Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó held a telephone meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, who he congratulated on the formation and appointment of the new Israeli government.

In a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI on Thursday, Mr. Szijjártó said Gabi Ashkenazi had thanked Hungary for its committed stand and fair behaviour with relation to Israel, while the Hungarian Foreign Minister assured his Israeli counterpart that Israel can continue to count on Hungary’s fair and balanced standpoint.

The parties agreed that governments that are founded on patriotic, national values and that enforce national interests are being attacked in international political life as a result of hypocrisy, bias, and political correctness. “In view of the fact that both Hungary and Israel have governments of this nature, the further development of strategic cooperation between the two countries is guaranteed”. In the statement the Ministry added: „Hungary and Israel share a common standpoint with relation to the issue of retaining identity and the importance of sovereignty and security, as well as with respect to the need to take action against illegal migration.”

According to the statement, Mr. Szijjártó told the Israeli Foreign Minister that Hungary will continue to refrain from supporting statements that condemn Israel in both the EU and the United Nations, and also regards the procedure against Israel by the International Criminal Court as unfounded. “We also agreed that we will soon be meeting in person”, the parties added.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade / MTI)