Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the European Union's policies suggest that "a country, like Ukraine, which would bring war to the community, will be met with open arms" while the EU fails to embrace countries such as those in the Western Balkans, that would ensure "development and fresh energy".
Following talks with Dragan Covic, deputy speaker of the upper house of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Budapest on Monday, the two parties held a joint press conference, where Minister Szijjártó noted that Hungary's foreign policy was centred upon peace and stability "at the current times of extraordinary challenges and crises."
"We want to see peaceful solutions to the wars currently underway and prevent further conflicts through stability," the foreign ministry quoted Minister Szijjártó as saying. He added that peace and stability were also at the centre of Hungarian efforts concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is in Hungary's fundamental interest "that there is calm in the Western Balkans region", he added.
While the Hungarian government pursues a responsible neighbourhood policy, "Brussels' irresponsible policy continuously destroys Europe's security," he said.
"When it comes to the war in Ukraine, Brussels keeps pouring oil into the fire; they push for Ukraine's fast-track accession and that Ukraine should bring the war into the EU," he said, adding that the EU's rejection of admitting the Western Balkans was "another dangerous and irresponsible decision".
The EU's policy is "extremely dangerous", Minister Szijjártó said, adding that the Hungarian government "firmly rejects" Ukraine's admittance but supports the Western Balkans' accession.
Minister Szijjártó assured his negotiating partner of Hungary's support to "stability, development, and calm" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but added that it was necessary that all ethnicities should be granted their due rights. "Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be granted the right to elect leaders to represent them; it is important that Bosnia and Herzegovina removes the negative discrimination against Croats at their election," he said. People in Bosnia and Herzegovina should have "the decisions concerning the future of their country in their own hands, without people coming from outside and without any legitimacy telling them what they should do," he said.
"The Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina can continue to rely on Hungary's support, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the whole of the Western Balkans can count on Hungary's support," Minister Szijjártó said.