Istanbul: Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto emphasized the significance of Trkiye as a "reliable and fair transit partner," focusing on Ankara's critical role in ensuring European energy security.

According to Anadolu Agency, Szijjarto, accompanied by Prime Minister Viktor Orban and others, attended the inaugural meeting of the Trkiye-Hungary Joint Consultation Mechanism in Istanbul. This meeting included foreign and defense ministers, national security advisers, and key figures in the defense industry.

Szijjarto highlighted the unity of both nations in advocating for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine. He noted Budapest and Ankara's joint condemnation of attacks on energy supply routes, whether involving oil pipelines in Russia or commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

Szijjarto stated that Trkiye would facilitate the transit of approximately 8 billion cubic meters of gas to Hungary via the TurkStream pipeline this year, underscoring Trkiye's role as a dependable partner.

In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations, Trkiye and Hungary signed agreements across various sectors, including aviation, security, technology, culture, and education.