Hungarian press: Budapest backs Belgrade over Kosovo?

The media in neighboring Hungary today reacted to PM Vojislav Kostunica's official visit Tuesday. As far as Kosovo status process is concerned, Hungary has placed itself on the side of Serbia, but with certain reservations, conservative daily Magyar Hirlap said Wednesday, a day after Kostunica and his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Gyurcsany met. Hungarian press: Budapest backs Belgrade over Kosovo? The daily claims that the reason for such an assessment is the warning from Gyurcsany to all international factors that they should not make any unilateral moves when it comes to the Kosovo status. However, private TV2 claims that Gyurcsany did not give a clear answer as to whether Hungary would recognize Kosovo's independence if most European Union member countries opted for such a move despite a lack of appropriate UN resolution. Pointing to the fact that Kosovo status was the main topic of the talks Kostunica had with the officials in Budapest, the most influential left-wing daily Nepszabadsag says the official stand of the Hungarian government is that an agreement of the two sides is required for lasting stability and that any unilateral moves, as Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany pointed out, "would be more than just a mistake." In its online edition, the Budapest Times quotes an official with the Hungarian foreign ministry that "the UN Security Council deadline of December 10 for finding a settlement in Kosovo must not be allowed to be postponed." Laszlo Szoke, a foreign ministry undersecretary involved in the Kosovo issue, told MTI that developments between Belgrade and Pristina were a cause for serious concern. "The settlement of the question must not be postponed. If there is a delay, if things do not move forward, this will work in favor unilateral steps," said Szoke, adding this must be "strenuously avoided". He said the current precarious status-quo would not last. Szoke told MTI that Hungary, which maintains a peacekeeping force in Kosovo, seeks to avoid any kind of future armed conflict or demonstration of armed force in Kosovo. Such a possible eventuality could seriously destabilize the region, he said. He also said that Hungary's position on Kosovo had not changed, and called on the European Union to find a position on the issue, "which Hungary will follow."

Hungarian press: Budapest backs Belgrade over Kosovo?

The daily claims that the reason for such an assessment is the warning from Gyurcsany to all international factors that they should not make any unilateral moves when it comes to the Kosovo status.

However, private TV2 claims that Gyurcsany did not give a clear answer as to whether Hungary would recognize Kosovo's independence if most European Union member countries opted for such a move despite a lack of appropriate UN resolution.

Pointing to the fact that Kosovo status was the main topic of the talks Koštunica had with the officials in Budapest, the most influential left-wing daily Nepszabadsag says the official stand of the Hungarian government is that an agreement of the two sides is required for lasting stability and that any unilateral moves, as Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany pointed out, "would be more than just a mistake."

In its online edition, the Budapest Times quotes an official with the Hungarian foreign ministry that "the UN Security Council deadline of December 10 for finding a settlement in Kosovo must not be allowed to be postponed."

Laszlo Szoke, a foreign ministry undersecretary involved in the Kosovo issue, told MTI that developments between Belgrade and Priština were a cause for serious concern.

"The settlement of the question must not be postponed. If there is a delay, if things do not move forward, this will work in favor unilateral steps," said Szoke, adding this must be "strenuously avoided".

He said the current precarious status-quo would not last.

Szoke told MTI that Hungary, which maintains a peacekeeping force in Kosovo, seeks to avoid any kind of future armed conflict or demonstration of armed force in Kosovo.

Such a possible eventuality could seriously destabilize the region, he said.

He also said that Hungary's position on Kosovo had not changed, and called on the European Union to find a position on the issue, "which Hungary will follow."