The Minister of State heading the Prime Minister’s Office said at an international conference in Budapest that the development of the new Hungarian state structure has been completed, so Hungary is now ready to open towards the Gulf States. The conference, entitled "Perspectives of relations with the Gulf region", was organized by the Antall József Knowledge Centre of Political and Social Sciences.

János Lázár emphasized that the policy of opening towards the East does not mean closing with regard to the West, and Hungary would like to begin and continue the Western practice of establishing relations with the countries of the region.

János Lázár pointed out that the plan of the Government is to take significant steps towards Asian countries while reorganising external economic and foreign relations.

The Minister of State expressed that Hungary was hit very hard by the crisis in 2008 and it was on the verge of economic collapse, however, the new government elected in 2010 perceived this crisis as a chance to reorganise the country.

Photo: Gergely Botár

According to János Lázár, a country the size of Hungary must be innovative in establishing new relations, and the Hungarian society is open, inclusive and ready to welcome the Gulf states. He pointed out that there are great opportunities not only for economic cooperation, but also for collaboration within the fields of science, education and culture.

Regarding Hungarian-Kuwaiti relations, Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy Péter Sztáray declared that Kuwait is one of the first countries with which Hungary has established diplomatic relations in the Gulf region.

Péter Sztáray pointed out that Hungary condemned the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, adding that bilateral relations became closer following the Gulf War, something that has also been affirmed by high-level meetings.

The Deputy State Secretary expressed that an economic joint commission would be created in May that is expected to open a new chapter in the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries.

(MTI)