Szijjárto told Napi Gazdaság: “Whoever told them that there are general government restrictions in Hungary and pressure being put on civil organizations is not telling them the truth and are misleading them.”

Concerning criticism by Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs at the U.S. state department, the minister said: “Our region is inhabited by freedom-loving people, who do not tolerate anyone who would try to restrict their freedom or rights.”

He told both papers that Hungarian-U.S. relations are good and American companies provide jobs for 50,000 people in Hungary.