Differences remain between the Visegrad Group countries, but there is agreement on two issues: Russian aggression against Ukraine being a violation of international law, and Ukraine needing help and we should give it, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in Prague on Tuesday.
A summit of the Visegrad Group (V4) was held in Prague with the participation of the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary - Donald Tusk, Petr Fiala, Robert Fica, and Viktor Orbán.
The leaders discussed several issues including energy security, the EU’s strategic agenda, and preventing illegal migration.
At a joint press conference, Fiala admitted that there are differences between the V4 countries, and “these differences remain and are well known to the public.”
“At the same time, we have been able to establish that there are some issues where we can find consensus, that there are topics where our countries can cooperate (...). There is a consensus between us (...) on the subject of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine on two points – first, that Russian aggression is a serious violation of international law, a position shared by all four of our countries. The second point on which we agree is that Ukraine needs help,” Fiala said.
Poland and the Czech Republic also provide assistance of a military nature, he said, while Slovakia and Hungary do not participate in such assistance. “On the other hand, these two countries are ready to support with humanitarian, financial, and other forms of aid,” the Czech prime minister noted.
Fiala added that all countries are convinced that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy needs to be revised, and that there should be cooperation in the field of energy. Another common point he mentioned was the fight against illegal migration.
Visegrad is alive: PM Orbán
“Today’s meeting convinced me that Visegrad is alive, working and we are able to accept our differences. Hungary remains ready to continue this cooperation,” Prime Minister Orbán said at the press conference.
He added that although he had participated in the 52nd summit of the Visegrad Group so far, Tuesday’s talks were among the most difficult ones. He stressed that historically the V4 was formed to defend the common interests of its members and to have a stronger voice within the European Union.
Referring to the war in Ukraine, Orbán noted that while the V4 countries have “different approaches to the war,” they also share common positions. “We agree that Ukraine should be helped and needs to be helped, this is the right approach,” he said.
“Hungary does not want to have a common border with Russia again. We used to have such a common border and those memories are not good,” he stressed. “We want there to be an entity between us and Russia, and we are helping Ukraine for this reason as well,” the Hungarian PM emphasized.
The leaders discussed several issues including energy security, the EU’s strategic agenda, and preventing illegal migration.
At a joint press conference, Fiala admitted that there are differences between the V4 countries, and “these differences remain and are well known to the public.”
“At the same time, we have been able to establish that there are some issues where we can find consensus, that there are topics where our countries can cooperate (...). There is a consensus between us (...) on the subject of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine on two points – first, that Russian aggression is a serious violation of international law, a position shared by all four of our countries. The second point on which we agree is that Ukraine needs help,” Fiala said.
Poland and the Czech Republic also provide assistance of a military nature, he said, while Slovakia and Hungary do not participate in such assistance. “On the other hand, these two countries are ready to support with humanitarian, financial, and other forms of aid,” the Czech prime minister noted.
Fiala added that all countries are convinced that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy needs to be revised, and that there should be cooperation in the field of energy. Another common point he mentioned was the fight against illegal migration.
Visegrad is alive: PM Orbán
“Today’s meeting convinced me that Visegrad is alive, working and we are able to accept our differences. Hungary remains ready to continue this cooperation,” Prime Minister Orbán said at the press conference.
He added that although he had participated in the 52nd summit of the Visegrad Group so far, Tuesday’s talks were among the most difficult ones. He stressed that historically the V4 was formed to defend the common interests of its members and to have a stronger voice within the European Union.
Referring to the war in Ukraine, Orbán noted that while the V4 countries have “different approaches to the war,” they also share common positions. “We agree that Ukraine should be helped and needs to be helped, this is the right approach,” he said.
“Hungary does not want to have a common border with Russia again. We used to have such a common border and those memories are not good,” he stressed. “We want there to be an entity between us and Russia, and we are helping Ukraine for this reason as well,” the Hungarian PM emphasized.
Source:
More In Politics MORE...
