GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are underlining their differences on the issue of migration, but say they are willing to keep talking.

Merkel told reporters Thursday at a joint news conference in Berlin that she wants to protect the Europe’s “humanity” when it comes to the way it treats migrants and “that is probably what separates us.”

Orban responded that Hungary’s position hasn’t changed since it closed its borders to migrants during the influx of 2015. He says his government considers the stationing of 8,000 guards along its border to be “pretty good solidarity” with Hungary’s fellow EU members.

Merkel agreed that the protection of Europe’s exterior borders is “important and justified” but says EU countries themselves need to accept some migrants, something Hungary has refused to do.

(SD-Agencies)