Szijjártó: Schengen Zone Priority

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SZIJJÁRTÓ: SCHENGEN ZONE PRIORITY

The external borders of the European Union must be protected if the Schengen zone is to survive, the Hungarian foreign minister said.

Péter Szijjártó told MTI that protecting the external borders was an economic issue, not just a security matter. He noted that predictable freight transport means that European member states do not have to spend a lot on warehousing, which gives the EU a competitive edge globally. In the ongoing EU debate over migration, the view that prizes protection of the bloc’s external borders is ascendant, he said, adding that Hungary has demanded this for years. Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz is an important ally of Hungary’s in this regard, Szijjártó said, adding that Austria has provided support for border protection to Hungary and countries in the western Balkans. “The election campaign in Austria is very important to Hungary; we could see another important ally come to power with the election of the People’s Party,” he said. The more decision-makers like Kurz the better when it comes to effectively defending the external borders, Szijjártó said.

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that he hoped Navracsics’s statement [ex-premier] Gyula Horn’s party will SEMJÉN: EC ‘IN SOROS’S could be attributed to “a journalist’s not negotiate with far-right parties,” POCKET’ misrepresentation” of what he said. He he said. Molnár rejected all attempts said the German leadership had been to portray the Socialists or any other Hungary’s deputy prime minister anti-democratic for failing to consult democratic opposition party as part of gave an interview to public radio on its citizens about whether or not they the “National System of Cooperation” Sunday and dismissed comments by wanted to live side by side with masses championed by the ruling Fidesz party. Hungarian European Commissioner of Muslims. Referring to the upcoming He announced that the Socialists Tibor Navracsics, who recently insisted “national consultation” on the so-called would publish their electoral manifesto that the so-called Soros plan did Soros plan, he added that Hungary was on Nov. 18 and hold a “campaign not figure in the commission’s draft doing the right thing by consulting its opening” congress in December. migration policy. “Navracsics should citizens over the issue of migration. In response to a question, Molnár know better than anyone that his On another subject, Navracsics said said the Socialists were in the middle colleagues and their circle, people that the commission would submit a of negotiating a cooperation pact with and organisations are not only in the plan next September to make some the Együtt and the Dialogue parties, hands of [US financier] George Soros, areas of decision-making – such as the the Democratic Coalition and the but also in his pocket,” Zsolt Semjén EU’s common foreign policy, welfare Liberal Party. He acknowledged that told Kossuth Radio, referring to the EU policy and taxation where these impinge the LMP and Momentum parties had commissioner for education, culture, on the internal market – pass by a two- squarely rejected their initiative. youth and sport. thirds majority rather than by unanimity. Molnár said he saw a chance for Navracsics in Budapest on Friday said the democratic opposition parties to the European Commission was working SOCIALIST LEADER SAYS field a common candidate in all the out a migration policy along its own lines PARTY ‘ALIVE’ 106 constituencies of the country for rather than those of Soros. Speaking the 2018 general election. at a forum at the EC Representation The Socialist Party is still alive and in Hungary, Navracsics said that the will continue its political strategy to KÖVÉR: GOVT NEEDS commission kept its distance from implement a left-wing programme, AT LEAST ONE MORE domestic politics and would not the leader of the opposition party CYCLE TO IMPLEMENT comment on the Hungarian election said days after the resignation of László PROGRAMMES campaign. Navracsics also declined to Botka as the party’s prime minister- comment on Hungarian domestic affairs. candidate. “Vultures have no reason Hungary’s government needs another The EC, he said, had got accustomed to to circle above us,” said Gyula Molnár. one or two cycles to implement its being exploited in domestic politics, He said the Socialists would not programmes aimed at determining with political rivals often blaming the name another PM candidate from their the country’s long-term future commission for policies such as its own ranks but advocate choosing a and restoring order in moral and much- criticised migration policy. non-partisan candidate who is backed economic terms, the house speaker Semjén, who is also the leader of the by the broadest possible forces. At said in an interview published in Christian Democrats, said Navracsics present, the Socialists do not support Magyar Hírlap. László Kövér said that should weigh up his loyalty to his the PM candidate of any other party, he priority should be given to reversing homeland as against his loyalty “to an added. “We are prepared to cooperate the current demographic trends international organisation”. He added with all democratic political forces but by raising the fertility rate from 1.5

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to the replacement rate of 2.1. He law on higher education which Brussels to open talks with Serbia on said social and cultural links with stated that the law meets current five new accession chapters this year. Hungarian communities beyond the European practice but includes several Péter Szijjártó spoke in Belgrade after border should be institutionalised and “extremely problematic” stipulations talks with Jadranka Joksimović, Serbia’s reinforced with economically so that regarding foreign universities EU integration minister. they are no longer subject to political operating in Hungary. The plenary Referring to Ukraine’s recent changes. Strengthening cooperation session of the body’s constitutional education law which bans post- in central Europe and leaving historical experts said states have the right to primary students from minorities conflicts behind are foreign policy regulate international higher education learning in their mother tongue, priorities, he said. institutions on their territory but called the minister said: “Ukraine says it Commenting on the ongoing for making institutions already present is striving to become a member of “national consultation” survey, Kövér exempt from the stipulations that the European Union, yet the country said that “the future of our children require the education institution to has amended its education law and and grandchildren may depend on have a campus in the origin country banned education for children older Europe’s approach to illegal migration.” and ban the use of the same name for than 10 in their mother tongue.” Asked about what the Socialist the institution in Hungarian and in the Serbia, by contrast, has amended its László Botka’s withdrawal from PM foreign language. education law to strengthen, even candidacy means for ruling Fidesz, Commenting on the opinion, to further improve the rights of the Kövér said: “Nothing. We have no László Palkovics, Hungary’s secretary country’s national minorities, he reason to base our strategy on of state for education, said that the added. In recognition of Belgrade’s the left-wing Muppet Show. We Commission’s position was “clearly support to the Hungarian community should prepare for the elections as favourable”, because it acknowledged in Vojvodina, Hungary will do its if all opposition parties joined forces the member states’ right to raise utmost to support Serbia’s integration against us.” requirements against institutions with the EU, Szijjártó said. He called the radical nationalist on their territories. The government, Jobbik party an “unscrupulous force however, believes that laws should PRESIDENT MARKS that will do anything for money apply for anyone wishing to operate in ANNIVERSARY OF 1849 and power.” He said that Jobbik’s Hungary. Exempting higher education MARTYRS shift towards a moderate catch-all institutions already in the country party, leaving behind the “extremist, would harm the principle of equal President János Áder attended discriminative and uncivilised style opportunities, he said. a commemoration of martyrs of of policymaking”, was insincere and Hungary’s 1848/49 freedom fight at merely a quest to win over left-wing HUNGARY URGES EU TO Széphalom, near Sátoraljaújhely in voters. OPEN TALKS WITH SERBIA north-eastern Hungary. In his address ON 5 NEW ACCESSION delivered at a monument to Colonel VENICE COMMISSION CHAPTERS Lajos Kazinczy, one of the army ENDORSES PRELIMINARY officers executed after the failed war OPINION ON HIGHER ED LAW Serbia could serve as a model for of independence, the president said several EU aspirant countries in terms that “the homeland suffered losses, The Venice Commission endorsed of promoting minority rights, the but each single sacrifice made it even a preliminary opinion on Hungary’s Hungarian foreign minister said, urging stronger”.

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retailers held by foreign multinationals, wages still vary widely, daily Magyar ROMA PRIDE DAY MARKED just as they have done in the media as Nemzet said, citing fresh data from IN BUDAPEST well as the energy and banking sectors. the Central Statistical Office (KSH). He said the government was KSH reported that average monthly Hundreds gathered in Budapest for committed to boosting the net wages in the first half of 2017 were a march marking Roma Pride Day for competitiveness of Hungarian- the highest in the western counties of the fifth time on Saturday. Participants owned small businesses as against Hungary and Budapest and the lowest marched from central Blaha Lujza large industry operators, adding that in eastern areas. Square to Nyugati Railway Station, it is desirable that Hungarian owners demanding equal opportunities should hold as big a share as possible FOUR ROMAN LINE for the Roma community and of the retail market. “However, this does COUNTRIES COMPLETE JOINT chanting slogans such as “Solidarity!”, not mean that we would want to or APPLICATION FOR WORLD “Democracy, rule of law, republic!”, “We would even be able to chase anyone HERITAGE SITE LISTING belong here!”. Speaking to the crowd, away from the country.” former ombudsman László Majtényi The general secretary of the National Austria, Germany, Hungary and said: “It is our shared moral duty to Trade Association also told Magyar Idők Slovakia have completed the show solidarity with the poor and that none of its member companies documentation of their joint downtrodden.” had indicated that they felt they were application for listing as UNESCO World under pressure from the government Heritage site the remains of the one- OFFICIAL: GOVT HAS NO regarding their ownership. Retail time Roman Empire’s border line, the PLANS TO SQUEEZE OUT chains such as Lidl, Aldi and Spar Limes, the Prime Minister’s Office said. FOREIGN RETAIL CHAINS said they had not been contacted The Hungarian section running along with such an initiative or would not the Danube River is represented by Commissioner for trade policy Kristóf comment on the report to the paper. 65 locations including two legionary Szatmáry dismissed the suggestion camps, several watch towers and other that the government plans to WAGES STILL VARY WIDELY military facilities, civilian settlements squeeze out foreign food retailers BETWEEN WESTERN AND and roads. Hungary, Slovakia, Austria from the market. In an interview to EASTERN HUNGARY and Germany have merged their daily Magyar Idők, he responded to a separate applications and report suggesting that after the 2018 Differences between the country’s Hungary will submit the final elections, the government wants to western and eastern halves have application in January 2018 on behalf shrink the ownership slice of food diminished in many respects but of its partner countries, too.

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