Opinions & Interviews
Szijjarto: Hungary-Belarus investment protection agreement will give impetus to projects
MINSK, 21 January (BelTA) - The agreement on investment protection between Belarus and Hungary gives a great impetus to investment projects, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in an interview to the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.
The ministerial memorandum on promotion of interregional cooperation, the intergovernmental Belarusian-Hungarian agreement for the promotion and protection of investment and a program of cooperation for 2019 were signed in Minsk on 14 January.
Speaking about the importance of these documents, Peter Szijjarto stressed the importance of the agreement for the promotion and protection of investment and that the parties discussed the document for a long time. “It is of utmost importance for investors of any country. We are happy that we signed it. This will be a great boost for investment projects,” the minister said.
“The document relating to interregional cooperation will give us the opportunity to enhance interaction: now this will be the work not only between the capitals Minsk and Budapest. Now it will be the work at the scale of the countries. We also signed a program of cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for this year. Here I wish to point out the excellent level of relations. Through consultations, demonstrating understanding, through mutual trust and respect we could have avoided many conflicts in the world and I am sure we will be able to prevent them in the future. Regular meetings at the level of foreign ministers and their deputies will be continued. With minister Vladimir Makei, by the way, we hold not only bilateral meetings but we also participate in international forums. This helps even better understand each other's positions and provide mutual support on many issues on the international agenda,” Peter Szijjarto said.
The minister was asked about Hungary’s voting against the UN Migration Compact. “We know firsthand about illegal migration. In 2015 hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants literally marched through Hungary. They violated our borders. This is unacceptable. They refused to listen to the requirements of the government, attacked police officers, invaded public places, blocked roads, which is once again inadmissible. They showed disrespect for our culture, way of life,” Peter Szijjarto said. “It is absolutely inadmissible when our people are afraid to go out. People want Hungary to be a safe country. But it is impossible to ensure stability and security if you do not control your own border. Therefore, we made it clear that the only possible way to enter our country is a legal one. Only we, Hungarians, have the right to decide who can come to Hungary and with whom we want to live.”
According to the Hungarian minister of foreign affairs, this approach is absolutely out of sync with the UN Migration Compact. “They offer to accept that migration is pretty much the best thing which can happen to the mankind. But this is not true. The treaty does not say a word about real consequences. Migration is portrayed as a fundamental right, but it is not true either. Look, you cannot just wake up in the morning and choose a country where you want to live, you cannot go there violating the borders,” the minister remarked. He added that the elections to the European Parliament will take place in May, and migration will truly become a hot if not a decisive topic.
Peter Szijjarto commented on the actions of Open Society Foundations. “We have a serious argument with George Soros about the vision of the future of Europe and the future of Hungary. Our approaches contradict each other in virtually all aspects. My government would like to see a strong European Union, of strong states and strong nations. The idea of losing the national identity, cultural and religious heritage is unacceptable for us. The EU can be strong only if its components, namely the participating countries and their peoples, are strong. So the protection of our own things, from the borders to the identity, is of utmost importance,” the minister said.
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