Orlic meets with Orban

BUDAPEST - Serbian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlic met with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban in Budapest on Monday to discuss continued cooperation in all areas, as well as all crucial issues for the region and Europe.

According to a statement released by his office, Orlic noted that Serbia deeply appreciated the level of cooperation reached with Hungarian friends in nearly all areas, including implementation of the most significant infrastructure projects such as the construction of a Belgrade-Budapest high-speed rail line, mutual support regarding energy supplies or joint engagement with a view to preventing illegal migration.

He said a Serbia-Hungary intergovernmental agreement on friendly relations and cooperation in the field of strategic partnership, recently approved by the Serbian parliament, had left a mark on bilateral relations and guaranteed continued cooperation.

"The announced establishment of a strategic council of the two states will have a special significance. Also, we are extremely grateful for Hungary's support when it comes to gas storage and determination to cede those capacities to us during next winter as well. We are proud of everything we are doing together, as well as of the strong and sincere friendship between our two peoples," Orlic said.

The parties welcomed the intensive contacts between Serbian and Hungarian officials at all levels and, especially, the friendly relationship between the PM of Hungary and the president of Serbia.

"That friendship has produced only benefits for our two countries and our two peoples in recent years, and we sincerely want to continue to work together in that direction and towards that goal in the future as well," Orlic said.

The statement also said Orlic had thanked the Hungarian government for its treatment of Hungary's ethnic Serbs and the fact that their position had reached an all-time high in recent years.

He said Belgrade especially appreciated the strong and continued support Orban provided to Serbia on its EU path, as well as the clear and strong support on all major matters.

"We extremely respect and appreciate Hungary's friendship towards Serbia, the friendship we feel for you, too, and rest assured that, on our side, you can expect support and an outreached hand for any cooperation - always," Orlic said.