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Minister Lipavský Paid a Working Visit to Hungary
26.04.2024 / 16:58 | Aktualizováno: 26.04.2024 / 19:37
On Friday, 26 April 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Petter Szijjártó in Budapest on current geopolitical issues. In the afternoon, the Minister gave a lecture on Central Europe at Ludovika University. With the Mayor of the Hungarian capital, Gergely Karácsony, he discussed cooperation between the partner cities of Prague and Budapest. At the end of his working visit, the Minister met with representatives of NGOs and with independent journalists.
The Minister appreciated the growing trade cooperation between the two countries. With Minister Szijjártó, he focused on the Russian war in Ukraine as part of current political and security issues. "I consider it important to have an open and frank dialogue, despite the fact that we have different views and approaches on certain issues," Minister Lipavský said. "Both Czechs and Hungarians know what it was like to live under the oppression of the Kremlin regime. Ukrainians are now experiencing the same injustice. Let me be clear: the Czech Republic will support Ukraine as long as necessary in its legitimate struggle against the Russian aggressor." The two ministers also discussed European issues and the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council and exchanged views on NATO and the situation in the Middle East.
In the afternoon, the Minister gave a speech at Ludovika University on the role of Central Europe in the contemporary world and the Czech view on the Russian war in Ukraine. "Russia would not hesitate to occupy the former Eastern Bloc territories. The defeat of Ukraine would provide the victor with additional resources and open the door to further 'special military operations' in Central and Eastern Europe."
Afterwards, Minister Lipavský met with the Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, at the Budapest City Hall to discuss the cooperation between the twin cities of Budapest and Prague. The debate also focused on the technologies of Czech companies operating in the Hungarian capital.
At the end of his visit the Minister expressed his appreciation for the work of Hungarian NGOs and independent journalists at the Embassy of Czechia in Budapest.