R-L: File photo of PM Viktor Orbán and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
“Every year, we review the most important issues with Türkiye. The four main points of the current negotiations are the economy and trade, migration, war and energy”, Viktor Orbán told a journalist on board the government plane to Istanbul.
The prime minister added that since Türkiye is not a member of the European Union, a system of communication had to be established. Once a year, a high-level strategic council meeting is held, which is equivalent to a joint government meeting.
Viktor Orbán emphasized that Türkiye, with a population of nearly 100 million, is a regional power, and that the meetings provide an opportunity to discuss the situation in Europe and Eurasia with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for several hours “as friends.”
When we introduced these regular meetings, we set ourselves the goal of doubling the €2-2.5 billion in trade between our countries, and now we are at €4.5-5 billion. Turks have appeared in the Hungarian economy, and the Hungarian presence in the Turkish economy has also grown, the prime minister said.
Viktor Orbán recalled that Türkiye has played a prominent role in enabling Hungary to remain a migration-free country. This year, the Turks have detained 100,000 migrants, and there are 3 million migrants in the country who have not been allowed to continue their journey.
The Prime Minister also said that the war has greatly increased the importance of the TurkStream, because cheaper Russian gas can only reach Hungary through this pipeline.
Viktor Orbán noted that
the Turks have been involved in all attempts at reconciliation and, together with the Hungarians, they know that they can only lose in the war, so the two countries often work together to promote peace.
The head of government recalled that in the past four years, only they have managed to conclude several important agreements, such as delivering Ukrainian grain to Africa.
Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Kommunikációs Fõosztály/Benko Vivien Cher
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