Budapest - Hungary's main opposition party Fidesz on
Thursday said it expected Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany to take a
hard line with his Russian counterpart on energy issues when the two
men meet in Budapest Friday.
Viktor Zubkov and Gyurcsany are scheduled to meet on Friday to
discuss bilateral relations, energy issues and the establishment of a
Russian logistics centre in eastern Hungary.
The centre-right Fidesz's spokesman on foreign affairs Zsolt
Nemeth said that Gyurcsany should make it clear to Zubkov that
Hungary supports the EU-backed Nabucco gas pipeline over a Russian
alternative.
The Nabucco pipeline is aimed at easing concerns over a Russian
monopoly on gas supplies to Europe, but Hungary only recently threw
its full backing behind the project.
Fidesz, a party that grew out of anti-Soviet radicals active in
1980s Communist Hungary, has been a strong critic of the government
for cosying up to Russia over the last few years.
Gyurcsany's Hungarian Socialist Party is the natural successor of
the communist party from the Soviet era and is often accused of still
sticking to the old ideals despite displaying a clear capitalist
bent.
Fidesz leader Viktor Orban has previously said that Hungary is
letting 'Russia climb back in through the window' after kicking them
out of the door.
Nemeth said that Gyurcsany should also raise concerns over the
legitimacy of the recent Russian parliamentary elections, which saw a
sweeping victory for President Vladimir Putin's party.
Some foreign observers and Russian opposition figures have said
the elections were subject to manipulation.
Putin appointed Zubkov to replace Mikhail Fradkov as Russian Prime
Minister in September.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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