On Tuesday Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó attended an election event of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Pančevo, western Banat. At the event he stressed that in recent years Serbia’s government has achieved economic successes which are acknowledged Europe-wide. With its governmental achievements Serbia has gained a strong and respected position for itself, he said, adding that this is precisely in the interests of Hungary and of Hungarians living in Serbia.

The Minister greeted attendants at the event in Serbian, and he guaranteed his support to Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vučić, his party and its Hungarian coalition party in Vojvodina, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians.
He stressed that Hungary appreciates Serbia’s efforts and supports the country’s soonest possible European integration; Hungary will therefore not allow anyone to boycott or slow down the process.

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Talking about the good relationship between the two countries, Mr. Szijjártó said that in recent times the two governments have agreed to a number compromises, and have shown an example to Europe: they have established a friendship which every Hungarian and every Serb can be proud of.

“I come from a country which six years ago was at the edge of the precipice, but our brave policies have brought us to a position in which today we are no longer a problem in Europe, but part of a solution”, Mr. Szijjártó explained. He added that Serbia has also shown similar progress in recent times. He noted that the country has shown how national minorities should be treated in a European manner; Serbia deserves EU membership, he said.

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Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister of Serbia and President of the SNS, pointed out that throughout the accession negotiations in Brussels there have only been a few politicians who have always stood by Serbia, and the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade is one of those who have always supported Belgrade. Talking about the coalition with the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Mr. Vučić emphasised that the largest Hungarian party in Vojvodina is a partner for the SNS, and this will remain so in the future: they will continue their cooperation. He added that there are some who insult minorities in Serbia, but this is unacceptable. “Everyone has a place [in Serbia], and everybody is equal”, he stressed.

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The Prime Minister stressed that on 24 April, at the early parliamentary, Vojvodina regional parliamentary and local government elections, Serbian citizens will have two choices: they can choose between the past and the future, between progress and regress.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)