Berlin – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the perspective on the migration between Hungary and Germany is very different.
Merkel made the remarks on Thursday at a joint news conference after a meeting with visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
As the sharpest critic of Merkel’s migration policy in the EU, Orban met with the German chancellor for the first time since May 2014.
His visit came amid the Germany’s ruling coalition parties are in a dispute over migration policy.
“The Chancellor and I see the world differently, but we strive for cooperation and I’m ready to work with the Chancellor,’’ Orban told newsmen.
Regarding a possible rejection of refugees to Hungary, Merkel explained that Germany has felt that Hungary seems to be not responsible for the Dublin rules, referring to the agreement on the dealing with asylum seekers in EU, which entered into force in 2013.
Orban replied that Hungary has built a fence on its southern borders to regain control over its territory, the move protecting not only Hungary but also Germany by not allowing refugees to enter Hungary.
“We feel hurt that we are accused by Germany of lack of solidarity.
“We protect our border with 8,000 armed soldiers for 24 hours, and that clearly means also a help for Germany, because refugees who are rejected, do not come to Germany,’’ said Orban.
Merkel-led Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union on Monday reached a compromise on asylum policy, agreeing to build refugee transit centres along Germany-Austria borders.
They also turned back asylum seekers already registered in other EU countries, in accordance with administrative agreements between two countries.
In an interview with German newspaper das Bild, Orban said Hungary was open for talks with Germany if Germany and Austria reach a migration agreement.
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer went to Vienna to discuss a possible agreement that Austria would be willing to accept certain refugees from the planned transit centres.
However, according to Das Bild, Austrian Vice Chancellor, Heinz-Christian Strache said Austria did not want to “be punished for the mistakes of German policy.
(Xinhua/NAN)