“The Hungarian Government is outraged by and rejects the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) call for Hungary to withdraw the legislative package which, in its opinion, would significantly restrict the ability of NGOs and individuals to support asylum-seekers and refugees”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI on Thursday.

“This statement was issued with a total lack of knowledge concerning the facts”, Mr. Szijjártó stressed.

“The Hungarian Government rejects the approach according to which migration is a fundamental human right”, he added.

“It is a fundamental right for people to be able to live in safety in their own homes, but migration is not, and neither is illegally crossing a border, while countries are obliged to protect their borders”, the Minister said.

The Government submitted the “Stop Soros” legislative package to Parliament on Tuesday.

Director of UNHCR’s Europe Bureau Pascale Moreau issued a statement on Tuesday in which he wrote: “Seeking asylum is a fundamental human right, it is not a crime”.

“The Hungarian Government regards it as outrageous that UN officials are endangering the fundamental human rights of the Hungarian people with their statements”, Mr. Szijjártó indicated.

“We do not accept someone placing the non-existent right to migration above the existing human rights of the Hungarian people” he stressed.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister told the press that he had also sent an official letter reminding the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that it must represent the interests of the United Nations, and that he regards it as unacceptable that statements were issued regarding Hungary while totally ignoring the facts.

“The UNHCR did not consult with the Hungarian Government regarding the background to the legislative proposal prior to issuing the statement”, he said.

“It is unacceptable for UN officials to make statements regarding the measures introduced by UN member states without having in their possession fundamental pieces of information”, Mr. Szijjártó said, adding: “UN employees have a duty to consult with member states and to act in agreement with them”.

According to the Hungarian Foreign Minister: “It is nonsense that one of the UN’s officials regards representing the migrants as more important that representing UN member states and consulting with them”.

“Nobody can give an ultimatum to the Hungarian Government; Hungary is a sovereign country, whose citizens recently made a clear decision with regard to what direction they would like to see for their country’s future”, Mr. Szijjártó underlined.

(MTI)