Energy is no political matter, Hungarian FM warns
Europe must accept that energy security is a physical rather than an ideological or political matter, Péter Szijjártó, told a conference in St Petersburg, according to MTI.
Energy is no political matter, Hungarian FM warns
The Economics of Geography

Energy is no political matter, Hungarian FM warns

Photo: Facebook/Péter Szijjártó
Eurasia 16/06/2023 09:58

Europe must accept that energy security is a physical rather than an ideological or political matter, Péter Szijjártó, told a conference in St Petersburg, according to MTI.

Europe must gain access to as many energy sources and delivery routes as possible to guarantee its energy security, the minister of foreign affairs and trade told the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. This is how Hungary’s government defines diversification, he said, rather than the replacement of one reliable supplier with another. Whether or not Hungary buys gas from Russia “is not a matter of political taste”, Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement, adding that it would be impossible to secure Hungary’s energy needs without Russian energy. 
Photo: Facebook/Péter Szijjártó
The minister also emphasised the need to prepare for the next heating season, warning that “preparation for the next winter will be much more complicated and much more challenging” than last year. He argued that while Europe had received significant volumes of Russian gas up until last September, with the exception of Hungary, Russian gas imports had since been reduced to “basically zero”. He added that there was no guarantee that the coming winter would be as mild as last year’s.
Photo: Facebook/Péter Szijjártó
Speaking at a different event recently, Szijjártó said that as a neighbouring country, Hungary very seriously confronted with the negative effects of the war. "The only way to end the suffering of Ukrainians and Hungarians living in Ukraine is to end the war. So a ceasefire, peace negotiations, a sustainable peace - that is what we support," he said.

Szijjártó reiterated his earlier statement that if US President Donald Trump had stayed in office, he believes the war would not have broken out. Both Szijjártó and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Trump's reelection would be a chance for a peaceful settlement.

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