Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated today that Serbia belongs in the EU, and that the current Hungarian presidency will act in that direction.
“Without Serbia, no expansion will be successful, and anyone who believes that other countries in the Western Balkans can integrate without Serbia is mistaken”, Orban emphasized at a press conference in Strasbourg at the European Parliament building. Regarding the enlargement policy, the Hungarian Prime Minister noted that Europe will never be complete without the integration of the Balkans.
“Twenty years ago, we promised the countries of the Western Balkans that we would take them in. It would be time to fulfill this”, he stressed.
When asked by journalists whether he believes that halting military aid to Ukraine would help peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Orban assessed that “both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders firmly believe that time is on their side”.
He proposed that the European Union cooperate with the Global South to create an international situation in which the two sides could conclude a ceasefire.
“Most of the world is for peace, while the European Union is for war. The EU wants to achieve a ceasefire and peace through a longer process, which is wrong”, the Hungarian Prime Minister stated.
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In response to repeated questions about whether military aid should continue to Ukraine until a ceasefire is reached, he briefly replied, “Let the member states decide who wants to support Ukraine and who does not.” A Ukrainian television journalist asked why Hungary blocks aid to Ukraine and whether it would fight against Russia if attacked, to which Orban responded that such a suggestion is “absurd,” noting that “Russia would not attack a NATO member state.” He added that Hungary has several experiences with Russian attacks and empathizes with Ukrainians.
“The legitimate goal of Ukraine is victory, but Ukraine cannot win a war with Russia on the battlefield. Communication and a ceasefire are necessary to save lives. Both direct and indirect communication between the warring parties is needed, and part of international policy is for a third party to mediate between them,” Orban emphasized, adding that this could allow the conflict to be resolved diplomatically at the negotiating table.
Speaking on the issue of migration, Orban said it can only be stopped in one way, at external focal points.
“If we cannot agree that those who want to enter the EU must stop at the European border and apply outside our borders, we will never be able to stop migration. Without this system, we have no chance”, he said.
According to him, once a migrant enters the EU, even if they do not receive the right to a residence permit, they will not leave.
“And I do not know any government that wants to forcibly gather all those people, stuff them into a truck, and send them back. This will never happen. The only migrant who does not stay is the one who does not enter the EU. Hungary is now being punished for this. Illegal migration in Europe has led to an increase in anti-Semitism, an increase in violence against women, and homophobia; these are the results”, the Hungarian Prime Minister stated.
According to him, the proposal of the Hungarian presidency is to establish a system of Schengen summits, where countries managing Schengen can manage migration at the highest political level. When asked about the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, Orban said that in the event of Republican candidate Donald Trump returning to the White House, he would “open more bottles of champagne.”
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Source: Novosti
Photo: Novosti