Istanbul office
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that his country expects Hungary to continue its support to “advance the positive agenda” with the European Union.
This came in a press conference with his Hungarian counterpart, Katalin Novak, on Wednesday, in the capital, Ankara.
Erdogan made it clear that Turkey is ready with Azerbaijan to provide all kinds of support for the delivery of natural gas to Hungary through the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline “TANAP”.
He said, “We expect Hungary to continue and strengthen its support to advance the positive agenda in relations between Turkey and the European Union.”
Erdogan explained that Novak’s visit to Ankara came to discuss bilateral relations and to show the solidarity of Hungary, an “ally and strategic partner” with Turkey, following the disaster of the double earthquake that struck the south of the country.
Erdogan indicated that the Hungarian search and rescue teams rescued 35 citizens from under the rubble in the states of Hatay and Kahramanmaraş.
He said that Hungary had rushed to Turkey’s aid after the 1999 earthquake in the Golcek region, and that the rescue dog “Mangs” became a symbol of Hungary’s aid in the earthquake after rescuing a 3-year-old girl from under the rubble after 82 hours.
He pointed out that the talks with Novak dealt with the Turkish-Hungarian relations in all their dimensions, and said: “We had an opportunity to evaluate all our commercial, military, economic and cultural relations.”
In the meeting, the two sides affirmed “the common will to strengthen Turkish-Hungarian relations in all fields on the basis of the enhanced strategic partnership,” according to Erdogan.
The Turkish president revealed that the sixth meeting of the high-level strategic cooperation council between the two countries will be held next December in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
He added, “Our economic and trade relations are strengthening, and our trade volume reached $3.5 billion last year, and we discussed steps aimed at reaching the common goal of recording $6 billion.”
He stressed the importance of developing cooperation in defense industries, “as two NATO allies.”
He indicated that he had exchanged views with his Hungarian counterpart on current regional and global issues.
On the Russian-Ukrainian war, Erdogan affirmed that Turkey has been making unremitting efforts since the beginning of the war to establish dialogue and is resolutely leading diplomatic initiatives, and wants to establish peace through negotiations between the two sides as soon as possible.
In response to a journalist’s question about the necessary steps to end the war, Erdogan said: “Peace is undoubtedly the most important dynamic source for the future of countries, and war is the greatest danger.”
He stressed that Turkey attaches importance to relations with both sides in this “unwanted” war between Russia and Ukraine, adding: “We have always continued these talks, whether with President Vladimir Putin or President Volodymyr Zelensky.”
The Hungarian search and rescue team that contributed to the rescue efforts in Turkey was present in the hall that witnessed the press conference, where Erdogan expressed his thanks to them
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