Hungarian-Czech ties better than ever, say foreign ministers

Hungarian-Czech relations have never been as good in their thousand-year history as they are now, foreign ministers Janos Martonyi and Karel Schwarzenberg said in Prague on Tuesday.

"Although I have not examined the past thousand years, I agree that Hungarian-Czech relations are exceptionally good," Martonyi said in response to Schwarzenberg, who qualified the Prague talks "very important, very open and friendly".

"Successful bilateral and central European regional relations are reinforcing one another. I can justly declare that central Europe is cooperating and getting stronger," Martonyi said at a press conference.

Asked about Hungary's row with the EU, Martonyi said that Hungary maintained continuous dialogue with the European Commission and the EU member states and, on this score, it highly appreciated "compassion, sympathy, assistance and advice by our friends in central Europe".

The minister said that "all the disputed issues would be settled, all misunderstandings, distortions and unfounded accusations clarified."

"We are prepared to discuss anything but will not allow anyone to cast a doubt on our strong commitment to European values and democracy," he said.