It is outrageous that the US State Department deals with the internal affairs of other countries and writes reports on the human rights and other situations of foreign states citing all kinds of unilateral information, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, underlined on Wednesday in Sarajevo.
At the joint press conference with his Bosnian counterpart, the head of the ministry said that although Elmedin Konakovic does not need his support, he still wants to voice his protest in the matter regarding the concerns discussed in the annual American human rights country reports regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I have to say, I am shocked, and every year I am shocked again and again, that the US State Department has the courage to classify other countries and make such ex cathedra statements about the internal issues and situations of other countries. How do they do this? I do not know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially mine, would write a report on the human rights and other situations of other countries. Why? Because on the one hand we are not working, and on the other hand we have nothing to do with it"
"I find it outrageous and shocking that bureaucrats in Washington get together and make such statements about our countries, citing all kinds of one-sided intelligence, which in many cases is funded by the United States. Well, let's stop the march!""Who governs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and how, and whether people are satisfied with what they have, we leave to those who live here in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The situation in Hungary can be left to the Hungarian people in Washington (.) We ask that no one questions Hungarian democracy, the will of the Hungarian people expressed in a democratic election," added the Hungarian foreign minister.
Konakovic, responding to American concerns about his attitude to the press, believed that it was an attempt at character assassination and that he just wanted journalists to do their job fairly. Among other things, the American report mentions problems related to the independence of the judiciary, corruption, and restrictions on freedom of speech and the media.
Milorad Dodik, Péter Szijjártó stated that he was re-elected and that Hungary respects that, and it is not at all important what he thinks about him, the only thing that matters is how the people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina judge him.
"It doesn't matter what I think about President Dodik, I think the only thing that matters is what people living in Bosnia-Herzegovina and especially in the Republika Srpska think about him. Mutual respect is not present in international politics today. Some countries are very willing to interfere in the affairs of other countries. We always work with the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are elected here. We never question the results of the elections here, we respect them, " he emphasized. According to his words, the cooperation with Dodik is "correct, fair and based on mutual respect", while the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina is "above all disputes".
Finally, the minister reported that the Hungarian government's economic development program in Bosnia-Herzegovina is mutually beneficial, and the producers there can buy Hungarian agricultural equipment. 805 companies applied for the program, and support contracts worth a total of 11.5 million euros will be signed in the next few days, he informed.
Source and title image: MTI/EPA/Fehim Demir
