Szabolcs Takács, Deputy State Secretary for Global Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, had talks focusing on problems in the Middle East in London on December 3.

Following his meetings, Deputy State Secretary Takács declared that his negotiating partners had informed him about British diplomatic moves concerning planned Israeli housing construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Hungarian Deputy State Secretary said that while Hungary had not taken any diplomatic steps concerning the issue, its position was "very close" to the official British stance, which suggests that the planned construction may threaten the viability of the two state solution.

Deputy State Secretary Takács stated that his British partners greatly appreciated the assistance that Hungarian diplomacy had given to British companies and citizens in Syria.

To a question whether Hungary recognizes the coalition of Syria's opposition parties as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, he responded that the Hungarian Government was monitoring trends in the country and would pass a decision in the future.

(MTI, MFA)