Szijjarto: Brussels poses danger, Bishkek ‘source of security’ in migration

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Jeenbek Kulubayev, Peter Szijjarto said both countries were paying the price of conflicts they were not responsible for.

Hungary and Kyrgyzstan were members of the “global pro-peace majority” urging an immediate ceasefire and peace talks in the war in Ukraine, he said, according to a ministry statement.

Szijjarto praised Kyrgyz efforts in the fight against terrorism, and said the global terror threat was “larger than ever” due to the opportunities illegal migration offered to potentials attackers.

He said the EU’s pro-migration policy was encouraging immigrants to start their journey towards the continent, and terrorists “take advantage of the flood of people”.

Hungary “sees all countries that prioritise the fight against terrorism the way Kyrgyzstan does as an ally”, he said.

While holding the European Union’s rotating presidency, Hungary is also supporting the start of negotiations with Kyrgyzstan on easing visa requirements and on signing an enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement.

Szijjarto said that EU officials’ criticism levelled at Kyrgyzstan alleging circumventing sanctions against Russia was “wholly unfounded”.

“Hungary sees EU sanctions as harmful, dangerous and absolutely useless, harming member states more than Russia,” he said. “EU leaders are clearly not prepared to recognise that [sanctions] were a bad decision, and they prefer to accuse others, Kyrgyzstan among them.”

Hungary would always support Kyrgyzstan in working as a link between the East and West, Szijjarto said. Hungary believes every country has the sovereign right to root out external interference and influence targeting the will of the people, he added.

Meanwhile, he said Central Asia’s economic importance was growing, especially in transport and energy security.

He welcomed that trade between Hungary and Kyrgyzstan has doubled.

Hungarian companies are gaining ground in Kyrgyzstan in health industries, food and agriculture, and there is a joint development fund financing joint ventures in agriculture and vehicle manufacturing, the minister said. He said he hoped that the joint project planning to build water plants would also be successful.

Hungary is also offering 200 grants to Kyrgyz students wishing to study in Hungary, he said.