29 January 2014, Budapest

Good evening to all of you,

The expression working dinner sounds so peaceful and so jovial, but the issue we have gathered to discuss is neither peaceful nor jovial. Because the reason we have asked the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovakia to join us in Budapest following the Polish-Hungarian summit is so we can discuss what joint measures we might take in the interests of facilitating a peaceful solution to the increasingly serious situation in Ukraine. We have adopted a joint statement, which I believe you will receive a copy of within the next few minutes, and this includes every recommendation that the leaders of our four countries will implement as a first step. I would also like to inform you that we have agreed to set up an emergency meeting of our Ministers of Interior. We are of course proponents of positive developments and favourable scenarios with relation to Ukraine, but nobody can guarantee this today. Accordingly, in view of the fact that we are neighbouring countries and represent a neighbouring region, we must also prepare for a possibly difficult situation. This is why our Ministers of Interior must meet and discuss possible measures. Here in Hungary, I have today ordered the Minister of Interior to set up an operative task group and prepare the country for the eventuality that things in Ukraine do not point towards a favourable course of developments.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The debate in Europe with regard to Ukraine is no longer about the future orientation of Ukraine or about who is and is not in prison, or whether a former prime minister will or will not be freed from prison. These continue to be important issues, but things have now become more serious. Everything that is happening in Ukraine is happening along our borders. Ukraine is a neighbouring country, and so we must view things seriously and sternly and we must take them seriously. This is why there was a need for this meeting, and I am grateful to the Prime Ministers for having been able to take part in a serious discussion and negotiations on the issue. Thank you for your kind attention. I would now like to ask Prime Minister Donald Tusk to read our joint statement.

(Prime Minister's Office)