Orbán cabinet defends the Georgian government with all its might

MTI – It is “unacceptable” that the European Commission “is replacing shelved USAID funding with the money of EU taxpayers, and is still financing interference in our domestic affairs in violation of our sovereignty,” Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Monday.

Szijjártó told a press conference held jointly with Georgian counterpart Maka Botchorishvili that Georgia “is the most spectacular example of … how the global dictatorship of the international liberal mainstream is trying to finish off patriotic, conservative governments rooted in Christianity…” “[When] a liberal party wins an election, then democracy is in fantastic shape, but when it’s a patriotic country, they talk about the crisis of democracy,” he said, adding that Georgia was a victim of this “astounding and shameful double standard”.

He welcomed US President Donald Trump’s “bravely and openly confronting the international liberal mainstream,” adding that the Hungarian government was fully behind these efforts. Szijjártó also welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to cut off USAID funding used to interfere in the domestic affairs of several states, adding that Hungary had mounted an investigation to identify politicians, journalists and organisations that used resources linked to foreign interests.

He said “attacks by Brussels” on Georgia were because its government was pursuing “pro-peace” and “common sense” policies, such as strong support for families.

He added that Hungary would refuse to yield to EU pressure to withdraw its visa exemption from Georgian diplomats. “We have vetoed all proposed sanctions against Georgia, and we will do so in the future.” He said Hungary supported Georgia “continuing the EU integration process based on its own decisions,” noting that from June, Hungary will start training fifty Georgian diplomats to facilitate the process. He said bilateral trade between Hungary and Georgia hit a new record of more than 100 million dollars last year and has grown by 20 percent so far this year.

Answering questions, Szijjártó said Hungary had already made clear its “conditions” regarding Ukraine’s EU accession, “but there has been no progress on the issue of national minority communities for years, despite warm words and promises.”

“As long as the rights of the Hungarian community [in Ukraine] are not restored to the 2015 status quo ante, Ukraine has no path forward in European integration,” Szijjarto said. Further, he warned that a “warring country at Ukraine’s level of development” would “ruin” the European economy.

Szijjártó added that Hungary is in constant contact with the US and Russia “at a decision-making level”. Later on Monday, he will meet the US charge d’affaires to review the state of bilateral ties and the peace talks, while later this week, Szijjártó said he will have talks with members of the Russian government.

read also: Hungarian foreign minister lambasts EU ‘hypocrisy’ on Georgia