Hungary looking to upgrade diplomatic relations with Assad's Syria

Hungary could upgrade its diplomatic relations with the Syrian regime by sending a chargé d’affaires to Damascus, a move that is likely to anger allies within the EU.

The right-wing government in Budapest has been working on taking steps to re-open Hungary's embassy in Damascus, two European officials told The Financial Times, one describing the move as "annoying".

A chargé d’affaires would be responsible for the embassy in the absence of the ambassador, with Hungary's move marking the first diplomatic steps by an EU country towards full normalisation with Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"Ultimately it is for individual countries to decide their representation," one official from an EU country told the FT. "But we do not think the climate is right."

Right-wing populist Prime Minister Victor Orban is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin whose forces are aiding the Assad regime in Syria.

Hungary is viewed as a supporter of Syria's Christian minority but has taken a harsher line towards the mostly Muslim Syrian refugees who entered Europe after regime bombing and war forced them from their homes.

His government has also challenged the EU on several matters, with the diplomat move likely to anger powerful European countries such as the UK, Germany and France, who reject normalisation with the Assad regime.

Like many populist groups in Europe, Orban's government is believed to sympathise with the Syrian regime but others in Hungary are more explicit in their support for Assad.

The far-right Jobbik Party says on its website that it "stands for the Assad government... we hope that the Assad government will soon be able to stabilise the situation and continue its governmental activity in the interest of the Syrian people".