Hungary, Australia agree on migration issues

‍BUDAPEST, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hungary and Australia are fully in agreement on migration issues, namely on preserving the sovereignty of a country, maintaining security, mostly at the borders, and on addressing the root causes leading to migration, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Thursday.

The words came at a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

The Hungarian minister praised Australia's handling of illegal immigrants, while Bishop stressed that Australia did not want to teach other countries about migration management, but Australia was a good example of maintaining openness to refugees if they were settled in a government-determined, orderly manner.

"Australia is happy to share its migration experiences. Australia is a country of immigrants, the most successful multicultural country, all over the world," she said.

Bishop also told that her country believed in welcoming refugees but insisted on maintaining the country's sovereignty over migration policy.

In addition, "Hungary strongly supports the start of negotiations of a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Australia as soon as possible," Szijjarto pointed out, adding that he hoped for a speedy start of negotiations under the Bulgarian rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union(EU).

He told journalists that Hungary and Australia were committed partners in the fight against terrorism, for instance Hungarian and Australian soldiers were fighting the Islamic State in Iraq.