The talks, at which Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó also participated, focused on the Russia-Ukraine war, Europe’s security situation, the Western Balkans’ perspectives for European Union membership and current issues concerning cooperation between Hungary and Serbia, Bertalan Havasi said.

Orbán and Vučić stated that both Hungary and Serbia want peace. “It is in the interest of our countries to stay out of the war because economic development is impossible in a war”, they said.

PM Orbán Points to Close Friendship With Serbia

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the friendship between Hungarians and Serbs has never been as close as now, speaking at the inauguration of the Belgrade-Novi Sad rail line on Saturday.

“We will implement all our great plans together with your president, despite the difficult circumstances,” Orbán said after arriving by train in Novi Sad with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

He said that the war in Ukraine has “come at the worst possible time”, presenting “a serious challenge, because we have developed so well, we have started with such great momentum and we still have so many good plans ahead of us”.

He added that the war is felt “by everyone here in our hearts and minds”. Orbán said the world has become uncertain, and Serbs and Hungarians must rethink a number of things.

“I hope that President Vučić and I will play a role in this rethink” after the upcoming elections, he added. Orbán said the rail line – part of an upgrade of the Belgrade-Budapest line – would “make life easier for Serbs and Hungarians” and pledged that the entire stretch would be operational by 2025.

Vučić thanked Orbán for Hungary’s support in Brussels adding that “our Hungarian friends” have “raised a voice” in defence of Serbia in Brussels, while others remain silent.

PM Orbán: Years Invested in Building Serbia-Hungary Friendship

Years have been invested in building friendly relations between Serbia and Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Saturday, travelling on a train from Belgrade to Novi Sad with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

Orbán told the Serbian press that “your president and I have invested years in building friendly relations between Serbia and Hungary”.

“This is a completely novel approach which involves difficulties but I believe we have convinced the majority of Hungarians and Serbs that cooperation is the way of the future between the two countries”.

“I am a lucky man because I have a partner in this, the Serbian president who takes action instead of just talk,” he said. “I have spent sixteen years in office and I know that many people only talk about friendship and cooperation but do nothing,” he added.

“And now here’s a president who is very precise, very determined and takes action. We are thankful to him,” Orbán said.

MTI / PM's Press Photo: Vivien Cher Benko