Hungarian-Latin American connections: Interview with Tamás Tóth, the secretary general of LATIMO

LATIMO. Maybe it is less well-known, but this is the organization that is working on encouraging the Hungarian – Latin American connections. And this is what we are talking about with Tamás Tóth, the former diplomat, GLOBS Magazine says.

GLOBS: What was the aim, when you decided to build this relation?

Tóth: One of the founders of the organization, Mr. Sándor Balogh – who is the recent president –, had quite of an experience, for example with Africa. Since, he continued a pioneer and very successful activity in that region, too. Then, during his life, he created lots of contacts with people who had some sort of Latin American connections. During these conversations, it became obvious for him that it would be necessary to establish such a formation in this region as well. Everybody who heard this idea was thrilled. And building the African connections were some sort of a precedent. So, with this background, everybody was more than welcoming this idea. It was more than a credit. It was a fuse.

GLOBS: But has LATIMO more of an economic aim?

Tóth: No. Not at all. We are talking here about a traditional civil organization. Though, sometimes we witness that the Hungarian – Latin American governmental connections are not so intense as in the case of LATIMO and some countries. But let me give an example. Not so long ago we were invited to an organization for meeting with Juan Manual Santos, the Columbian President. First of all, we were talking about how to enhance the connection between the two countries, and what are the economic possibilities. And this is the thing we are the post powerful in. We can bring people together, we can join the common aims. But I would rather use the phrase, we are building the channel to each other for their common good.

GLOBS: What was the foremost goal when founding LATIMO?

Tóth: 

LATIMO is mainly a supporter for every activity related to Latin America, that – of course – takes place in Hungary.

For explaining it clearer, we are promoting the organization of conferences as well as giving help for anybody, who would like to publish in this field, and – according to our financial possibilities – supporting them as well. Without being opinionated, I can say, we have reached this goal. LATIMO became a reference in Hungary according to Latin American connections. It clearly showed when – in the near past – the Argentinean ambassador’s and the Argentinean security expert’s travelling from Paris to Budapest were organized by the help of LATIMO.

GLOBS: What other fields are you working in?

Tóth: It is well-defined what we are working in the field of culture. For example, we have created a film about Pál Rosti – he was a Hungarian photographer and ethnographer who discovered the beauties of Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico. We have showed this film in the Cervantes Institution, a Spanish institution in Hungary. I am also very proud of that every year we keep a Latin American day for the student of the Károlyi Mihály Bilingual Secondary School to highlight the beauties of this region.

We have a complete library of Latin America, we are publishing in magazines, but also in literature and expert oriented magazines.

What is more, we have a member in this organization who is a wine expert. So, we are always writing about the wines of that regions, and also about Hungarian wines in local magazines there. And we have members with literature background also, thus they are helping us by publishing and republishing famous books in Hungary.

GLOBS: How could you describe the two cultures. Are there any parallels?

Tóth: The culture of humanity is built by diversity. If you understand this meaning, you can say, they are parallel. However, this also shows the differences and the diversity, but not just between these cultures. When I lived in Latin America, an Indian tribe lived at the side of the River Xingu in Brazil. They were completely away of civilization, so some Brazil documentary filmmakers made a series out of their life. And there is a moment of these series that I will never forget: the leader of the tribe is standing there in Adidas sneakers and holding a portable radio in his hand. The filmmakers had the right to ask how this is possible in the rainforest. The leader of the tribe answered. Why the achievements of humanity could not reach to the jungle? Why should they walk barefoot? They keep their ancient traditions, but they also live with the possibilities of the modern life.

I do believe, that we also learn these habits from each other as well as getting to know more about each other’s culture. And LATIMO is exactly working on this.

GLOBS: You, as a diplomat, what is your opinion. Can we speak a common language?

Tóth: We understand each other. We talk about the same, we have a similar religion, similar ethnic composition, similar rules and activities. We do like the same good wines, we prefer the same sports and Latin America has such deep white European routes, that connects it deeply with Hungary.

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Source: by Zsuzsa DEMCSÁK, Journalist – GLOBS Magazine