Warsaw, Poland (AP) – The foreign ministers of the Four Visegrad Group countries in Europe spoke of cooperation to stimulate the economy and tourism after the pandemic and announced free travel between the Czech Republic and Hungary for people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
On Friday, the meeting was hosted by Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in Lodz, central Poland, and was attended by the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Poland currently holds the rotating leadership of the four countries of the Visegrad Group. Hungary will take office on July 1.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Zigarto said that close cooperation between economies that were among the most dynamic in Europe before the pandemic “will ensure the rapid recovery of our economies.”
Zigarto said the meeting would allow free travel for those vaccinated between the Czech Republic and neighboring Hungary, starting Saturday. This free travel between the Czech Republic and Poland is now possible.
“Vaccinations keep us safe and these people should be able to live and travel normally,” Cigarto told reporters.
He said Hungary, which has been criticized by the European Union for many of its policies, supports a strong Europe that respects Christian values and loneliness.
Czech Foreign Minister Jakob Kulhank also said he has talked about more comprehensive EU certifications that will allow travel around the 27-person building.
Ivan Korkuk from Slovakia emphasized the need for broader cooperation serving nations, for example in the field of culture and national heritage.
Rao said the group should continue to support Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and other European Union countries in fighting the pandemic, as well as in their ambitions to join European and transatlantic security and economic organizations.
He stressed that cooperation with the United States and NATO is the basis of the region’s security. He spoke at a time when neighboring Russia expanded its military activities along its western border.
Before the meeting, Rao said that climate policy and the introduction of new environmentally friendly technologies are another big problem for the four countries.
In March, the ministers held talks in Brussels with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
The ministers also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Visegrad Group in order to strengthen political and economic cooperation in the region.
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