“Hungary is committed and open to settling its relations with Romania, and this is clearly also in the interests of the Hungarian community living there”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade declared on Thursday in a press release to Hungarian news agency MTI.

The statement was issued in reaction to a statement by Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Wednesday evening, according to which solutions based on consensus must be sought in Romanian-Hungarian intergovernmental relations, because a one-sided approach does not lead to a permanent solution to disputed issues.

The basic treaty signed in 1996 or the 2002 partnership declaration provide a clear point of reference for bilateral relations, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs said, adding that the minutes of the Romanian-Hungarian Joint Minorities Committee have been under negotiation since 2011 and the Romanian party would like to conclude the process.

With relation to the above, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stressed: Romania is one of Hungary’s strategic partners; the two countries are both members of the European Union and NATO and are neighbours; there is a significant Hungarian minority living in Romania; furthermore, Romania is Hungary’s second most significant export market.

“Recent political conflicts have hampered cooperation, and accordingly the words of the Romanian Foreign Minister are most welcome”, the statement stresses, pointing out that Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Mr. Aurescu had met for talks in Luxembourg on Monday.

“Hungary is committed and open to settling relations. The fact that the implementation of the agreements concluded during the course of the Romanian Foreign Minister’s visit to Budapest in May has begun with (Hungarian oil company) MOL having been given permission to begin prospecting work near the border by the Romanian Government is encouraging”, the Ministry stated.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)