against illegal migration, that the two countries had jointly opposed the mandatory resettlement quota, and they have interconnected electricity and gas pipelines.
In addition, MOL’s Slovak subsidiary (Slovnaft) is one of the largest companies in Slovakia. Szijjártó said these are success stories that “can create a basis of mutual trust” for discussing difficult issues. In connection with the upcoming parliamentary elections in Slovakia, Szijjártó said that the Hungarian government is cheering for the political party of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia (Alliance) to achieve a good result and for them have a strong representation in Bratislava. As he put it,
no one should consider this as interference in domestic politics.”
The minister said that they would be rooting for Slovakia to have a government that would see Hungarian-Slovak cooperation as an important issue, and one that would see Hungarian-Slovak cooperation as an opportunity rather than a problem. “That is all we can do, and we fully accept the decision of the Slovak voters, because who could make a more legitimate decision on Slovakia’s affairs if not the Slovak people,” Szijjártó added.
Featured Image: Péter Szijjártó