The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, said today after meeting with BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka that Hungarians support the stability and European integration of BiH not only with words, but also with deeds.
He reminded that there are currently 134 Hungarian soldiers in the peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the press conference, Szijjarto said that the world is full of challenges, and Europe may be even more so.
“There is a war going on in Europe and very serious economic and energy problems are emerging. That is why it is the duty of every European politician to do everything to improve security and stability on our continent. This would mean accelerating the European integration of the Western Balkans region. We in Hungary believe that “It is a shame for Brussels that this process has been slowed down so much and that the decision that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not guaranteed candidate status is wrong,” said Szijjarto.
The Government of Hungary, he added, approved 35 million euros to support around 1,400 entities of small and medium enterprises in the territory of Republika Srpska.
Dodik thanked Minister Szijjarto and his team for including a visit to Banja Luka in their very busy agenda.
“Cooperation with Hungary is very important for us and represents a road map that we should follow,” said Dodik.
He stated that it was an opportunity to discuss the overall political and economic situation, adding that they want economic cooperation to be even greater.
“I informed Minister Szijjarto that we have to act responsibly according to the expectations of the people in Republika Srpska and that we cannot be part of the package of sanctions against Russia regardless of the expectations of some power centers,” said Dodik.
