“The Hungarian measures introduced by Hungary and authorised by Parliament during the period of the emergency legal regime have withstood the test of all international legal systems, and were in no way damaging from the perspective of human rights and freedoms”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó highlighted in a telephone statement to Hungarian news agency MTI from Strasbourg on Tuesday.

Following a meeting with the head of the Council of Europe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “During the first wave of the epidemic Hungary had to face unparalleled attacks from international institutions and other European Union member states”.  “It has transpired with relation to every single attack that they were based on lies, and were unfair and unsportsmanlike”, he stated.

“International organisations can be rightly expected to assist the success of protection efforts, and if they are unable to help, then they should at least refrain from attacking countries that introduce emergency measures to protect their citizens and their economies during the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic”, he declared. “Hungary is calling on international institutions to refrain from such attacks during the second wave of the virus epidemic”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

“Our expectation is clear: international institutions should stick to the facts and not give way to political attacks”, he stated. “The Hungarian government doesn’t exist to conform to international organisations or the international press. Over the coming weeks and months Hungary will again be working to protects people’s lives, health and workplaces, and to maintain the functioning of the country, irrespective of what reactions that might give rise to in certain international organisations”, he underlined.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade also told the press that when Hungary takes over the rotating chairmanship of the Council of Europe in May 2021, it will be concentrating on three particularly sensitive topics. These will include the protection of national minorities, of Christian communities, and of families and children.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade / MTI)