Hungary to hold referendum on EU migrant quotaFebruary 24, 2016 - 18:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Hungary will hold a referendum on whether to accept mandatory EU quotas for migrants, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Wednesday, February 24 protesting that Brussels has no right to "redraw Europe's cultural and religious identity," AFP reports. "The government believes the decision about the mandatory relocation quota cannot be taken away from the Hungarian parliament," Orban told reporters, without disclosing a date for the nationwide ballot. "Apart from the Hungarian parliament no one else can decide," Orban said, speaking in parliament, AFP said. He said the referendum will ask voters: "Do you want the EU to prescribe the mandatory relocation of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without the approval of the Hungarian parliament?" "We cannot make above the heads of people, against the wishes of European people, decisions that seriously change their lives, and the lives of future generations," Orban added. "The quota could redraw Europe's cultural and religious identity. Neither Brussels nor any other European body is authorised to do that." Orban's government voted against an EU plan last September to distribute 160,000 asylum-seekers among member states under a quota system, but the scheme was nonetheless approved. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Armenian Foreign Minister regrets “tragic loss” of Iranian counterpart The Armenian Foreign Ministry has expressed shock over the death of the Iranian President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Armenian PM sends condolences to Iran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a message of condolence to the Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. |