Stier, Szijjarto want to restore alliance between Croatia, Hungary

(Hina) - Croatian and Hungarian Foreign Ministers Davor Ivo Stier and Peter Szijjarto said in Budapest on Tuesday that they wanted the two countries to be allies after years of difficulties

(Hina) - Croatian and Hungarian Foreign Ministers Davor Ivo Stier and Peter Szijjarto said in Budapest on Tuesday that they wanted the two countries to be allies after years of difficulties, agreeing that the INA-MOL dispute should not poison bilateral relations.

Szijjarto welcomed the fact that Stier chose Hungary for his first official international visit, saying it indicated that Croatia was committed to opening "a new chapter" in its relations with Hungary. Over the past few years, there were a number of factors that had a negative effect on bilateral relations, he added.

If the two countries do not repair their alliance, they will miss out on many opportunities, Szijjarto said at a joint news conference, while Stier said he came to Hungary to turn a new leaf and begin a new chapter.

But we must not close our eyes, there is a dispute between the Croatian government and MOL which has had a negative effect on Croatian-Hungarian relations. We want to change that and develop bilateral relations, Stier said.

The Croatian government is in favour of continuing the arbitration proceedings in the INA-MOL dispute, he said, adding that Zagreb and Budapest must communicate. But there is life after arbitration, he said.

Croatia has a 44% stake in its oil and gas company INA, while Hungary's MOL energy group has 49% plus management rights. In 2013, after several unsuccessful negotiation rounds, MOL initiated arbitration proceedings against the Croatian government over violations of obligations and procedures concerning MOL's investments in Croatia. Croatia countered with a suit, demanding that amendments to the 2009 agreement on management rights in INA and the agreement on the gas business be declared null and void.

We don't want that to poison our relations but to have a positive effect on them and the matter should be depoliticised, as the influence of politics on the issue has hampered its resolution, Szijjarto said, adding that this would not be negotiated in public and that the public would be informed when a solution was found.

Aside from INA and MOL, there are other energy issues important to both countries such as connecting Europe's north and south through the Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea strategy, the construction of a floating LNG terminal and a gas pipeline interconnection.

Energy security and diversification of energy sources is important to Croatia, said Stier.

Our trade is developed but it should be equalised and we are glad that half a million Hungarian tourists visited Croatia this year, which is 16% more than last year, he said, adding that the two countries also had good cooperation when it came to culture and minorities.

Many of those issues will be discussed early next year by the Hungarian-Croatian inter-governmental committee, which has not convened since 2014, Stier said, adding that the two countries' committee on minorities would meet in February or March.

Stier said he and Szijjarto agreed a joint visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina next year, adding that Croatia and Hungary planned to work together so that Bosnia stayed on the Euro-Atlantic integration path.

As for migrations, Szijjarto said there was no difference in the two countries' positions.

Protection of the external border is most important. A state's sovereignty greatly depends on how it protects its borders. Hungary continues to advocate the policy that states close to wars which have taken in millions of refugees should be supported, he said.

Stier too said protection of the external border was crucial.

One thing is certain, we will not allow illegal migration. The state border can be crossed legally or in no other way, said Szijjarto.

Responding to questions from the press, Szijjarto said he was glad that MOL CEO Zsolt Hernadi was taken off Interpol's Red Notice. We are very happy about that and find it appropriate and positive, he said, while Stier said this was a matter for the judiciary and not politics.

In 2013, the Zagreb County Court charged Hernadi with giving a EUR 10 million bribe to former Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader in order for MOL to secure controlling rights over INA, but he has remained out of reach of the Croatian authorities. MOL has dismissed the charges several times, claiming he never bribed any politicians or gave any money to acquire controlling rights in INA.

Croatia's request for renewal of the Red Notice for Hernadi was outvoted at a recent Interpol meeting, and his lawyer told the media that Croatia had used Interpol's arrest warrant for political purposes.

Reporters asked Stier about the fate of Turkey's former ambassador to Croatia, who has allegedly gone missing. He said the ambassador was recalled this summer.

It did not happen recently and the role of the Foreign Ministry is only to receive a notification about an arrival or a departure, he said, adding that further questions should be addressed to the Turkish Embassy.

Stier also met with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen, the chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Zsolt Nemeth, and the chairman of the parliamentary Hungary-Croatia Friendship Group, Matyas Firtl.

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