INTERVIEW with H.E. Ignacio Ruiz, Colombia’s ambassador in Budapest

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz is the new high representative in Budapest of the Republic of Colombia, the country of Shakira, Juanes, Botero and Escarabajos. We asked him about his Budapest and Hungary impressions, the Hungarian-Colombian relationship, his opinion on the Hungarian gastronomy, how we can get to Colombia from Budapest, and what we should visit in the South American country. Here is the interview.

DNH: You are the new ambassador in Budapest, having been appointed a few months ago. Have you had a chance to get to know the city and the Hungarians?

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz: Yes, definitely Hungary is an appropiate place for exercising the diplomatic job. Also, I am plenty identified with the beauty of the city, its facilities to use the public transportation, the practical way the Hungarian live their daily life and I have also took a further step, one that many people do not dare to do: I am learning Hungarian language, taking a course twice a week.

DNH: And how has the reception been in the diplomatic arena?

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz: I presented credentials with four more ambassadors back in October 2022 and since then I have had no inconveniencies in my diplomatic job. The interaction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the different levels of the Hungarian public administration have been quite expedite. We, the latin-american ambassadors, are working together taking advantages of the similarities that our countries have towards Hungary, acting within a non-official but very active group, the so called GRULAC (latinamerican and Caribbean group). We are conscious that there is a lack of knowledge -not of interest- from Hungary to Latin-america, and viceversa. The trade between the two regions is notably low and one of my goals is to achieve an increased bilateral trade, currently with a notably surplus to Hungary.

DNH: Before you were appointed ambassador, what had you heard about Hungary?

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz: Lot of good things: in music from Ferenc Liszt to Béla Bartók, in sports from Ferenc Puskás to Zsuzsanna Jakabos, or admiring the worldwide known creations of genius like Bíró, Rubik or Houdini. And, of course, admiring the notable research of so many Hungarian that have achieved Nobel Prizes in chemistry, physical or medicine. And who can forget the extraordinary life of Cardinal Josef Mindszenty and all he did for the needed people facing dictatorial regimes. Besides that, I have the chance to visit some towns of the Hungarian country side and, of course, the fact that I landed on Budapest knowing already about the excellent hungarian wine and gastronomy.

DNH: Let’s start with the hardest part. We Hungarians have a lot of negative stereotypes about Colombia. (drug cartels, Escobar etc) Please correct these beliefs, introduce us the Colombia of today.

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz: The contemporary Colombia has a great asset: its people. Although we cannot hideaway realities that have deteriorated the image of our country, our people have built a country where the good representatives like García Márquez, the singers Shakira and Juanes, the painter Botero, the cycle riders like Nairo Quintana or Egan Bernal (so called Escarabajos) have showed a human potential that can overthrown those negatives stereotypes. We keep on building us as a nation and we do hope that the Peace Agreement of 2016 and the new initiatives about Total Peace, treatment of the worldwide problem of drugs or facing the climate change can squeeze the best of the Colombian strength leading us to the necessary peace that we deserve.

DNH: Colombia’s neighbours are going through difficult times, what do you think about the current political situation in the region?

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz: I want to start by saying that Colombia has friendly relations with all the neighborhood. Recently, relations with Venezuela were normalized after a period of tremendous difficulties that the common people went through being unable to develop their normal life in both sides of the border. Colombia hold ten consulates in Venezuelan territory that were closed, causing tremendous harm to thousands of Colombian population; now the situation is getting better. Colombia also belongs to regional organizations like the OAS (Organization of American States), The Andean Community, SELA, OTCA, is associated member of Mercosur, just to mention some of them. The regional integration is a clear and important chapter in the colombian foreign policy.

DNH: What can we know about the relations between the Colombian and Hungarian governments? And what are the business opportunities for Hungarian companies in Colombia? Conversely, what products from your country are offered to Hungarian customers?

Ambassador Ignacio Ruiz: First, let me point out that in 2023 the governments of Hungary and Colombia are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. This is an extraordinary occasion to celebrate the always friendly and mutual beneficial ties that bind us, and an opportunity to find new ways to bring our two countries closer.   We have always found in the Hungarian government a partner; we find common ground in many topics in the international arena and have an active cooperation in many areas.  Just to mention a few, In 2021 we signed an extension of the Stipendum Hungaricum academic exchange program, therefore we have seen a constant and increasing flow of Colombian students to Hungarian universities. Last October, the minister Péter Szijjártó signed an agreement with Colombia for raising -from 40 to 50- the number of places we have in this program.