Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote a letter to Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel in which he responded to his colleague's critical statements regarding the planned but ultimately rejected EU sanctions by Russian Patriarch Kirill, Bertalan Havasi, head of the Prime Minister's Press Office, told MTI.
"I was surprised by your statement. You know that Hungary always abides by all agreements - said Viktor Orbán , emphasizing that we can and do have disputes, but the Hungarians always play with open cards.
Viktor Orbán emphasized that the reality is that all prime ministers in the European Council knew that Kirill was not on the sanctions list, since the Hungarian delegation opposed this measure for a month at the meetings of the EU ambassadors' forum. This Hungarian position was not objected to by any participating head of state or government at the last meeting of the European Council, Viktor Orbán drew the attention of his Luxembourg counterpart.
We have achieved a huge result: we have preserved our unity. Please don't relativize it, rather celebrate this success - said Viktor Orbán.
"As for the bottom line, in order to avoid misunderstandings later, Hungary's constitution protects freedom of religion, so Hungary will never support putting church leaders on the sanctions list or isolating them from the faithful. We want peace, and there can be no peace without the participation of the leaders of the churches. I ask that you, who are a leader who always stands up for human rights, accept the Hungarian position with understanding," concluded Viktor Orbán in his letter to Xavier Bettel.
Source: MTI
(Cover image: ministersterelnok.hu)
