Hungarian Prime Minister Orban strives for lifting EU sanctions against Belarus
<p> MINSK, Jun 8 - PrimePress. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was on his first official visit to Belarus on June 5. </p> <p> </p> <p> It is time for the European Union to lift sanctions against Belarus, he told reporters after a meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. Orban said Hungary would insist on this in European negotiations, since, in his opinion, sanctions impede development of the Eastern Partnership. </p> <p> </p> <p> Orban also supports Belarus’ accession to the World Trade Organization and Belarus’ cooperation with NATO. </p> <p> </p> <p> Lukashenko stated interest in developing trade, economic and political relations with Hungary. He said the annual trade turnover of $255 million does not actualize the potential of the parties and should grow to €500 million in the coming years. </p> <p> </p> <p> Lukashenko called Hungary the closest European partner of Belarus, which “understands us like no other and contributes to expansion our relations with the EU.” </p> <p> </p> <p> Lukashenko said that both countries “faced absolutely unprecedented and arrogant attempts to impede the execution of the sovereign right to develop peaceful nuclear programs. (The project is underway in Hungary to build two new nuclear power units at the Paks NPP jointly with Russia.) He invited Hungary to share his “colossal experience in the joint construction of a nuclear power plant with the Russians.” </p> <p> </p> <p> During the Orban’s visit, the parties signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of Belarus and the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary in the electric energy industry. The Foreign Ministries of Belarus and Hungary signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of diplomatic personnel training and exchange of information and documentation. The National Center for Marketing and Price Study of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency signed a memorandum of understanding. </p> <p> </p> <p> A memorandum of understanding was signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus and the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary on cooperation in poultry breeding. Belarus plans to fully provide the domestic market with its own breed of world-class chicken and to develop goose breeding in the Gomel Oblast hit by the Chernobyl accident. </p> <p> </p> <p> New Prime Minister of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko offered Hungary Belarus’ experience in designing and manufacture of electric vehicles. </p> <p> </p> <p> As reported, in spring 2020, the European Union extended sanctions against Belarus for one year until February 28, 2021. Restrictive measures include an embargo on the supply of weapons and equipment that can be used for repression, freezing of assets and a ban on travel against a number of individuals, including those suspected of involvement in the forced disappearances of Belarusian opposition activists and journalists in 1999-2000. These sanctions have been extended annually. Belarus and the EU thus maintain economic cooperation. End </p>
2020-06-09
Primepress
MINSK, Jun 8 - PrimePress. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was on his first official visit to Belarus on June 5.
It is time for the European Union to lift sanctions against Belarus, he told reporters after a meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. Orban said Hungary would insist on this in European negotiations, since, in his opinion, sanctions impede development of the Eastern Partnership.
Orban also supports Belarus’ accession to the World Trade Organization and Belarus’ cooperation with NATO.
Lukashenko stated interest in developing trade, economic and political relations with Hungary. He said the annual trade turnover of $255 million does not actualize the potential of the parties and should grow to €500 million in the coming years.
Lukashenko called Hungary the closest European partner of Belarus, which “understands us like no other and contributes to expansion our relations with the EU.”
Lukashenko said that both countries “faced absolutely unprecedented and arrogant attempts to impede the execution of the sovereign right to develop peaceful nuclear programs. (The project is underway in Hungary to build two new nuclear power units at the Paks NPP jointly with Russia.) He invited Hungary to share his “colossal experience in the joint construction of a nuclear power plant with the Russians.”
During the Orban’s visit, the parties signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of Belarus and the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary in the electric energy industry. The Foreign Ministries of Belarus and Hungary signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of diplomatic personnel training and exchange of information and documentation. The National Center for Marketing and Price Study of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency signed a memorandum of understanding.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus and the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary on cooperation in poultry breeding. Belarus plans to fully provide the domestic market with its own breed of world-class chicken and to develop goose breeding in the Gomel Oblast hit by the Chernobyl accident.
New Prime Minister of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko offered Hungary Belarus’ experience in designing and manufacture of electric vehicles.
As reported, in spring 2020, the European Union extended sanctions against Belarus for one year until February 28, 2021. Restrictive measures include an embargo on the supply of weapons and equipment that can be used for repression, freezing of assets and a ban on travel against a number of individuals, including those suspected of involvement in the forced disappearances of Belarusian opposition activists and journalists in 1999-2000. These sanctions have been extended annually. Belarus and the EU thus maintain economic cooperation. End