Importance of Belarus-Hungary ministerial meeting explained

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) – The meeting between the foreign ministers of Belarus and Hungary will help maintain hope for an early peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto told the media following a meeting of the Belarusian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation in Budapest on 12 April, BelTA has learned.

"Despite criticism and attacks, it was very important that we met in Budapest today. Hungary is for peace, wants peace as fast as possible. We want the war that is raging in our neighborhood to end," he stressed. In his opinion, at this stage there is a danger of the military conflict escalating in Ukraine. "We, the Hungarians, live in the neighborhood and know very well that if the war spreads, then it will, first of all, affect the neighboring countries in a very cruel way. It is therefore in our interest to avoid the expansion of this war. I used today's meeting to ask Mr. Minister that Belarus do everything possible to prevent the expansion of this war," Peter Szijjarto said.

He is convinced that the foreign ministries should maintain channels of communication with their colleagues and not follow the path of isolating representatives of a particular country. "Hope for peace will live on as long as the channels of communication remain open. If we close the channels of communication, then we will give up hope for peace. Therefore, today's meeting helps us to maintain the hope for peace."

The Hungarian foreign minister recalled that at the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine Belarus advocated peace talks and hosted their first rounds. "We, the Hungarians, very much hope that these peace talks will resume as soon as possible," the minister said.