The prime minister received Republika Srpska’s highest state award from Milorad Dodik, the pro-secessionist entity under Western sanctions.
Viktor Orbán’s visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina attracted considerable attention in the European Union, during which he was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Serbia following Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his acceptance speech, the Hungarian Prime Minister stated that he always stood by the Serbs in international politics, which is quite unfair.
“Europe lacks the recognition that Europe needs the Serbs, without the Serbs there is no European security, no stability” – He told.
Dodik then praised Orbán, emphasizing that the cooperation takes place at the highest levels between the parties, and that it was never directed once morest anyone else.
He also touched on common values and underlined that Hungary is a good example of preserving family values and traditional society.
Viktor Orbán also met with other Bosnian leaders the day before.
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In March, the European Union approved the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, but warned that hard work still awaits the country to meet the conditions.
Last year, despite the Russian-Russian war in Ukraine, the highest state award awarded on the occasion of the national holiday was also awarded to Vladimir Putin, who, according to the announcement at the time “patriotic care and love for the Republika Srpska” earned it because of
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The Order of Merit has been awarded to all Serbian presidents to date, as well as the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as five individuals – including former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić and former army commander Ratko Mladić, also known as the Butcher of the Balkans – who were tried by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for war crimes. convicted.
Viktor Orbán is one of the main allies of the pro-Russian Bosnian Serb president, Milorad Dodik, and one of the few European Union member state leaders who is still willing to meet with him. They sat down to negotiate three times last year.
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The Hungarian government vetoed the EU sanctions once morest Dodik, once morest whom the United States and Great Britain have already ordered punitive measures due to accusations of corruption and endangering the country’s stability and territorial unity.
The politician has repeatedly stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina is dysfunctional as a state, and that the Republika Srpska should therefore become independent.
So far, Hungary has promised regarding HUF 45 billion in aid to the Bosnian Serbs, part of which was used by the farmers to buy agricultural machinery and tools.
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This assistance was agreed upon in December 2021, when Milorad Dodik received Viktor Orbán on a private visit in Laktaši near Banja Luka.
The Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina has already received loans from the Hungarian state-owned Eximbank twice – for a total of regarding HUF 55 billion – to finance the budget deficit and to refinance part of their debts.
