Foreign Minister Szijjártó warns against politicizing international organizations at WHO General Assembly
Hungarian Foreign Minister Raises Concerns Over Politicization of International Organizations
In a recent address to the general assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó expressed concerns over the politicization of international organizations in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Szijjártó highlighted that the Hungarian government considers this trend as “extremely dangerous” and emphasized the importance of professional and common-sense responses to crises.
Szijjártó pointed out that the ongoing war in Ukraine has led to significant geopolitical changes and the increased politicization of international agencies. He stressed the need for lessons to be learned from the pandemic, stating that approaching epidemics from an ideological standpoint could lead to more casualties. Hungary’s success in managing the pandemic, according to Szijjártó, was attributed to focusing on scientific achievements rather than political beliefs.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister also highlighted Hungary’s achievements in vaccination, describing it as “the fastest and most successful” campaign in the European Union. Looking ahead to Hungary’s upcoming EU presidency, Szijjártó outlined two health-related priorities. These include the development of a European cardiovascular strategy to address the leading cause of mortality in the EU, as well as the preparation of a European transplant strategy to combat the decrease in organ donations caused by the pandemic.
In light of these priorities and challenges, Szijjártó called for a collaborative and coordinated approach in tackling health issues at the EU level. The Hungarian government’s stance on political neutrality in international affairs, as evidenced by recent statements and actions, underscores its commitment to maintaining a pragmatic and science-based approach to global challenges.
