The foreign minister said it is in Hungary’s security, political and economic interests that the Western Balkans develops rapidly.
During a joint press conference held with Srđan Darmanović, his Montenegrin counterpart, in Podgorica, Péter Szijjártó said Hungary’s neighboring region is full of important trading partners and investment destinations.
According to MTI, the minister noted that the Western Balkans is exposed to the threat of migration, adding that the swiftest possible integration of its countries with the European Union was in Hungary’s interest.
With this aim in mind, the Hungarian government fully supports the current Croatian EU presidency in opening the last chapter in accession talks with Montenegro while closing six chapters that country is ready to conclude, he said. Hungary regards EU enlargement as among the bloc’s most important policy objectives, he said, adding that Europe would have to withstand new waves of competition in the post-pandemic world.
“We are convinced that the European Union’s position and strength in the new global order will very much be linked to the success of the bloc’s enlargement,” he said, adding that the larger the EU becomes, the more important role it would have.
Achieving that goal requires integrating the Western Balkans, not losing it, Minister Szijjártó said. Speaking about Hungary-Montenegro economic ties, the minister noted bilateral trade was worth over 100 million euros in 2019. Montenegro is an important market for Hungarian pharmaceutical exports and for OTP, Hungary’s largest commercial bank, the foreign minister said, adding that Hungary is a main importer of aluminum from Montenegro.
On the topic of migration, Minister Szijjártó expressed appreciation of Montenegro’s efforts to protect the country against illegal migration. Montenegro has gone as far as deploying its military at its borders, he noted.
Minister Szijjártó further pledged Hungary’s help to Montenegro in fighting the coronavirus epidemic. On Tuesday, Hungary delivered 50,000 face masks and 2,500 protective suits to the country, he said. The Montenegrin foreign minister thanked Hungary for the delivery as well as its steady support for the country’s EU and NATO aspirations. Minister Szijjártó also met President Milo Đukanović.