“Mutual respect is required in international relations, but instead we are often faced with being lectured and double standards”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday in Budapest.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov presented the Hungarian Foreign Minister with a commemorative jubilee medal to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic service.

At the event, Mr. Szijjártó highlighted: “Hungarian and Azerbaijani leaders can always be honest with each other, and this is why our cooperation is so efficient”. “We are committed to continuing cooperation in this manner, because close cooperation with the region is in Hungary’s national interest”, he stated. In addition, Hungary is supporting the region’s cooperation with the EU, and trusts that it will be possible to further deepen relations with the members of the Turkic Council”, he added.

The Hungarian Foreign Minster recalled that a year ago he too had presented his Azerbaijani counterpart with a state decoration for always having approached Hungary with friendship and respect, which is something the Hungarians greatly appreciate.

Elmar Mammadyarov spoke about the fact that the commemorative medal is an acknowledgement of the friendly openness with which Péter Szijjártó approaches Azerbaijan.

The award is presented by the state of Azerbaijan to people and diplomats who perform outstanding work within the field of diplomacy and developing Azerbaijan’s diplomatic and international relations. In the past, the award has also been presented to, amongst others, the foreign ministers of Russia, Georgia, Slovakia, Latvia and China.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)