The Russo-Ukrainian war, achieving peace between the two sides as soon as possible, demographic issues, as well as the strengthening of the national defense and volunteer reservists were among the topics of the meeting between the Hungarian President Katalin Novák and the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon on Thursday.
Katalin Novák reminded her at a joint press conference with the Portuguese president: this is her first state visit, and the relationship between the two countries, Portugal and Hungary, is characterized by friendship and alliance. He added that on Thursday he was able to receive the highest Portuguese state award given to foreigners, the Henrik Infáns Rend Nagylánc award.
He said that he and the Portuguese president share the same position regarding the war, they both condemn Putin's aggression, and stand for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The goal is to achieve peace, a ceasefire and peace negotiations as soon as possible, he pointed out. He drew attention to the situation of the 150,000-strong Hungarian minority living in Subcarpathia and the curtailment of their rights, which he reminds his negotiators every time.
He said that the demographic crisis affects the whole of Western Europe, and that in Hungary they have been working to reduce population loss for about ten years. In the future, Portuguese and Hungarian specialists will be able to share their experiences, he said, adding:
invites the Portuguese president to the Family-Friendly Presidents Network and to the September demographic summit in Budapest. He also reminded that next year we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and on this occasion he also invites the President of the Portuguese Republic to visit.
He mentioned the issue of the national defense as a third topic. Katalin Novák said that there are two hundred thousand volunteer reservists in Portugal, which are exemplary for Hungary. He added:
A recruitment campaign was launched in Hungary to increase the number of voluntary reservists and strengthen the national defense.
In response to a question, he said: the greatest significance of the Warsaw summit of the Bucharest Nine is that the participating countries were able to show their unity and alliance, and their resulting strength, and confirmed that they will protect every millimeter of the alliance's territory. The President of the Republic also said that the Hungarian result is that the final document of the meeting refers to peace and the defense alliance nature of NATO.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasized that Portugal and Hungary are connected at several points, such as NATO, the UN and the European Union, as well as the Arraiolos group. He reminded that the latter was created by a Portuguese president, and it will celebrate its 20th anniversary in October.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted the Russian-Ukrainian war among the topics of the conversation, related to this the situation of the Transcarpathian Hungarians, demographic and economic issues. He emphasized the need for a forward-looking, socially just Europe.
On Thursday, Katalin Novák met Deputy Prime Minister Mariana Vieira da Silva, and then viewed the exhibition of Árpád Szenes at the Vieira da Silva Museum. On Friday, he will meet with Speaker of the House Augusto Santos Silva, then address the members of the Lisbon City Council, and receive the key to the city of Lisbon from Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas.
Source: Hungarian Nation
Featured image: MTI
