Cyprus FM Constantinos Kombos held talks in Budapest

“Hungary and Cyprus have similar positions on important matters,” Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Tuesday, noting that both countries support efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and want strict action taken against illegal migration.

Both sides also agree that the European Union’s external borders must be protected and human smuggling rings countered, Szijjártó told a joint press conference held with Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos in Budapest.

A ministry statement quoted Szijjártó as saying that aid must be delivered to the locality of the problem to avoid further waves of migration. He said Cyprus has the largest number of first-time asylum seekers compared to its population. We agree that Brussels must not leave countries on the front line unassisted. Brussels must not support migration. ” “It is obviously nonsensical to penalise countries that protect Europe, its identity and its security…” Szijjártó said.

Both Hungary and Cyprus support peace and Hungary strongly supports US President Donald Trump’s endeavours for peace, Szijjártó said, adding that “everybody should follow suit”. “We reject the delusional pro-war proposals surging here in Europe, and have made it clear that we will not send a single forint, a single weapon or a single soldier to Ukraine,” he added.

“We are against the energy sanctions because they drive up energy prices in Hungary, and we have made it clear that only Hungarians can determine whether Ukraine should be allowed to join the European Union,” the minister said.

• read also: Polish FM Sikorski criticises Hungary for defending Putin amid bombing of civilians

Szijjártó and his counterpart signed an agreement on cooperation in diplomatic training and assistance to Christian communities in need. Both Hungary and Cyprus prize their Christian heritage and take responsibility for persecuted Christians while supporting those communities so they can remain in their homelands, especially in the Middle East, he said. Szijjártó highlighted Hungary’s humanitarian aid to Syria and Lebanon. “We will go on with our programme and take a stand for Christian communities in a difficult situation and for Christian values worldwide.” Cyprus is one of the few countries in Europe that will “speak about the necessity for support to Christian communities honestly and openly”, Szijjártó said, adding that Hungary and Cyprus planned to “unite their forces” in terms of their aid programmes.

Meanwhile, answering a question, Szijjártó said Ukraine needed peace as soon as possible, and he slammed the former US administration for measures taken during its last months, such as sending weapons to Ukraine “that make achieving peace much more difficult”. “Making peace would be easier if the Biden administration had not taken those pro-war steps … or if certain European politicians were not working to undermine the path to peace,” he said. “We ask everybody here in Europe to support the peace efforts in Ukraine’s neighbourhood … we’d really like to see a return to peace,” Szijjártó said.