NATO, EU diplomats boycott Budapest mayor’s “Peace Tree” planting since Karácsony invited Russian, Belarusian ambassadors

Somebody in the Budapest mayoral office made a shocking error by inviting the Russian and the Belarusian ambassadors to the planting of the Tree of Peace. Regularly, the two diplomats are not invited by the Budapest leadership to any of their events. Now, the Belarusian came, but several NATO and EU member states boycotted the celebration. Karácsony apologised.

Planting Tree of Peace with Russian diplomats in Budapest?

Michael Wallace Banach, apostolic nuncio to Hungary, and Gergely Karácsony, the Mayor of Budapest, planted the “Tree of Peace” on Margaret Island. However, several NATO and EU member states boycotted the celebratory event. Karácsony said in his short speech that the tree symbolises their commitment and unbroken desire for peace.

However, Karácsony’s office invited the Russian and the Belarusian ambassadors to the event. After Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the diplomats of the two states were persona non grata on such occasions. Several NATO and EU member states spotted the unwanted attendees when checking the recipients. Lots of them were outraged reading the names.

Gergely Karácsony speaking at another event. Photo: FB/Karácsony

Karácsony’s office apologises

Therefore, on Tuesday, they agreed on an event held at the Czech embassy in Budapest not to participate in Karácsony’s tree planting. Some NATO and EU member states attended the event. Szabad Európa wrote that for example Paul Fox, the ambassador of the United Kingdom, was among the attendees. The Belarusian ambassador was also there; however, probably his Russian colleague understood there was only a technical error and did not go.

Later, Karácsony’s office highlighted that there was an administrative mistake. They apologised and cleared that Karácsony’s condemnation concerning the Russian aggression in Ukraine is unchanged.

The Budapest Chain Bridge in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on 25 February, 2024. Photo: FB/Karácsony

NATO and EU diplomats do not boycott other events in Budapest

On the other hand, Hungary’s Foreign Affairs Ministry always invites the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to all events. For example, they held a traditional harvest for diplomats in the Tokaj Wine Region. Based on Szabad Európa’s information, diplomats from the Russian and Belarusian embassies participated in it. None of the embassies boycotted the event though they tried to keep their distance from their Russian and Belarusian colleagues at least while taking photos.

Furthermore, NATO, EU, Russian and Belarusian diplomats participated in the traditional “diplomatic run”.

Szabad Európa asked the British and the Russian embassies for comment but they have not received an answer yet.

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