Szijjarto: Strong EU-San Marino cooperation in Hungary's interest

Hungary has an interest in stronger cooperation between San Marino and the European Union, and can work with the southern European country effectively on the issue of national minorities, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said after talks with Luca Beccari, his San Marino counterpart, in Budapest on Monday. The pandemic has shown that there is a greater need for international cooperation based on mutual respect than ever before, Szijjarto told a press conference he held jointly with Beccari. Hungary is pushing for the EU and San Marino to sign an association agreement this year, he added. San Marino and Hungary are both proud of their respective national identities and their cultural, historic and religious heritage, and have no desire to give them up, Szijjarto said, adding that both countries attached great importance to the issue of national minorities.