Italian government decision to open southern ports ‘dangerous’ – Orbán cabinet

The Hungarian government’s position is that the Italian government’s decision to open the country’s southern ports to illegal migrants is dangerous and gives cause for concern, the foreign minister told MTI on Tuesday.

Just how many illegal immigrants have already entered Europe is enough, there should be no more allowed in,

Péter Szijjártó said, highlighting the importance of protecting Europe’s borders.

The Hungarian government was the first to prove that the flow of immigrants via land routes can be stopped, he said.

The previous Italian government with Matteo Salvini as deputy prime minister and interior minister was the first to prove that the same could be achieved on the sea route as well, Szijjártó said.

This is why the new Italian government’s decision is a major setback, he said.

After opening the ports, the next step will obviously be for the Italian government “to enforce” the migrant distribution quota scheme which Hungary will continue to reject, he added.

“We have made it clear that we will not yield to any blackmail should it be directed against us by Soros-supported NGOs, a western European government or Brussels,”

Szijjártó said, adding that Hungary will take the utmost efforts to prevent the quotas’ implementation.

Hungarians expressed their decision on several occasions that they do not want illegal immigrants in their country. That is why, unlike the current Italian government, we will protect our borders and will not allow illegal immigrants to enter Hungary, he said.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, leader of the governing Five Star Movement, on Monday evening rejected the Hungarian government’s reservations concerning his government’s migration-related decisions in a statement.

Hungary ready to continue cooperation with Italy, Orbán tells Conte

Source: mti