Hungarian President calls for closer ties with Armenia

President Katalin Novák, receiving Armenian counterpart Vahagn Khachaturyan in Budapest on Tuesday, said ties between the country should be strengthened and “filled with content”.

During his first official visit to Hungary, the Armenian president and Novák discussed “issues around peace in the world, Hungary’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Armenia, demographic challenges, bilateral ties, minorities, as well as a European outlook for Armenia,” Novák said.

Diplomatic ties with Armenia were re-established in 2022, and Khachaturyan is the second Armenian president to visit Hungary, Novák noted. At their talks, the two presidents also agreed to launch a cultural cooperation schedule for Hungary and Armenia.

The agreement signed on behalf of Hungary by Balázs Hankó, the deputy state secretary for higher education, caters to strengthening bilateral relations in higher education, science, technology and culture.

Regarding the Hungary Helps programme, in which Hungary has donated 40 million forints to Armenian families for medical care, another aspect of the scheme will enable around 1,000 children forced to leave their homes to camp in Hungary.

The president said the Armenian minority in Hungary, which was awarded government support of 2 billion forints between 2011 and 2023, was strengthening and developing, and the community has expanded by 18 percent since 2011.

Trade turnover grew eleven-fold to 29 million dollars over the span of 20 years. Hungary also offers 30 Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships to Armenian youth, she noted, adding that Hungary Helps also aids members of persecuted Christian communities.