- Title: GERMANY-ORBAN Orban says Hungary has zero tolerance for "anti-European" policies
- Date: 6th November 2014
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 6, 2014) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF PRINZ CARL PALAIS, MUNICH GERMAN, EUROPEAN UNION AND HUNGARIAN FLAGS HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN'S CAR ARRIVING HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN GETTING OUT OF CAR AND SHAKING HANDS WITH BAVARIAN STATE PREMIER HORST SEEHOFER (CDU - CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION) ORBAN ORBAN AND SEEHOFER SHAKING HANDS ORBAN AND SEEHOFER ENTERING THE BUILDING ORBAN AND SEEHOFER SITTING AROUND TABLE ORBAN SEEHOFER AND ORBAN ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING (PLEASE NOTE INTERPRETER TRANSLATES INTO (German) PARTWAY THROUGH SOUNDBITE): "When it comes to policies that run contrary to European values [INTERPRETER TRANSLATING (German)], whether that be isolationism, anti-semitism or the denial of freedom, ([INTERPRETER TRANSLATING (German)], Hungary has zero tolerance." ORBAN'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING (PLEASE NOTE INTERPRETER TRANSLATES INTO (German) PARTWAY THROUGH SOUNDBITE): "It has become clear to me that in the area of foreign policy, [INTERPRETER TRANSLATING (German)], including the crisis in Ukraine and Russia, [INTERPRETER TRANSLATING (German)], including the sanctions against Russia, [INTERPRETER TRANSLATING (German)], that in order to proceed correctly, Hungary will view Germany as a compass." CAMERA ORBAN AND SEEHOFER LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 21st November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADFY8YZEVJWKKNAAVHCCOJ2LKF
- Story Text: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday (November 6) that Hungary would not tolerate policies that undermine European values.
"When it comes to policies that run contrary to European values, whether that be isolationism, anti-semitism or the denial of freedom, Hungary has zero tolerance," Orban said at a news conference in Munich with the Bavarian State Premier Horst Seehofer.
In a speech earlier this year, Orban had said he wanted to build an "illiberal state" that would still have freedoms but would put national values above Western-style liberal ideology.
Orban added that Hungary would monitor Germany's approach on the issue of further sanctions against Russia in the wake of the continuing Ukraine crisis.
"It has become clear to me that in the area of foreign policy, including the crisis in Ukraine and Russia, including the sanctions against Russia, that in order to proceed correctly, Hungary will view Germany as a compass," he said.
Hungary, along with some other eastern European countries, has previously criticised the European Union's economic sanctions against Russia.
Orban has recently come under fire for his policies regarding Russia, including criticism from the United States for his support for the South Stream gas pipeline and the government's decision to grant Russia a contract to expand Hungary's Paks nuclear plant.
Hungary, along with Poland and Slovakia, was one of three EU countries that had been pumping natural gas to Ukraine to partly replace shipments from Russia that were cut off in June.
Russia itself agreed on Thursday (October 30) to re-start gas deliveries to Ukraine after resolving a pricing dispute.
German media reported that a possible reason for Orban's presence in Munich was the sale earlier this year of the MKB-Bank to Hungary from Bavarian bank BayernLB.
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