2024. március 28., csütörtök

The Visegrád Four celebrates its 25th anniversary

Attila Pintér: The migrant crisis has only strengthened the cooperation of the Middle-European countries

- Last year, Hungary was the first country that pointed out that serious problems awaited us, even before the start of the huge migrant wave. To be more precise, it was prime minister Viktor Orbán, who adamantly stood by this statement. Then, no-one listened to us. The doings of the Hungarian government were bombarded by criticism. Today, however, the majority of EU member countries admit that the actions of the Hungary were wise and legitimate – said Attila Pintér, the ambassador of Hungary in Belgrade, for us, on the theme of the migrant crisis, enticed by the unity of the Middle-European countries regarding the EU migrant crisis politics, and at the same time referring to the cooperation of the Visegrád Four, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Visegrád Convention. 

The ambassadors are waiting for their guests: (from left to right) Ivana Hlavsova, ambassador of the Czech Republic, Attila Pintér, ambassador of Hungary, Hanna Dalewska-Greń, ambassador of Poland and Dagmara Repčekova, ambassador of Slovakia (photo by András Ótos)

The ambassadors are waiting for their guests: (from left to right) Ivana Hlavsova, ambassador of the Czech Republic, Attila Pintér, ambassador of Hungary, Hanna Dalewska-Greń, ambassador of Poland and Dagmara Repčekova, ambassador of Slovakia (photo by András Ótos)

It’s important to point out that the Middle-European countries of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland, concerning the migrant crisis, have on time realized that they have to closely cooperate with Hungary, although the migrants enter the EU not there, but in Greece. Hungary is not even the first Schengen country where the refugees enter the Schengen Area, but Greece. It is evident that Greece cannot protect its outer borders, that is why we have to make measures in order to solve the entire issue. The Czech, Slovaks and Polish have on time realized that we have to cooperate. Consequently, we established joint police units. Each country has sent its own police units, gave support to Hungary, ensuring our mutual border’s safety. And it should also be remembered that all of us sent troops to the Macedonian and Greek border. Paradoxically, the migrant crisis has made the bond between the Visegrád Four even stronger. Not like in the EU, where there is a crisis for a year now, with no signs of reaching common ground. The Visegrád Four defined its common interests in no time, that is why we are moving forward as we speak – he pointed out.

 Ivana Hlavsova, the ambassador of the Czech Republic in Belgrade, said that the political and economical meeting in Visegrád of three Middle-European kings: Charles Robert, Hungarian king, John of Bohemia, Czech king, and Casimir III the Great, Polish king, has inspired the political leaders of the Visegrád Four: Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, to sign the treaty of Visegrád on 15 February 1995, which strengthened the cooperation between these four Middle-European countries. She pointed out that the treaty was the first step in reaching common interests, as all four countries were working on European and euro-Atlantic integration at that time. And today, after accomplishing that goal, they participated in numerous regional projects.

On the celebration of the anniversary, important members of today’s political scene were seen. The under-secretaries of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians have also paid their respects (photo by András Ótos)

On the celebration of the anniversary, important members of today’s political scene were seen. The under-secretaries of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians have also paid their respects (photo by András Ótos)

On the occasion of this 25th anniversary, a celebration was held in the last few days in the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Belgrade, as it is the Czech Republic’s turn this year (until 1 July) to be president of the Four. For the anniversary, they put together an exhibition, celebrating important moments form the last two decades.

 Ambassador Attila Pintér assess the the relationship between the four countries as more than excellent.

 - As I see, none of the countries have such serious problems with their neighbors which could not be handled. The relationships between ministers and Prime ministers are excellent. The situation between us is very good, as all of the four countries are giving high emphasis on Middle-European cooperation, on the Visegrád Group. In terms of trade, the Middle-European territories were always valuable to Hungary. Our traditional important partners are those countries which are now a part of the Visegrád Group. This is true for the present as well, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic continue to be very important to us. I am not only referring to economic bonds, but to an entire range of cooperating strings. Regarding the natural gas line, we successfully managed to create the inter connector with Slovakia, which means that Hungary can not only get natural gas from the direction of Ukraine, but Slovakia as well, the importance of which cannot be emphasized enough in today’s world – the ambassador pointed out.

 A number of ambassadors paid their respects on the celebration, as well as the members of Serbia’s political scene.