'Criticize Turkey less,' Hungary tells EU

BUDAPEST

The Hungarian foreign affairs and trade minister on Thursday urged the western European countries to “criticize Turkey less."

Peter Szijjarto and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu met during the Global Security Forum in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital.

After the meeting, Szijjarto wrote on Facebook: "The Europe's security is in the hands of Turkey," adding: "So it would be nice if our Western European friends would criticize them a little less."

The statement comes amid EU's apparent bias in Turkey's membership bid, and Eastern Mediterranean, where Ankara and Athens are at loggerheads over maritime rights.