Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary is prepared to take part in development schemes in Africa aimed at creating the conditions for the region’s fast-growing population to remain in their homeland.
Europe must cooperate closely with Africa in order to curb mass illegal migration, Minister Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Botswanan counterpart Phenyo Butale.
"Unless a comprehensive European-African cooperation programme is launched, Europe will find itself facing a virtually unmanageable migration risk," Minister Szijjártó said. "That is why we greatly appreciate the countries that bring stability and peace to Africa … and behave responsibly. Botswana is one such country."
"We greatly appreciate that in 2018 Botswana wasn’t among the countries that voted for the Global Compact for Migration, which we considered and still consider particularly dangerous," the minister said.
Hungary, he said, was prepared to take part in development schemes in Africa aimed at creating the conditions for the region’s fast-growing population to stay in their homeland.
"We are also prepared to carry out the necessary economic, food safety, water management and irrigation developments, and we’re prepared to contribute to ensuring a competitive education for Africa’s young people," he said.
Botswana is in the process of implementing a national development programme until 2036, Minister Szijjártó said, adding that Hungarian technologies could also play a role in the scheme in the areas of renewable energy, healthy water supply and efficient agriculture.
"We believe that technological contributions from Hungarian businesses will further strengthen Botswana and can boost the regional stabilising role it has played recently in the interest of easing tensions in Africa," Minister Szijjártó said.
"And we know full well that if tensions in Africa decrease, then so will the root causes of migration, which will further improve the security of Europe," he added.
Meanwhile, Minister Szijjártó said Hungary will increase the number of annual scholarships offered to Botswana university students from 10 to 20.
Minister Szijjártó also said today’s official visit was the first by a Botswanan foreign minister to Hungary.
In response to a question, the minister said he will soon visit Moscow to attend a meeting of the Hungarian-Russian joint economic committee.
Concerning the bill on the transparency of public life, Minister Szijjártó expressed hope that it could be put to a vote in parliament as soon as possible.