Szijjártó: Hungary Wants Closer Ties With W Balkans
- 12 Dec 2014 8:00 AM
Hungary has acknowledged a rise in the global political and economic importance of the western Balkans and seeks to forge even closer ties with the countries of the region, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after holding talks with his Macedonian counterpart. Szijjártó told a press conference held jointly with Nikola Poposki that cooperation between their countries focuses on energy, agriculture and water management.
Poposki said Macedonia appreciates that Hungary consistently supports Macedonia’s accession to the EU and NATO and voices the opinion that euroatlantic integration has no alternative in connection with the future of western Balkan states.
Trade between Hungary and Macedonia grew by 20% in January- September and Hungarian exports exceeded 100 million euros by September. A new trading house Hungary opened in Skopje is expected to boost results even further, Szijjártó said.
Eximbank has opened a credit line of 134 million euros for supporting bilateral trade and Hungarian- Macedonian joint ventures, he added.
Including the Hungarian Electricity Works (MVM) in plans to build an electricity interconnector between Macedonia and Albania is another flagship project, he said. Macedonia would benefit from the Budapest-Belgrade rail upgrade on which Hungary is set to sign a trilateral contract with Serbia and China next week at the China-CEE summit, he said.
He added Macedonia is part of alternative plans for a post-South Stream gas pipeline project aimed at diversifying transport routes.
Source www.hungarymatters.hu
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