Péter Szijjártó discussed with UN leaders in New York on Saturday how the UN can contribute to an early Russian-Ukrainian direct negotiation for the sake of peace. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the M1 channel that during the day he met with Abdulla Shadid, the President of the UN General Assembly, and Rosemary A. DiCarlo, the Deputy Secretary General of the UN.
Péter Szijjártó announced that on Saturday morning, Hungarian time, he had a meeting with the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister responsible for NATO cooperation, as well as with the leaders of the Ukrainian presidential administration, to whom he explained his New York program. He underlined that he is asking the leaders of the UN to mediate with the Russian side to undertake negotiations with the Ukrainian side so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible.
He emphasized that the Hungarian people want peace, and Hungary is interested in the end of the war as soon as possible and peace in its neighborhood. In order to end the war, the opposing parties must sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible, said Péter Szijjártó, adding that in recent days there have been reports that both sides are willing to negotiate. The minister confirmed that on Friday evening he called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and then Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, and indicated that Hungary and Budapest are ready to receive both delegations and ensure the negotiation. He said that both negotiators thanked the offer, which none of them has yet rejected. Péter Szijjártó expressed his hope that this negotiation will take place somewhere soon.
The head of the ministry also reported that, for the time being, they know of a death victim of Hungarian nationality in Ukraine, and they are providing assistance to the family of the deceased. He also announced that there is a convoy of a few dozen people on its way from Kiev to Hungary, which is still traveling in Ukraine for the time being, although the most difficult part of the journey may already be over. In addition to civilians, this convoy also included employees of the embassy, journalists, and employees of two international organizations, he added.
Based on the minister's information, a serious influx of refugees can be felt at the Hungarian-Ukrainian border from Saturday morning. He explained that at dawn 250-300 cars were congested at Záhony, at Lónya it was about 300 meters long, at Beregsurány it was already three and a half kilometers long, and at Barabás it was two kilometers long and there were many pedestrians, as in Tiszabecs. The Hungarian admission capacity is fully staffed at all five Ukrainian-Hungarian border crossing points. He added that after the assistance provided to the Maldivian student group on Friday, 10 Jordanian citizens were helped to cross the border, and the evacuation of 950 Indian students, 240 of whom had already crossed into Hungary, had also begun. Hungary also received a request for assistance in the case of Turkmen, Ecuadorian, Mongolian, Armenian, Turkish and Philippine citizens . The minister underlined that Hungary helps everyone, foreigners legally staying in Ukraine are allowed into the country without visa requirements, and the country also undertook medical treatment in Hungary for injured Ukrainian soldiers.
Péter Szijjártó called it quite amazing that Hungarian and foreign journalists and politicians operate fake news factories in the current war situation and spread lies that have nothing to do with reality. Hungary does not block any sanctions measures, it has been part of all unified European decisions and this will continue to be the case in the future, stated the head of the ministry. The minister asked the Hungarian opposition politicians, the Hungarian left-wing press, as well as the international political actors and press, not to spread lies about Hungary. The Hungarian left represents an extraordinary danger to Hungary, as they first wanted to send Hungarian soldiers to Ukraine, their Prime Minister candidate spoke clearly about this, and then the untruths spread about the sanctions, explained Péter Szijjártó. He pointed out that such fake news is suitable for turning "extremist figures" against Hungarians living in Ukraine, who can thus become victims of violent acts.
Péter Szijjártó also reported that on Sunday at the border crossing in Záhony, he will meet with Viktor Mikita, the governor of Subcarpathia, who cooperates with the local Hungarian representatives in an extremely fair manner. He said that the governor asked for help in letting the people stuck at the Ukrainian-Slovakian border into Hungary, and also in the operation of the train that can transport refugees between Csap and Záhony seven times a day.
Source: MTI
Featured image: Facebook/Péter Szijjártó
