site.bta Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto Sees no Obstacle for Bulgaria to Join Schengen Area

Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto Sees no Obstacle for Bulgaria to Join Schengen Area

Sofia, January 21 (BTA) - Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Thursday that he does not see any obstacles for the European institutions to initiate Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area, adding that this country has achieved a lot in this regard. Minister Szijjarto was speaking at a news conference following his meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, at whose invitation he is paying an official visit to Bulgaria.

The migration crisis was among the topics the two foreign ministers discussed. Bulgaria and Hungary share the same concern about the problem's acuteness and are seeking, each according to its abilities, ways to commonly and effectively respond to this serious challenge, Mitov said.

According to Hungary's Foreign Minister, protecting Europe's external borders is important, and what Bulgaria's has achieved in this regard is much appreciated. Following the recent months, no one in Europe can say that Bulgaria is not prepared for this crisis, Minister Szijjarto said.

Answering a question, Minister Mitov said that Bulgaria is monitoring very attentively the tension along the separate borders and is ready for all kinds of possible scenarios. So far, the State is managing very well, in both assessing the situation and exercising control, he added. What must be done additionally, according to Mitov, is to have Greece establish strict control along the EU's external border.

Commenting the termination of the South Stream gas pipeline project, Minister Szijjarto said that he much regrets that the project has gone "into a dead end street".
 
The two ministers noted that they have agreed to have Bulgaria and Hungary work for establishing an appropriate format for the structuring of an enhanced dialogue on economic affairs. They also discussed the hot topics on the European agenda, such as energy security, conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and others.

Minister Szijjarto explained that there will be mutual talks about having days of Bulgarian-Hungarian and Hungarian-Bulgarian friendship. He added that the Hungarian Government will initiate the re-start of a direct flight between the two countries.