Szijjarto in UN: Supporting poorest countries ‘best way to ensure peace’

According to a statement from the foreign ministry, Szijjarto said better living conditions in those countries helped reduce the risk of armed conflicts and further migratory waves. The Hungarian government has launched a country-specific development programme to assist those countries in job creation, as well as improving education and living conditions in general. Fighting poverty, providing new jobs, promoting sustainable security and helping people prosper in their homelands will all contribute to restoring peace and security, the ministry quoted Szijjarto as saying.

The Doha Programme of Action opens a new chapter in cooperation based on solidarity, fairness and mutual respect, Szijjarto said. Development programmes should be based on mutual respect without donor countries interfering with the internal affairs of receipients, he insisted.

Since 2010, the Hungarian government has raised Hungary’s official direct assistance by 247 percent, from an annual 114 million dollars to 400 million, or from 0.1 percent of GDP to 0.3 percent, Szijjarto said. He also noted that Hungary was offering over 200 higher education scholarships to students from the least developed countries. This year, the government has already spent tens of millions of dollars to improve health services in such countries as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Laos, and Uganda, he said. Hungarian companies are also active in water management, food, agricultural and IT projects, he added.