A high-ranking Hungarian official appreciated Iranian efforts to help promote stability in the Middle East and fight against the scourge of terrorism.
In a meeting with the visiting head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, in Budapest on Friday, Deputy Speaker of Hungarian National Assembly Janos Latorcai praised Iran's measures against the self-styled Islamic State militant group, a major cause of instability in the region and refugee crisis for Europe, IRNA reported.
More than a million people, nearly half of them fleeing Syria’s conflict and many others from Iraq, made their way to Europe’s shores in 2015.
Hungary is a major passageway for migrants and just last year, the country was struggling to cope with some 150,000 that crossed its borders. Latorcai acknowledged "deep-rooted" relations between the two countries, stressing the need for increasing cultural and scientific cooperation.
Pointing to the late November trip of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban to Tehran, Latorcai said it has prepared the ground for forging partnership. During the first visit by a Hungarian prime minister in 27 years, Iran and Hungary signed eight documents and memorandums of understanding on economic cooperation.
"These agreements have set the framework for Tehran-Budapest ties," he said. "By implementing them, the two sides should bring their nations closer."
Salehi said the time for closer interaction has arrived, pointing to the implementation of the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers on 16 January, which led to the removal of economic sanctions on Iran.
The vice president said to tap into newly appeared potentials from the removal of sanctions, the two sides should cultivate links in political and economic fields.
During his official two-day visit to Budapest, Salehi met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on Thursday.
After the meeting, Iran's top nuclear official said Iran has proposed a joint project with Hungary to design and develop a small nuclear reactor that could be sold across Asia and Africa.
Salehi also met Hungarian Deputy Minister of National Development Andras Aradszki and Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen on Thursday.
