The Politics HU

By MTI

Hungary’s Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai started a two-day official visit to Israel on Tuesday, marking the 20th anniversary of re-establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Bajnai met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed with him topical issues including the global crisis and further possibilities for bilateral cooperation, the Hungarian government spokesman told MTI. The talks also touched upon the Hungarian radical nationalist Jobbik party, Domokos Szollar said, adding that Bajnai had distanced himself - and the government - from the ideology of that party. Jobbik has raised questions but the answers it provides are "unacceptable, extremist, aggressive and anti-democratic," Szollar quoted Bajnai as saying.

Israel is "one of Hungary’s closest friends" in the region, Bajnai said at a meeting with President Shimon Peres. Hungary watches the situation in Iran with concern, Bajnai added.

The prime minister visited the Yad Vashem museum and commemorated the Hungarian Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

"We should learn from the past so that it should never repeat itself. The Hungarian government is highly committed to this," he said.

He noted that the government was supporting the idea of enacting a law on banning Holocaust denial and sought to join force with all democratic parties to quarantine extremist views.

On Wednesday, Bajnai will visit Ramallah to meet leaders of the Palestinian Authority.