BUDAPEST, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Hungary sees Turkey as a strategic ally and a friend, and appreciates the role Turkey plays in guaranteeing European security, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto told here Friday at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"Without adhering to the EU-Turkey agreement on halting migration, sizable migratory pressures should be expected from the South, this is why security in Europe today begins in Turkey," Szijjarto stressed.
The minister explained that 4.5 million migrants were being cared for in Turkey and were not allowed to move towards the EU.
"Hungary also appreciates Turkey's role in the international fight against terrorism," Szijjarto underlined, adding cooperation in the area needs to be strengthened.
The Hungarian chief of diplomacy concluded by saying that relations between the EU and Turkey needed to be built on mutual respect and honesty.
"Hungary is an important ally, a good friend and partner, and although political relations are great, economic cooperation is good, there is much place for improvement," Cavusoglu said, adding that bilateral trade volume between the two countries needed to be increased.
He also thanked Hungary for standing by Turkey on many international forums, and for supporting Turkey's EU accession.
