I agreed with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey will guarantee the safety of further supplies of Russian energy supplies to Hungary," said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a joint press conference with Turkish leader on Monday in Istanbul.
Most of the gas imported into Hungary comes from Russia and is transported by the TurkStream pipeline across the Black Sea, followed by its extension – the Balkan Stream pipeline, moving through Bulgaria and Serbia. The pipeline, commissioned in 2020, was part of Russian efforts to bypass Ukraine, through which it had previously passed the main way of Russian gas transmission to Europe.
– Russia will supply us with gas and oil. Therefore, president Erdogan and I agreed that we would proceed to usage the way (leading through Turkey), and I would like to thank him for ensuring the safety of these supplies said the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Hungary signed a 15-year agreement with Russia in 2021 to acquisition 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas per year, and last year increased purchases from Gazprom, importing about 7.5 billion cubic metres of Russian gas through the TurkStream pipeline. The press conference took place after a gathering of leaders in the framework of the 7th advanced Level Council of strategical Cooperation between Turkey and Hungary.
During the conference, Orban drew attention to joint actions with Turkey for peace and the end of the war in Ukraine. – President Erdogan was the first effective mediator in this war. present we agreed to coordinate our peace efforts said the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Orban besides commented on Turkey's function in EU migration policy. – Without Turkey, protecting Europe and Hungary from migration, our continent would be unthinkable – he said. The politician thanked the president of Turkey on behalf of the full of Hungary, adding that Budapest would do anything to make Turkey's efforts appreciated in Brussels.
President Erdogan assured that Turkey is mobilising all means to find a diplomatic, just and lasting solution to the Russian-Ukrainian War. – Since the beginning of the war, Turkey has spared no effort to guarantee fair and lasting peace through diplomacy – he said. He added that Ankara would proceed its activities “in the belief that no 1 wins the war and no 1 loses in fair peace”.
The Turkish leader besides acknowledged that Ankara's strategical nonsubjective remains full EU membership. He felt that ‘Hungary will proceed to supply strong support to Turkey’.
– Turkey and Hungary signed agreements on Monday in many areas, including aviation, security, technology, culture and education – the president of Turkey calculated. He added that both countries are close to achieving the goal of bringing the volume of trade to $6 billion.
Source: PAP / Jakub buffalo
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