Menu
Mr Orbán stressed that Hungary’s position coincided with that the European Union on some points, but not on others.
The Hungarian Prime Minister objected to the fact that the European Union was making slow progress with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession.
He pointed out that, according to the Hungarian foreign policy, EU cohesion funds should be given to the countries which we seek to help integrate already before attaining membership.
“Our foreign policy rejects the sanctions approach, we don’t support any sanctions, and neither will we,” the Hungarian Prime Minister underlined.
Hungary additionally supports the concept of international players taking a step back and allowing the citizens of the given countries to decide on political issues, he added.
Mr Orbán said Hungary and the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina see great prospects in cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure and agriculture.
The parties therefore decided to establish a special committee which will make three-monthly reports about the state and progress of economic cooperation, thereby creating an opportunity for swift decisions and dynamic progress.
Hungary is able to help the Republika Srpska “in creating another dimension above the level of daily battles, the dimension of development, strengthening, economic cooperation and advancement,” because “it’s important for people to have not only feet, but also wings,” the Hungarian Prime Minister stressed.
“We have signed a joint statement which will serve as the basis for cooperation in a variety of fields extending from health care through the economy all the way to education and transport and which will contribute to the strengthening of further relations,” President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stressed at the press conference.
He said Hungary is an economically successful country, and the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina also closely monitors Budapest’s efforts regarding demography, in which area it is highly successful and Banja Luka, too, intends to adopt its good practices. He thanked Hungary for supporting the Serbian minority and contributing to its development. “Seeing the development of relations between Hungary and Serbia makes me happy, and we as members of the Serbian nation would like to take part in this process,” he stressed.
He added that the Republika Srpska had received grants worth EUR 100 million from Hungary for the development of its agriculture, for which Banja Luka was very grateful.
“We are ready to serve as a partner to Hungary’s new advanced Balkans policy which is fully based on cooperation and understanding, something that we don’t see on the part of others,” the Bosnian Serb leader said.
Mr Dodik thanked the Hungarian government for having given the Serbs in Bosnia a fiscal grant at the beginning of the year which allowed for the problem-free functioning of institutions. According to plans, the part of Bosnia and Herzegovina inhabited in majority by Serbs intends to develop its electrical network, including its solar and hydroelectric power capabilities, would like to build a pharmaceutical plant, and is also planning to improve its infrastructure. They could use the grants that they will receive from Hungary for these purposes as well, Mr Dodik said. The Bosnian Serb leader also thanked Mr Orbán for the fact that Hungary supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European integration.
In answer to a question, Mr Orbán said the policy of the European Union is unfair to the Serbs, and we see a number of signs of this. Hungary feels it is its duty to make every effort also in EU institutions to ensure that Serbia receives fair treatment.
At the same time, the Prime Minister observed that, based on the latest economic figures, the development of the European Union had come to a halt, and “today there is no new vitality and there is no new energy in the European economy.” According to Mr Orbán, Europe’s reserves are in the Balkans, this is from where new energy, populations, territories and economic potential can be drawn from.
“I’m convinced that today the European economy needs Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina more than the other way around,” he said.
He added that Hungary, too, had a vested interest in the Balkans’ success as this would make the region and Hungary in it more valuable.
