“Hungary will be able to purchase a further 2.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Gazprom this year, thus assuring the country’s gas supply for 2020”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Mr. Szijjártó told reporters that an agreement had also be concluded with relation to the shipment of 1.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2021, noting that negotiations are commencing on increasing the amount to 4.2 billion cubic metres.

He emphasised that Hungary has an interest in also being able to purchase gas from a southerly direction via the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, preferably from the end of next year. As the first step towards this goal, Hungary is beginning construction of the 15-kilometre stretch of pipeline from the Serbian-Hungarian border to the national gas pipeline system, which in the first phase will enable the importing of 6 billion cubic metres of natural gas each year.

The Minister pointed out that the parties had previously agreed to attempt to minimize the effects of the sanctions introduced by the European Union and the Russian response measures through the Hungarian government supporting Hungarian investments in Russia. The Minister praised Richter Gedeon’s 5-billion-forint (EUR 14.4 million) investment on the Russian pharmaceuticals market, the construction of a 6-billion-forint (EUR 17.3 million) Hungarian-Russian meat processing plant, and the fact that a Hungarian enterprises has won a 15-billion-forint (EUR 43.2 million) contract to help modernise the Russian poultry breeding system.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade told reporters that trade flow between the two countries had reached 6.5 billion dollars last year; the negative trend has stopped, and growth has begun. He drew attention to the fact that Wednesday’s meeting in Moscow had taken place amidst difficult international conditions and the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. He said it was good news that Hungarians wishing to travel home from Russia are able to travel to Hungary in view of the fact that Aeroflot is continuing to operate its air passenger service between Moscow and Budapest.

Mr. Szijjártó expressed his joy with respect to the fact that Hungary and Russia are realising two joint projects in Syria at a value of 120 million forints (EUR 350 thousand) in the interests of aiding persecuted Christian communities.

“Hungary traditionally has a major interest in maintaining effective cooperation with Russia, based on mutual respect. Just as the Western European countries aim to do, except that we speak sincerely about this”, Mr. Szijjártó said. “As a small, Central European country, we have an interest in the eastern and western parts of Europe being able to cooperate effectively based on mutual respect”, he added.

During his visit to Moscow, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade also met with First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, and President of the Hungarian-Russian Friendship Society in Russia, Nikolai Fyodorov.

(MTI)