Hungary is ready to mediate to facilitate the safe return of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan to their homeland. In addition, 102,000 euros were provided to the Armenian “Red Cross” to support people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh due to the recent large-scale military operations in Azerbaijan, including those affected by the fuel depot explosion. In response to the “Armenpress” questions, the Ambassador of Hungary to Armenia (residence: Tbilisi), Anna Maria Siko, reports this.
Referring to Azerbaijan’s recent large-scale military operations and the forced deportation of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result, the Ambassador emphasizes that Hungary has a clear and firm position regarding all armed conflicts, which has been expressed many times.
“The disputes should be settled at the negotiating table diplomatically. There can be only one stable solution: peace,” says the Ambassador, adding that this is true for the Caucasus region.
Hungary hopes that peaceful coexistence will soon replace wars and human suffering.
According to the Ambassador’s assurance, Hungary fully understands the seriousness of the situation, so he arrived in Yerevan a few days ago and met with Armenian political and spiritual leaders to discuss the possibility of sending humanitarian aid.
“As a result of the negotiations, an agreement was reached, according to which Hungary donated 102 thousand euros to the Armenian Red Cross through the “Hungary Helps” program to support humanitarian programs. The Hungarian aid aims to contribute to stability in the region by helping civilians affected by the conflict and the explosion of the fuel depot,” says Anna Maria Siko, “Hungary is happy to be able to provide immediate assistance in these dire circumstances and will make every effort to continue doing so.”
Earlier, at the end of September, it was reported that the statement released on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, strongly condemning Azerbaijan, was initially supposed to be a joint statement adopted by 27 EU member states, but Hungary vetoed the idea to acceptance.
The Hungarian Ambassador to Armenia considers these publications regarding the EU statement to be accusations not based on facts and reality.
“Several member states, including Hungary, commented on the planned joint statement; in the end, it was impossible to reach a consensus, so it was published on behalf of the High Representative Josep Borell,” the Ambassador explained.
And what is Hungary’s position that Azerbaijan has violated Armenia’s territorial integrity since May 2021? They have clarified their position in this regard on many occasions. Hungary wants an end to human suffering so that every person has the opportunity to live in peace. The Ambassador assures that Hungary has always supported initiatives for this purpose and will continue to do so.
And regarding the Armenian prisoners held illegally in Azerbaijan until now, the Ambassador assures, “Hungary is ready to play a mediating role again to facilitate the safe return of Armenian prisoners of war to their homeland.”
In December 2021, with the mediation of the Hungarian government, 5 Armenian prisoners of war illegally held in Azerbaijan returned to their homeland.
