Hungary and France are working together to build relations and start a dialog, government sources report.
Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács made the remarks following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron’s advisors on Monday.
Kovács said the new French government and Hungary’s government have mutual intent to get to know each other’s positions and to start a dialog soon.
According to MTI, the spokesman paid a one-day visit to Paris to establish official links with the new administration and the French press.
Kovács said the visit had been prepared for two months and last week's meeting between the V4 leaders and Macron at the EU summit made it a timely encounter.
“If there is mutual respect, then there is a serious chance for dialog, for which there is a demand as expressed by all,” the spokesman said.
Kovács pointed out that before the EU summit, Macron had made some “impolite” remarks in an interview, which triggered a response from the Visegrád Four. Hungary said, during the time, that “the basis for dialog is mutual respect and an understanding that in certain issues we have different opinions, our institutions operate differently, but we respect these differences and still seek consensus and the opportunities for cooperation,” Kovács said.
It became clear during Macron’s meeting with leaders from the V4 that when it comes to concrete issues, “there is not only a chance for proper dialog but also a mode for it and the right tone can be found”.
During his visit to Paris, Kovács told the French contingent that V4 cooperation offers a form that could provide a framework for future talks.
“This group of countries is making efforts so that their position on every issue affecting the future of Europe should be handled as having the same relevance as the opinion of any western European member state,” he concluded.