Hungary has agreed with Iran on the further development of nuclear cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said at his press conference held in Budapest on Friday.

The Minister had talks with Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, and told the press: pursuant to the agreement, they will continue and extend the training of Iranian nuclear experts, will support efforts with a view to the EU assisting nuclear education and training in Iran, and will develop research and scientific cooperation in the interest of the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy. They will further initiate talks in the future as to how Hungarian businesses could take part in the exploitation of Iran’s hydrocarbon reserves.

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In the context of bilateral relations, the Foreign Minister remarked: at present, some 1,100 Iranian students are studying at universities in Hungary, and Hungary would be happy to welcome as many Iranian students as possible.

Mr Szijjártó further highlighted that the successful negotiations between Iran and the international community have considerably improved the global security situation, and the agreement is also of great significance for Europe.

He stressed: Iran is situated in a region which is full of conflicts, and the development of these conflicts is not pointing in the direction of a solution or consolidation, but rather towards intensification. It is therefore very important to develop normal cooperation between the international community and Iran based on common sense as this may bring forth considerable progress in the stability and security of the Middle-East region, he said.

Mr Szijjártó pointed out that conflicts in the Middle-East constitute the gravest cause of the most significant challenges faced by the EU to date, including the migration crisis, and these conflicts cannot be resolved without cooperation with Iran. Iran is an important partner in the resolution of conflicts, and without it there is no stability in the Middle-East, he argued. He added: the pressure of migration, too, can only abate if the conflicts in the Middle-East are resolved.

Mr Szijjártó also mentioned that an agreement could not have been reached with Iran without the cooperation of the transatlantic community and Russia. This, too, indicates that we must rely on multilateral diplomacy and common sense, or else we shall be compelled to face even graver problems than those we are experiencing today, he said.

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Mr Salehi stressed: the development of Hungarian-Iranian relations is a particular priority during this new phase, in the wake of the international agreement concluded last year regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. He regarded his two-day visit to Budapest as successful, and also said that during his talks with Mr Szijjártó, they primarily focused on opportunities of scientific and industrial cooperation. Iran is an important country in the region, and may serve as a gate to the region which is a fairly sizeable market, he pointed out. He added: a Hungarian-Iranian mixed economic committee will be set up within a month or two as expected.

Mr Salehi pointed out: a great many accusations have been levelled against his country in the last few years, pressure has been exerted and attempts have been made to impose restrictions. He therefore requests everyone to ascertain for themselves what his country is like and how people live in the region. The majority of Iran’s neighbouring countries are not stable; however, his country is “an anchor of stability” in the region and is a democratic country where the government governs out of the people’s will, he said.

He takes the view that his country’s political strategy is based on fairness, justice and support for the oppressed.

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In exchange for fulfilling the obligations undertaken by Tehran in the nuclear agreement concluded last year with respect to the restriction of Iran’s nuclear programme, the great powers announced mid-January that they would lift the sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic due to its nuclear programme.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)