A US diplomat visiting Hungary has criticized its PM’s policies towards Russia and stated that he believes Budapest should back the EU in its policy of imposing sanctions on Russia.
On Friday, US Chargé d'Affaires André Goodfriend made the
condemnations of Hungarian of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s
policies, particularly in regards to Hungary’s decision to grant
Russia a contract to expand the Paks nuclear plant and over its
support for the South Stream gas pipeline.
Meanwhile the US denied entry to six Hungarian public officials
on Monday in the light of corruption allegations. According to
Goodfried, their being banned was related to actions specific to
each individual, however, rather than Hungarian politics on the
whole.
Goodfried criticized Hungary for how it was veering away from the
rule of law which was consolidated after its switch to democracy
in 1989 and how it was not a good time to be debating the
protection and autonomy of Hungarians in Ukraine.
Orban has been calling for the autonomy of some 200,000
Hungarians who currently reside within Ukrainian borders.
“Particularly with calls for autonomy among Hungarian ethnic
nationals in Ukraine… this is not the time to have that
discussion,” Goodfriend said.
Hungary should “stand firm with the EU, with EU
sanctions” he added and should “understand the
sensitivities on the ethnic nationalism question”.
The country has been critical of EU sanctions on Russia.
Goodfriend stated that it was not the time for Hungary to
“break with its EU partners to criticize so publicly the
approach that the partners have taken”.
Hungary, however, is very much dependent on Russian gas supplies
and says that the South Stream pipeline would actively aid its
energy security.
Earlier in August Orban condemned the EU sanctions against Russia
likening them to “shooting oneself in the foot.”
Russia is Hungary’s largest trade partner outside of the EU, with
exports worth $3.4 billion in 2013.