Hungary Prepares to Talk About New Gas Deal with Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto shake hands after their press conference in the Russian Foreign Ministry guest house in Moscow, Russia, 19 November 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Hungary has no other option but to talk to Russia about ensuring its natural gas supplies following the cancellation of South Stream and Nabucco gas pipeline projects, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday.

In an interview with The Associated Press Szijjarto said that with 85% of Hungary's gas supplies coming from Russia, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban “cannot afford not to talk to Russia" about signing a new deal on supplies.

Hungary’s current take-or-pay gas suppy contract with Russia will run out this year.

Szijjarto also said said the government wished “there were other solutions, but there are not."

Orban has said that negotiations about a new gas contract would top the agenda of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin who will visit Budapest next week.

Orban also said last week that Hungary can’t maintain government-mandated low utility prices without a new gas supply agreement with Russia.

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!