Tamás Menczer, the state secretary for bilateral relations, has confirmed that 117 Hungarian nationals have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes, where a wildfire has been raging for days, while 53 Hungarians have left or will be leaving the island tomorrow.
Menczer told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio that the ministry is in contact with 356 Hungarians on Rhodes altogether. No Hungarians are threatened by the wildfire, he added. Menczer said he knew of 118 Hungarians on Corfu, none of whom were affected by the evacuations there. The Greek authorities are ensuring airport transfers for everyone, Menczer said. He advised those planning trips to the Greek islands to postpone their visits or at least register for consular protection. Meanwhile, Menczer noted that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had met his new Romanian counterpart for “fair talks based on mutual respect” prior to his speech at the Bálványos Summer University in Băile Tușnad last weekend. Orbán made it clear that Hungary supports Romania’s accession to the European Union’s passport-free Schengen area and thanked Romania for guaranteeing the security of the Summer University, the state secretary said. Hungary is interested in good relations based on mutual respect with every country, Menczer said, adding that respect also meant “that we give honest assessments of situations and that we don’t tell others what they can and can’t talk about”. In his speech, Orbán said he had received a document from the Romanian foreign ministry with suggestions on the topics he should avoid.