Defence Minister: Hungary backs Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration

Hungary will have a chance to promote Georgia’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration when it assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of next year, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

The minister said that after his visit to Tbilisi in the summer, Friday’s meeting had been an opportunity to boost cooperation between the two countries.

Dialogue between Hungary and Georgia was “easy” given their similar cultures and geographical characteristics, he said. Both nations speak a unique language, have a “closed culture”, and are committed to the values of Christianity, he added.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky said they had reviewed the situation of the war in Ukraine, agreeing that it was a drawn-out bloody conflict that carried a risk of escalation.

He said Georgia could be considered a “grandmaster of peace”, even though it was locked in a serious conflict with its neighbour, and he underscored Hungary’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and independence.

Georgia, he said, was capable of preserving peace, and this was also Hungary’s goal when it came to the Russia-Ukraine war, he said, adding that only a ceasefire and peace talks could lead to conflict resolution.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky said he and Burchuladze had also discussed possibilities regarding bilateral military and security policy cooperation. Hungarian and Georgian troops are both present in each other’s training exercises, he noted.

He added that he had also told Burchuladze about the military and economic opportunities in the defence industry investments being undertaken in Hungary.

Burchuladze said he hoped Friday’s meeting would help elevate the cooperation between Georgia and Hungary.