Editorials & Other Articles

(Reuters) - Hungary should back European Union sanctions against Russia and not talk about granting autonomy for ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine at this time of instability, an American diplomat said in Budapest on Friday.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires André Goodfriend criticized some of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies towards Russia such as support for the South Stream gas pipeline and granting Russia a contract to expand Hungary's Paks nuclear plant in a process that he said lacked transparency.

This week the United States said six Hungarians - public servants or people with government connections - had been banned from entering the U.S. because of alleged corruption. Budapest has asked the U.S. to present the evidence for the allegations.

Goodfriend told a news conference on Friday that the ban was not based upon Hungarian policies, but was related to specific action taken by the individuals, whom he declined to name.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/24/us-hungary-usa-russia-idUSKCN0ID1YM20141024?rpc=401