Hungary could import gas through Serbia, if Ukraine interrupts transit
Peter Szijjarto noted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s talks with the leaders Turkmenistan, Serbia, the Bosnian Serb Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkiye during the day, and pointed to the importance of close cooperation with central Asia and the Western Balkans. Those ties largely contribute to Hungary’s security from multiple aspects, he added.
“We are in great need of that security, when crises overshadow the everyday life of European countries … close cooperation with countries of central Asia and the Western Balkans will help us cope with the ramifications of those crises,” he said.
Szijjarto stressed that “a fair cooperation with Russia concerning natural gas supplies will help ensure Hungary’s energy security.” Those supplies largely reach Hungary via Ukraine, but “reports in these days suggest that Ukraine wants to terminate its transit agreement with Russia,” he said.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is on a working visit to Hungary, has “made it clear that if Hungary wishes to increase gas imports through Serbia, they will ensure the necessary shipping capacities,” Szijjarto said.
“Once again, it has been proven that construction of the Turk Stream pipeline had been a decision of strategic importance,” Szijjarto said.
Szijjarto also noted Turkmenistan’s “political decision” to make Hungary “a destination of possible gas shipments to Europe”. “A political agreement has been signed and now it is up to the companies to negotiate a trade deal,” he added.