Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said relations between Serbia and Hungary are at their zenith.
The foreign minister added that excellent ties benefited both countries, especially the Hungarian minority in Vojvodina, which could continue to count on the support of the Hungarian government. Speaking in Ada, in Serbia, on Thursday, after his talks with Bálint Pásztor, acting chairman of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Minister Szijjártó said the late leader of the party, István Pásztor, has been key to ensuring good ties, the ministry said in a statement. Szijjártó cited milestones such as the re-establishment of a rail link between Szeged in Hungary and Subotica in Serbia, the fact that the border crossing between Röszke and Horgos is open 24 hours a day, and investment support by the Hungarian government for more than 14,000 entrepreneurs in Vojvodina, creating 170 billion forints worth of investments there. He assured Hungarians in Vojvodina of the government’s continued support, adding that the business development programme will continue with two tenders for 4 billion forints of support for small businesses and agricultural producers. Szijjártó said the VMSZ leader was striving to realise the strong representation of Hungarian interests in Belgrade and to promote the development of the Baja-Subotica rail line as well as to divert part of cross-border freight traffic to the Hercegszántó-Santovo border crossing. He emphasised that a strong representation of Hungarian interests in Belgrade was also needed to maintain peace in the region near the border and to keep out illegal migrants who made “life a misery” for the Hungarians living here.