Wed, Nov 22nd 2023
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was received in Bern on Tuesday by President Alain Berset and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. One of the topics discussed was relations with the EU, of which Hungary will hold the presidency in the second half of 2024.
The Swiss side reaffirmed its goal of stabilizing and further developing the bilateral approach with the EU, according to a statement from the Federal Council.
Accordingly, cooperation with Hungary as a recipient country of the Swiss EU cohesion contribution was also discussed. The focus is on vocational training, research and innovation.
The talks with Orban and his Hungarian delegation also covered current international issues such as the situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. The initiative for the meeting with the Federal Council came from the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Orban will take part in an event organized by the weekly newspaper “Die Weltwoche” in Zurich on Wednesday. Editor-in-chief and outgoing Zurich SVP National Councillor Roger Köppel regularly praises Orban for his rebellious attitude towards the EU Commission.
Orban, who is considered a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been criticized internationally, especially since Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine ordered by Putin in February last year. However, Hungary formally supports the sanctions imposed on Russia.
©Keystone/SDA
(TST-Editor: We could not find a single photo showing Berset and Orban together where Berset is smiling or looking remotely happy. In fact, looking at the available photos makes one wonder if the Swiss President wasn’t a little bit upset at having to accommodate the Hungarian Head of State – the State which will be holding the EU Presidency in the second-half of 2024.
Remember, the meeting with the Swiss President and Foreign Minister would not even have taken place had it not been for the ‘initiative’ taken by Mr. Orban.
Take a look at the room in which the meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister took place:
Is this really the best the current Swiss Federal Government could have done to improve relations between Switzerland and Hungary?)
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