Hungary and Switzerland advocate for peace talks in Ukraine, strengthen bilateral cooperation

Szijjártó and Ignazio Cassis Switzerland
Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

Hungary and Switzerland “stand together for the success of peace talks”, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Bern on Monday.

“It is obvious for both countries that the war in Ukraine cannot be settled on the battlefield, a diplomatic settlement being the only conceivable option,” Péter Szijjártó said after talks with Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis. “The two countries have similar positions in terms of the most serious challenges facing Europe and the world,” a ministry statement quoted Szijjártó as saying.

“We firmly stand for peace, firmly oppose illegal migration, and our political strategies are based on common sense,” the minister added. “It is obvious that the war can only be stopped through talks, and it is also clear that meaningful talks can only be achieved if all belligerents are represented,” he said. “So both Hungarians and Swiss urge a successful outcome to peace talks and the termination of the war.”

Meanwhile, he said both Hungary and Switzerland were consistent in opposing the politicisation of international organisations, “which prevents endeavours for peace from succeeding”. “Large international organisations must offer an opportunity for countries on different platforms, or even adversaries, to discuss their problems,” he said, adding that “taking that opportunity away … would in effect mean giving up the chance for peace.”

Commenting on bilateral matters, Szijjártó said healthy political cooperation between Hungary and Switzerland served as a good foundation for economic cooperation, and he hailed the tripling of Swiss investments in Hungary in the past ten years. During that period the Hungarian government provided support to 44 major Swiss projects worth a combined 600 billion forints, he said, adding that those investments had created jobs in Hungary, while Switzerland has now become Hungary’s seventh largest investor.

The number of Hungarians visiting Switzerland grew by 80 percent last year, while the number of Swiss tourists in Hungary was up by one fifth, the minister said.

Read more about Hungary-Switzerland ties HERE.

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