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.