The Immigration and Citizenship Service is an independent body and the Hungarian Government cannot influence its decisions. Former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has passed the asylum procedure and the immigration service decided to issue a positive solution, Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s foreign minister said in an interview with the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

“The service is an independent body and the Hungarian government has no influence over its decisions. Gruevski’s asylum is a legal issue, not a political one,” said Szijjarto in the interview.

He stated that after Gruevski’s escape, the relations between Hungary and Macedonia have not changed.

“Our position is that Macedonia should have been invited to NATO. We are in favor of the full integration of Macedonia, we strongly support the sending of an invitation to NATO as soon as the name change procedure is completed by the two countries, and Macedonia says they have already completed it. Now Greece is on the move. They have our support and will have it, political, economic. I was clear to the Minister of Foreign Affairs – that legal issue will not affect our relations in any way,” said Szijjarto.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn does not agree with the “protection” that Hungary provides for Gruevski, and Szijjarto slammed him.

“Commissioner Hahn should mind his own business. His five-year mandate as Commissioner for the Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy was completely unsuccessful as there is no progress in terms of politics towards neighbors and therefore he should focus on his own job,” Hungary’s Foreign Minister said.