Hungary President: We and EU Need Serbia as Full Member ASAP

The Serbian and Hungarian heads of state held a summit in Belgrade. At the joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok stressed that it was high time to deliver on the promise made to the Western Balkans twenty years ago.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (left) in talks with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok (right) in Belgrade (Photo: Sandor Csudai)

President Sulyok also spoke of the importance of making trans-border traffic between the two countries as seamless as possible, so they will do everything in their power to speed up border checks, including the opening of new border crossings if necessary, as the national minorities in both countries are a central focus in bilateral relations.

He added that the situation of the Hungarian community in Serbia is exemplary and orderly, for which we Hungarians are grateful to the president and the Serbian people. The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ/SVM) is an active and inescapable factor in the Hungarian-Serbian relations.

Thanks to this, Vojvodina Hungarians have been respected in Serbia for years, both collectively and individually, and their acquired rights have not been impaired. We Hungarians are also striving to give Serbs living in Hungary every right and opportunity, he said.

Tamas Sulyok expressed his gratitude that President Aleksandar Vucic lends support to initiatives that improve the everyday life of Hungarians in Serbia and increase their social prestige.

Without the capacity for mutual understanding and forgiveness, the reconciliation process could not have been achieved. That is why I am honored that today we will visit Curug and Zabalj, where we will jointly pay our respects to the monuments of the innocent Hungarians and innocent Serbs executed during the Second World War,

he said.

In Zabalj (Zsablya) the presidents of Serbia and Hungary inaugurated  own's reconstructed Church of St Mary of the Snows.

At the press conference, Aleksandar Vucic stressed that relations between Hungary and Serbia are at the highest level. For this, thanks are due to Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Hungary’s current and former heads of state. Hungary is very popular among Serbs and Hungarians are considered as their friends, he emphasized. 

I would say that we regard the Hungarian people as sincere friends. And what we do together today will be another step in the strengthening of our friendship.

The two countries have many shared interests he said, noting that Serbia and Hungary have comprehensive relations in several areas.

Serbia's president expressed his hope that a day before the opening of the Subotica (Szabadka) section of the high-speed rail, four countries - Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia and Greece - will sign a contract on the high-speed rail, adding that the Czech prime minister will also pay a visit to Serbia in two or three days.

When it comes to gas supplies, we will remain Hungary's reliable partner. We also want a joint electricity exchange,

he said. The Horgos-Roszke border crossing point will also be extended so that people are not kept waiting for hours, Vucic added.

12 years ago, trade between the two countries was 768 million euros, last year it was 3.1 billion euros. Hungary has become Serbia's 4th trading partner, up from 13th place, Serbia's president pointed out.

He also highlighted the role of VMSZ in the cooperation between Serbia and Hungary. During the meeting, they also touched on the Russia-Ukraine war and the US presidential election, Aleksandar Vucic added.

As Magyar Nemzet reported in an earlier article, Tamas Sulyok met with VMSZ leaders in Palic at the beginning of his visit to Serbia. During the meeting, they discussed the situation, achievements the Hungarians living in Vojvodina have reached and the situation and challenges they face.

Given that a significant number of Hungarians live in Serbia, mainly in Vojvodina, I considered it important to consult with the leaders of the interest groups of Vojvodina  Hungarians ahead of my official meetings in Belgrade on Monday,

 Tamas Sulyok said, adding that the VMSZ has taken an active and indispensable role in in Hungarian-Serbian relations.

 

Cover photo: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (left) in talks with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok (right) in Belgrade (Photo: Sandor Csudai)