Szijjarto at Belgrade rally: Hungary, Serbia ‘historic friends’

Addressing a gathering of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Szijjarto said in Serbian that “the Hungarian nation today considers the Serbian nation their brother”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Szijjarto said the friendship that had developed between the two nations was to thank to Aleksandar Vucic, “your president”.

“Under the leadership of your president, Serbia is treating the Hungarian community in Vojvodina in such a way that it serves as a model for the whole world. We, Hungarians are grateful for that,” Szijjarto said.

He noted that both countries were facing similar challenges which included “unrestrained attacks by the international liberal mainstream” over their perseverance in standing up for their national interests.

“They are attacking us because we want peace in Ukraine and reject to participate in increasing the risk of the war’s escalation. And they are attacking us also because we hold on to our national family values and reject any dictates from abroad over our affairs,” Szijjarto said.

He said the attacks would not stop in the future, because the liberals “cannot digest that we, Hungarians and Serbs will follow our own national path and we are successful”.

“But we are not going to yield to them, but will endure, we will carry on building a strong Serbia, a strong Hungary, and a strong Hungarian-Serbian friendship,” the foreign minister said.