President Milanović in Budapest: Dialogue is Irreplaceable; This Should Be the Logic of All Those Who Can Stop the War in Ukraine
“I am pleased to be in Hungary today and tomorrow, and these two days will be an opportunity for extensive discussions. Regardless of the traditionally good relations between our two countries — relations that have been very good over the past 30 years with minimal fluctuations — this will be a chance to talk and clarify matters that may not be entirely clear,” said President of the Republic Zoran Milanović in Budapest today after a meeting with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok.
He described the bilateral relations between Croatia and Hungary as “good and friendly,” despite occasional fluctuations. “Maybe now and then sparks fly because of an unnecessary sentence, but the relations are good and stable. After these thirty-five years, this is the only neighbouring country with which we have a cleanly settled border issue. The position of minorities is reciprocal and exemplary; in fact, it could hardly be better. Where there are border states, neighbouring states with historical minorities — because Croats and Hungarians on both sides of the border are historical minorities, ethnic minorities whose so-called home states are historical, national states — we are not talking about superstates or conglomerates or composites but national states. Not nationalistic ones. We are political nations,” President Milanović said.
The meeting also covered international topics. “Dialogue is irreplaceable. And that should be the logic both of European diplomacy and of all those who currently bear the greatest responsibility and have the greatest tools at their disposal to stop the war in Ukraine, without unnecessary ‘whys’, perhaps with some justified ‘hows’. Not every solution is the same and not every solution is justified, but when you break off dialogue with an enemy or adversary — there is no end,” the Croatian President said.
In this regard, President Milanović added that he had “been rooting for a meeting between the American and Russian presidents to be held in Budapest or anywhere else”. “Budapest was offered and accepted by both of them. However, it is not happening now; I hope it will happen. I would be glad for it to take place in Budapest for Hungary’s sake, but above all for the prospect of solving problems and achieving peace, because diplomacy in which you do not talk to your opponent is the negation of diplomacy. That is a path of no return,” President Milanović emphasised.
The two presidents also discussed economic relations between Hungary and Croatia, and President Milanović stressed that it is important for Croatian tourism that Hungary is economically stable and successful, “because in the structure of our economy, the service sector is crucial — Croatia makes a solid living from tourism”. “It matters to Croatia how many Hungarians will come, how willing they will be to spend and what we will offer them. All of this is one interconnected mechanism of the European Union as a single market — and first and foremost as a single market — and only then of common values and ideas. Haste and aggressiveness in harmonising everything is not good, and the historical nations of Europe will resist it, whichever political option is in power. In Croatia certainly, in Hungary obviously,” President Milanović concluded, confirming that he had invited the President of Hungary to pay an official visit to Croatia, which he accepted, announcing the possibility of a visit as early as next year.
At the invitation of Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović is on a two-day official visit to Hungary. After a ceremonial welcome held at Kossuth Square, President Milanović and President Sulyok held a meeting in the Office of the Hungarian President, followed by a bilateral meeting of the delegations of the Republic of Croatia and Hungary.
Later in the day, President Milanović is scheduled to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas