Hungary is supporting Serbia by sending 20 police officers to protect that country’s southern border, because there is a real danger of a new wave of migrants leaving to cross the western Balkans, Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has said.
Hungary’s firm standpoint is that Serbia is prepared for European Union membership and it is in Hungary’s interest that Serbia should join as quickly as possible. He added that this was in the interest of the Hungarian minority living there as well as being in the interest of Hungarian security, MTI reports today
“Stability and security in the western Balkans is in our interest; these objectives can be best achieved by its swiftest possible European integration,” Szijjártó said, noting that this is why Hungary “supports, and even demands,” that Brussels open four new chapters in the accession talks with Serbia without delay.
Bilateral relations today reflect historic reconciliation, he said, commending the Serbian government on its efforts, unprecedented within the EU, to support Serbia’s Hungarian communities.
Szijjártó assured his Serbian counterpart of Hungary’s support for Serbian efforts to protect the country’s borders.
“There is no dispute in Europe today that allowing an unlimited number of migrants to enter Europe is harmful and dangerous,” he said.
Szijjártó noted that a summit meeting of the Hungarian and Serbian governments will be held November 20-21, following a meeting of the two countries’ joint economic committees earlier in the month.
Serbian Minister Dacic said ties between the two countries were friendly and there was agreement in many areas. This may have been hard to imagine a few years ago, the minister added. Bilateral relations have never been as good they are now since common areas for cooperation have been identified, he said, adding that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen.