EU Parliament “deplores” Hungarian minister over Belarus visit
The European Parliament deplores Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. The Hungarian foreign minister visited Belarus in February, which goes against the stance of the EU.
Hungarian FM in Belarus
The European Parliament expressed disapproval regarding Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó’s visit to Belarus, telex.hu reports. The politician had a meeting with Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik.
The European Parliament’s resolution condemned the visit. The EP “underlines the importance of strengthening EU unity concerning Belarus, including as regards the diplomatic isolation of the current regime”.
The EP continues to condemn “any actions, including high-ranking visits to the de facto authorities in Minsk which could cast doubt on the Union’s unequivocal non-recognition of the Lukashenka regime,” before surprisingly naming Szijjártó directly.
“In this context, (the EP) deplores the 13 February 2023 visit to Minsk by the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, which contradicts the EU policy on Belarus and on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Hungary unfazed
The resolution has no legal consequences and probably does not bother the Hungarian Foreign Ministry. As a matter of fact, Péter Szijjártó was already aware that the meeting would face backlash during his press conference.
“It is clear that after you report that I was here today discussing the importance of peace with my Belarusian colleague, I will be attacked by many people” – Péter Szijjártó is quoted by telex.hu
“My fellow politicians in the West, the international liberal media, will all say how unacceptable it is that I was here today and that I had talks with my Belarusian colleague. I want to say one thing in response. The Hungarian position has always been clear: the channels of communication must be kept open.”
Read alsoEU Parliament “deplores” Hungarian minister over Belarus visit
Szijjártó said that he asked Belarusian Foreign Minister Aleinik to “do his utmost for peace and do his utmost against the prolongation and escalation of the war”.
The resolution again condemns Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The European Parliament argues that “Lukashenka and other Belarusian officials share responsibility” for war crimes committed in Ukraine. Therefore, they should be held accountable in a “special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and other appropriate international courts”.
Source: telex.hu