“British-Hungarian relations are a success story and must remain so regardless of whether Great Britain is or is not a member state of the European Union”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Friday at the official opening of the British Embassy’s new building in Budapest.
At the inauguration of the new building in Budapest’ 2nd District, the politician stressed that the political will to achieve this exists on both sides.
“The new building is an excellent symbol of the fact that a new chapter is beginning in relations between Great Britain and the EU, and between Great Britain and Hungary as an EU member state”, he said.
“It is in Hungary’s interests for the Brexit negotiations to end with an agreement on the broadest and most comprehensive trade agreement possible, because if this is not the case then Hungary will suffer severe damage as a result”, Mr. Szijjártó declared.
“The EU is losing one seventh of its economic performance as a result of Great Britain’s exit, and the size of the common market will be reduced. But Brexit isn’t the cause of the challenges that Europe is facing, but the consequence of the fact that the EU has been unable to handle those effectively”, Mr. Szijjártó explained.
“We must not lose our common sense” and must come to an agreement, the Foreign Minister declared.
“If an agreement is not reached, then the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will come into force, and that would also cause significant losses for Hungary in view of the fact that our third highest foreign trade surplus is achieved through trade with Great Britain”, he said.
“Great Britain is also the third largest investor in Hungary”, he added.
“Hungary is not happy about the fact the Great Britain is leaving the EU, but will always respect the decisions of the British people, because only they have the right to decide on the fact of their country”, Mr. Szijjártó said.
British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Alan Duncan spoke about the fact that although Britain’s relationship with the European Union will change, it will not be turning its back on Europe and will most certainly not be turning its back on Hungary.
“The two countries will remain close allies and dependable friends”, he stressed.
Mr. Duncan praised the beautiful, modernised building that will house the British Embassy, adding that it could serve as a symbol of Great Britain’s commitment to continued cooperation with Hungary.
British Ambassador Iain Lindsay told reporters that the new building provides a modern, 21st century working environment and was exactly what they had been looking for, adding that it is with a heavy heart that the Embassy is leaving its existing building, which was home to Britain’s diplomatic representation for many decades and had been witness to historic events, but it no longer fitted requirements.
The British Embassy announced last year that it would be moving out of its existing building in Harmincad Street in Budapest’s 5th District and moving to a new site at Füge Street, in the 2nd District, in view of the fact that the Embassy has reduced staff numbers in recent years. From now on, the British Embassy will be operating in the building previously occupied by the Dutch Embassy.
(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)
