Hungary ready for all eventualities in Ukraine: PM

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-2-21 20:45:27

Since Hungary shares a border with Ukraine it was closely "following events," and was ready for all outcomes, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on public radio Friday morning after a brief visit to the border region.

While at the border on Thursday, Orban was briefed on preparations by the border guards, police, and hospitals.

Hungary has been closely watching events unfolding in the troubled country, the PM said, but was particularly concerned with its westernmost regions, where there are many ethnic Hungarians. While the Hungarians in Trans-Carpathia are concerned with happenings, they have not been subjected to any major problems, Orban said, adding that there was no "flood" of refugees moving towards the Hungarian border.

Nonetheless, Hungary was "ready for all eventualities," Orban underlined. Hungary has voiced its willingness to help in any way it can.

Given the tense situation, Hungary is paying close attention to the nuclear power plants operating in Ukraine and has set up radiation-monitoring equipment near the border, Orban said.

Ukraine was the scene of one of the worst nuclear disasters in history, in 1986, when the nuclear power-plant at Chernobyl exploded.

The members of the Central European Visegrad Group (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) have open hotlines with one another. They will meet within the next few days, and Hungary had contacts with the Ukrainian authorities and also got news from the opposition, Orban said.

Posted in: Europe

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