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Foreign minister warns of increasing migration pressure

The foreign minister said the root causes of migration had intensified recently. Instability in countries outside Europe has a negative impact on European security.

The foreign minister has said that due to the approaching winter and Europe's condemnation of Turkey's offensive in Syria, the next few months will bring about increased migration pressure.

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the root causes of migration had intensified recently. Instability in countries outside Europe has a negative impact on European security, he added.

The minister said Hungary’s stance is that international migration policy must shift quickly to solving problems locally and helping people to return home instead of encouraging further waves of migration, adding that Hungary will continue to focus on border protection and exporting aid to areas where it is needed.

Minister Szijjártó said that Hungary will send another 70 soldiers to Afghanistan, increasing the number of Hungarians participating in the mission there to 170. Additionally, it has extended until 2024 the country’s annual contribution of USD 500,000 to support national security and defense forces in Afghanistan.

The minister highlighted that in the context of a nuclear agreement with Iran, Hungary resolutely supports the European Union’s policy which aims to preserve the agreement; or at least parts of it.

Photo credit: 888.hu