Hungarian Foreign Minister and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto said that a solution to "the problems caused by the new US sanctions" against Russia's Gazprombank had been found, "so Hungary's energy supply remains on a stable basis," UNN reports, citing the Hungarian edition of ORIGO.
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Szijjártó, according to a statement from the Hungarian ministry on Friday, said in Sofia on Friday after talks with Bulgaria's president, energy minister and acting foreign minister, that "most of Hungary's natural gas imports are now coming through Bulgaria." He said that this year, more than seven billion cubic meters of natural gas have already been delivered to Hungary via the Turkish Stream pipeline, without which supplies to the country would not be guaranteed.
"Now both the Bulgarian President and the Minister of Energy have confirmed that we can count on Bulgaria to continue to be our reliable and predictable transit partner," he said.
"This way, natural gas supplies to Hungary can go unhindered through Bulgaria, which is important because the decision of the outgoing US administration to put Gazprombank on the sanctions list has put both Hungary and Bulgaria in a difficult situation," he said.
Szijjarto, as noted, explained that "Hungary pays for natural gas through a Russian financial institution, and Bulgaria receives money for transit from there." "And if these financial transactions cannot be carried out, Hungary will not receive natural gas either because it cannot pay for it or because it cannot come through Bulgaria," he warned.
In conclusion, Siyarto said that "this problem has been solved and that a legal and financial solution has been found, which has been accepted by all partners and is not subject to sanctions." "Colleagues will carry out the necessary legal work, and thus the supply of natural gas through Bulgaria will be absolutely guaranteed in the next period, despite the US restrictions, it is reassuring, good news in terms of Hungary's energy supply," he said.
Sijjarto also welcomed the fact that Bulgaria will become a member of the Schengen zone next year, which will ensure the free and unimpeded movement of goods and people, eliminating the current unfair conditions and long waiting times.
Siyarto, as noted, also touched upon the topic of Russia's war against Ukraine and emphasized that "the position of the Bulgarian president is similar to that of the Hungarian government." "It has been proved that there is no solution on the battlefield, there is only a diplomatic solution, and we sincerely hope that these healthy voices will be strengthened in Europe in the coming period thanks to the victory of President Donald Trump, and that this brutal war can finally be ended here, in our neighborhood," he concluded.