Foreign Minister János Martonyi gave an interview to Wednesday's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung under the title: "The deal with Russia is good for both sides".

Foreign Minister János Martonyi gave an interview to Wednesday's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung under the title: "The deal with Russia is good for both sides".

János Martonyi stated that the deal on the Paks nuclear power plant would significantly reduce Hungary's dependence on Russian natural gas. He noted that the negotiations with the Russians have not finally concluded but it is clear already that "we could never have financed [the plant's expansion] with such conditions from the market".

The interview also covers the topic of a monument to be erected in central Budapest, commemorating the victims of the 1944 German occupation. When asked about whether the planned memorial would be discussed at an upcoming meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said he did not consider this as a topic for discussion, though he would of course be open to talks on any subject with Mr. Steinmeier.

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(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)