Central America

Mexican-made COVID-19 vaccine could be ready this year

Mexico USA vaccine

Mexico aims to have developed a vaccine against COVID-19 that could be granted approval for emergency use this year, a senior official said on Tuesday, an outcome that could wean it off unreliable foreign supplies for its slow vaccination program.

The head of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt), Maria Elena Alvarez-Buylla, told a news conference that the vaccine under development could be granted approval in November or December of this year.

Clinical trials with volunteers could begin this month,

according to Avimex, the veterinary pharmaceutical company that is leading the vaccine’s development in Mexico. If the trails are successful, the “Patria” vaccine could help Mexico and other developing nations that have struggled to secure supplies of foreign-made shots that rich countries have snapped up.

Mexico has so far acquired 16.9 million vaccine doses for its population of 126 million, all from foreign companies including Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, CanSino and Sputnik V, according to government data. The costs to acquire Avimex’s vaccine would be 800% lower than imported foreign vaccines, the government said.

Mexico has reported 2,286,133 infections and 210,294 deaths

from COVID-19, the seventh-highest death toll per head of population in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The government says the real case numbers are likely to be significantly higher, and separate health ministry data suggests the actual death toll may be at least 60% above the confirmed figure.

​GLOBAL EFFORT

Patria is being developed with technology from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, based on a recombinant Newcastle virus and a HexaPro SARS-CoV-2 protein developed by the University of Texas at Austin.

The company said it used existing technology from its veterinary influenza vaccine, which has been proven safe for humans, for an effective COVID-19 vaccine. “After analyzing the technological platforms at its disposal, Avimex determined that a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (rNDV) has the potential for success for the COVID-19 vaccine,” the company said in a statement.

Other versions of the vaccine will enter clinical trials as injections in Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam.

These have the same molecular makeup using the HexaPro construction in rNDV, and are developed by the U.S. institutes and research partners in those countries.

Avimex’s version, however, is the only one to be tested using an active virus, a company spokeswoman said. The Avimex version is also the only one being tested as an intranasal spray as well as an injection, she said. Mexico’s foreign ministry and Conacyt contributed funding, Avimex said.

The company said it plans industrial-scale production at two new factories as soon as it has successful phase 1 and 2 trial results.

Mexico says COVID-19 deaths likely 60% higher than confirmed toll

mexico candle

Mexico’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is likely at least 60% higher than the confirmed number, putting it in excess of 300,000, according to government data.

Updated figures https://coronavirus.gob.mx/exceso-de-mortalidad-en-mexico on excess mortality in a table published by Mexico’s Health Ministry showed that by the end of the sixth week of this year, 294,287 fatalities “associated with COVID-19” had been registered on death certificates in Mexico.

That was 61.4% higher than the confirmed death toll of 182,301 given as a comparison in the same table.

That figure did not coincide precisely with a specific day from the Health Ministry’s daily bulletins, but more than 25,000 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported since mid-February. As of Sunday, the ministry’s confirmed toll stood at 201,623.

The government has long said Mexico’s real tally of COVID-19 deaths is likely significantly higher than the confirmed toll, which is one of the highest worldwide.

Relatively low testing rates in Mexico mean that many fatalities are not confirmed, but they may still appear in death certificates as suspected cases, experts say.

The higher death toll estimate was based on a word search of death certificates that mentioned “COVID-19” and other terms relating to the pandemic, the ministry said.

Total excess deaths in Mexico during the pandemic stood at 417,002 by the sixth week of 2021, according to the data.

Merkel Angela
Read alsoAngela Merkel incites German states to tighten restrictions due to worsening statistics

U.S. travel restrictions with Canada, Mexico extended for another month

skydiver-canada-usa-united-states

U.S. non-essential travel restrictions across its borders with Canada and Mexico will be extended for another month due to the COVID-19, U.S. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said on Monday.

Wolf said in a statement that three countries made the extension decision “in close collaboration.”

“As President Trump stated last week, border control, travel restrictions and other limitations remain critical to slowing the spread and allowing the phased opening of the country,” he added.

The Trump administration last month adopted several travel restrictions against its two land neighbors and European countries as COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across North America and Europe.

The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory remains at Level 4, which instructs its citizens to avoid all international travels amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus.


According to a tally from Johns Hopkins University, the number of COVID-19 infections in the country has surpassed 766,000 as of Monday, with more than 41,000 deaths.

Grill Beáta Head Nurse New York Főnővér Healthcare Worker Egészségügyi Dolgozó
Read alsoHungarian head nurse in New York talks about the coronavirus situation in the U.S.

The best archaeological sites to visit in Mexico this 2020

mexico chichen-itza

It is well known that in Mexico, we can find a great diversity of cultures along with the extension of this country. Cultures like the Toltec, Olmec, Mexica, among others, are part of Mexico’s cultural history. However, they are not as recognized as the Mayan Culture.

The Mayan culture has managed to position itself as one of the primary cultures not only in Mexico but in large parts of Latin America since there are temples that aren’t found in the Mexican country.

However, the most awarded ones can be found in the Riviera Maya and its surroundings. But there are other cities in the country that you can visit, and we are sure they will leave you speechless.

It should be noted that the Mayan culture was not the first culture or the last in Mexico. However, it is one of the most recognized internationally, and much of the tourism received in the Riviera Maya, and other parts of Mexico is usually to know the ancient cities of different cultures.

Yucatan

Dzibilchaltun

pyramid-mexico

These ruins can be found advancing along the Merida-Puerto Progreso road, turning off at the villages of Chablekal and Conkal, you will find these impressive ruins in the town of Dzibilchaltún.

The meaning of its name comes from four Mayan words: Dzib (writing), il (locative), chal (flat), and tun (stone), so you could say that it is known as the place where there is writing on flat rocks.

You can access these ruins from Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, the latter being open all year round.

Ek Balam

Ek Balam is a word in the Mayan language formed by the phrase Ek, which is called the color black and alludes to the stars and Balam, which in the Mayan language means jaguar.

The Mayans translate it into “Lucero-jaguar.”

In its time this city was a capital with great wealth, with a population estimated between 12 to 18 thousand inhabitants, it is said that the first ruler of name Ek’Balam or Coch Balam, arrived from the Middle East and governed this city for almost 40 years.

In these ruins, we can find a ball game court and an arch where a Sacbé ended, which is known to be a sacred road that connected with the other cities in other kingdoms of the Mayan Culture.

The leading site is known as Acropolis, and we can find a significant amount of vaults in different levels of the structure and passages, it is known to be one of the most significant buildings in Yucatan.

Riviera Maya

Archeological Zone of Tulum

mexico

 Reliable sources indicate that the name this site receives in Mayan is Zamá, which means tomorrow or dawn in the Mayan language. And the name of Tulum can be translated as wall. This can refer to the high wall that can be found here.

The archaeological zone of Tulum has five entrances and two watchtowers, as well as an impressive view of the Caribbean Sea, which is located to the east.

It is located at Km. 230 of the federal highway Chetumal – Canún, south of Cancun, and is easily accessible by national road 370.

Therefore it is highly recommended that if you want to know this site can rent a car with City Cancun Car Rental this to be more easily accessible from the city of Tulum and only enter the road to avoid struggling so much.

However, if you are located in Cancun, you can rent a car at Cancun Airport, to venture on the road and enjoy the breathtaking scenery you can find there.

Xcaret Archaeological Zone

To get to the ruins, you only need to get to Xcaret Park. You don’t have to pay a park ticket to enter the ruins. They have their access. The ruins are open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 09:00 am to 3:00 pm.

To get there, you can take the Cancun – Chetumal 307 highway to the south.

One of the most significant recommendations we can make is to hire a Cancun Shuttle Transportation, because this way you could look for a private tour, to have a better experience in the site.

Hungarian tourists raped a 65-year-old woman in the Dominican Republic?

Hungary Dominica rape police

Two Hungarians are suspected by local police of having raped a 65-year-old woman who spent her honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

According to Hvg, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade acknowledged that local authorities arrested two Hungarian citizens but did not reveal any details, emphasising that the case is still under investigation. The local police suspect them of raping a 65-year-old American woman who was on her honeymoon on the island. According to the ministry, the Hungarian honorary consul in Havana (Cuba) is helping the two Hungarians and their families. They are continuously in touch and, for example, the consul

was already able to find an attorney for them.

The Dominican Republic welcomed 6.5 million tourists in 2018.

The two Hungarian men are waiting for the decision of the local court in remand.

Based on the information of Blikk, however, they stated that they had simply satisfied the woman, but they regretted it afterwards. The sexual act was later reported to the police by the woman’s husband, and only two days later did the woman say that it was rape.

The magazine wrote that if the two men are found guilty, they can be held in one of the 42 Dominican prisons. However, these are all overcrowded, and there are more than twice as many prisoners as there is room available for them. In the Dominican Republic,

everything depends on contacts and money.

If they can pay enough, they can leave the country in a couple of days.

Otherwise, they can be imprisoned even if they are not guilty. And for a foreigner, a prison sentence can easily become a life sentence since riots and gang fights are frequent in the prisons, so without money and good contacts, one can easily be murdered.

Rolando Villazon to sing in Budapest Palace of Arts

Rolando Villazon

Tenorist Roland Villazon will perform Spanish and Latin American songs at the Budapest Palace of Arts (Müpa) on October 1, organisers said.

Villazon returns to the Budapest Müpa after two years. He will be accompanied by pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson.

Born in Mexico City, Villazon first burst onto the operatic scene as the winner of several prizes at Placido Domingo’s Operalia festival in 1999.

Since then, he has performed in A-listed opera houses such as the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, the Vienna Opernhaus and the Staatsoper Berlin. He made his debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 2004 and at the Salzburger Festspiele in 2005.

Villazon also works as an opera director and writer.

As organizers said, at this concert, the tenor will be guiding the audience through a relatively unfamiliar world: the Spanish and Latin American songs he has selected will captivate listeners with their unique atmosphere, vibrant temperament and exotic colours.

More details HERE.

https://dailynewshungary.com/news_to_go/in-october-eros-ramazzotti-concert-in-budapest/

Hungary officials discusses economic cooperation with Cuba

cuba flag

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó discussed bilateral economic cooperation with Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a vice president of Cuba’s Council of Ministers, in Budapest on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said.

The European Union and Cuba signed an agreement on political dialogue and cooperation in 2016, under which EU countries maintain relations with Cuba, the ministry said in a statement.

The focus areas of Hungarian-Cuban economic cooperation include water management and food industry.

In that framework, a Hungarian water purification plant has been installed in an area hit by Hurricane Irma to supply drinking water to 5,000 local residents.

There are further Hungarian projects planned as part of the modernisation of Cuba’s water management.

The Cuban government is seeking to boost domestic food production to substitute imports and plans to set up chicken and pig farms with the involvement of Hungarian companies.

Talks about financing these investment projects are under way with the International Investment Bank (IIB), the statement said.

As we wrote on April, Hungary’s Eximbank signed an agreement with Latin American development bank Bancomext of Mexico on supporting Hungarian corporate investments in Mexico, details HERE.

Hungary to open consular, trade mission in Panama

Budapest listed as the most liveable city in Eastern Europe

Budapest city lights tourism

The Economist publishes its ranking of the most liveable cities in the world every year. The points are given based on more than 30 different aspects that contribute to the result. In the past few years, Melbourne and Vienna got first place (the latter won this year as well), but Budapest has nothing to be ashamed of, either, because it got the most points in the region. 

Among the aspects of the ranking made by The Economist, there are qualitative and quantitative factors as well, e.g., infrastructure, transport, health care, culture, environmental economy, stability, education, etc. There are four ranking categories of them: acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, and unacceptable – according to Roadster.hu. 

Chain Bridge – Budapest

The maximum number of points that can be given is 100, and Vienna got 99.1 this year. Thus, it became the most liveable city in the world this year as well. Vienna is followed by Melbourne, Sydney, Osaka, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Tokyo, and Copenhagen. Adelaide got tenth place.

Life is the best in Canada and Australia in general, but the living standards are high in Japan as well. Among the first ten places on the list, we can see only two European cities. 

Interestingly, Denmark is the only Scandinavian country that excelled this year. In Western Europe, only Paris rose above the regional average, while London, Rome, and Athens are under it. Budapest has always performed well in international competitions.

In the Eastern European region, Budapest is in the first place, leaving Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, and Kyiv behind with more than 90 points. 

Budapest has already been among the most liveable cities of Eastern Europe on the same list before. 

Budapest, night, Hungary, cheapest
Scenery of Budapest

The USA is far behind Canada – Los Angeles and New York City got points below the regional average. Buenos Aires is the most liveable metropolis of Latin America. The most significant problems can be seen in Mexico City and Caracas. 

In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates has the most points, but Tel-Aviv is in a decent place on the list as well. Meanwhile, the ranks of Cairo and Damascus are critical. The most liveable city in Africa is still Johannesburg. Apart from Japan, only Shanghai and Beijing offer a comfortable daily life, according to the survey. 

Hungary to open consular, trade mission in Panama

panama hungary

Hungary will open a diplomatic mission to handle trade and consular affairs in Panama, the foreign minister said on Wednesday, ahead of talks in Panama City.

Péter Szijjártó told MTI by phone that he will meet with President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado and Trade and Industry Minister Nestor Gonzalez. A meeting is also scheduled with Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa Mendieta.

The foreign minister said he will sign with his partners a higher education cooperation agreement on grants for Panamanian students to study at Hungarian universities.

It is important for Hungary to set up a bridgehead in Panama, a country which is important from a strategic, security, trade and transportation point of view due to its location along the Panama Canal, Szijjártó said.

To promote bilateral economic cooperation, the government has opened a 160 million dollar credit line with Eximbank to support Hungarian businesses’ investments in Panama,

he said, noting prospective cooperation primarily in water management.

As we wrote yesterday, Hungary’s Eximbank signed an agreement with Latin American development bank Bancomext of Mexico on supporting Hungarian corporate investments in Mexico, read more HERE.

Hungarian Eximbank signs deal with Bancomext in Mexico

szijjártó Mexico

Hungary’s Eximbank signed an agreement with Latin American development bank Bancomext of Mexico on supporting Hungarian corporate investments in Mexico, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Also, Eximbank staff will get training at the Mexican bank.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said at the signing event that Hungary had launched its “opening to the south” scheme to develop closer cooperation with countries in Latin America five years ago. The success of the scheme is well demonstrated by the fact that Mexico has become Hungary’s number one trading partner in Latin America, he added.

Hungarian exports to Mexico reached 877 million dollars last year, so they currently dominate bilateral trade which totaled over 1 billion dollars, Szijjártó said. Budapest is determined to further increase this figure, he added.

Szijjártó said more and more companies were expressing interest in Mexico and Hungary should have flagship companies, such as Richter and Graphisoft, which are followed by smaller companies, including medical equipment manufacturers, food industry companies, car industry suppliers and firms involved in water management, he added.

Last year, Richter’s revenue from Latin America exceeded 30 million euros, he said. A Hungarian plant owned by Mexican company Nemak, which has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Hungarian government, supplies almost all large car makers around the world, he added.

“Considering the great geographical distance between the two countries, it is important to help our companies and give them … backing for cooperation,” he said. As a result, the Hungarian government has opened a 620 million dollar credit line to help the activities of Hungarian companies in Mexico and finance Hungarian-Mexican intercompany cooperation through Eximbank, Szijjártó said.

“I believe the next step in advancing Hungarian-Mexican economic relations to a new dimension would be to go beyond trading with each other, and in addition to us selling products here and you investing in our country, Hungarian companies would start investing here,” he said.

“The support by Bancomext and the training provided under its arrangements will be necessary components of that process,” he added.

In international economic cooperation Hungary concentrates on areas where know-how is important, such as food industry and agriculture, he said. Hungary’s constitution guarantees that its agriculture and food industry remain GMO free, he added.

Szijjártó said an agreement between Hungary’s fishing research institute within the national agricultural research and innovation centre and a Mexican partner was highly important, and he expressed hope that cooperation based on technology transfer and know-how would be successful and beneficial to both sides, despite the great distance.

Hungary’s agriculture accounts for 7 percent of GDP, he noted. But if the money spent on agricultural research, the accumulated know-how and technology, food processing and agricultural machine industry are also added, then the ratio is around 16-17 percent, which is very significant, he added.

“We are supporters of free trade,” he said. “We believe that the more liberalised global trading is, the better can we make use of the opportunities … when it comes to bringing global cooperation between the European Union and Mexico up to date,” he added.

Also we wrote today, Szijjártó held talks in Mexico on economic issues and he is scheduled to sign an agreement on Hungary granting EUR 6.23m for the rebuilding of two Catholic churches in Mexico.

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Hungary signs an agreement on aid to Mexico church reconstruction

mexico hungary foreign ministers

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held talks in Mexico on economic issues on Tuesday and he is scheduled to sign an agreement on Hungary granting 2 billion forints (EUR 6.23m) for the rebuilding of two Catholic churches in Mexico.

Szijjártó told MTI by phone that he had met Mexican Minister of Economy Graciela Marquez Colin.

The Hungarian government launched a policy of opening to the south in 2015 which placed emphasis on cooperation with Latin American countries with fast-growing economies, he added.

The development of Mexican-Hungarian relations has well demonstrated the success of the scheme, Szijjártó said. Mexico is Hungary’s number one trade partner in the region, with bilateral trade exceeding 1 billion dollars last year, including 875 million dollars of exports, he added.

The Mexican economy is the second most significant in Latin America, after Brazil’s,

he said. Mexico’s growing car industry is seeking European partners and import demand is large for pharmaceuticals and health equipment. The challenges faced by Mexico’s agriculture have generated interest in European irrigation technologies, he added.

Opportunities for Hungarian businesses are available in the Mexican market in those four areas, Szijjártó said. Additionally, the government has opened a 620 million dollar credit line in Eximbank to help Hungarian companies’ activities in Mexico, he said.

The fact that Mexico is the world’s second largest Catholic country is also important, “creating a link with Hungary which has been a Christian country for a thousand years”, he said.

Mexico was hit by a serious earthquake in 2017 which caused damages in churches, Szijjártó said. He added that

he would sign an agreement with Minister of Culture Alejandra Fausto on support for the rebuilding of two Catholic churches. One of them is a cloister in the countryside and the other is in the centre of Mexico City. The latter’s painted windows are illustrated with images of Hungarian saints, he said.

AMBASSADOR OF MEXICO TO HUNGARY: INCREASING THE PRESENCE OF MEXICO IN HUNGARY IS MY MAIN AIM – INTERVIEW

Mexico extradites Hungarian fugitive

The Mexican authorities have extradited a Hungarian man suspected of having attempted homicide 17 years ago in Budapest, the national police said on Thursday.

The Hungarian authorities launched an investigation into the case in which the suspect, identified as Balázs B, had allegedly stabbed three hotel employees as they sought to prevent him and his accomplices from robbing a hotel room in Budapest in September 2001.

The suspects managed to escape from the scene, the police said in a statement.

The suspect, who was using false identification documents, was detained at the request of Hungarian authorities in Mexico on June 27 and taken to Hungary on Wednesday, they said.

Legal proceedings are under way.

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

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.

Tamás Tóth the secretary general of LATIMOGLOBS: 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.

If you would like to read more interesting articles on GLOBS Magazine, please click HERE
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The Latin American-Hungarian Union – LATIMO

south america argentina brazil equador costa rica

The Latin American – Hungarian Union (LATIMO) was founded six years ago with the purpose of supporting and – as an NGO – help, in its own way, to revive the multi-faceted cooperation between Hungary and Latin-American countries, as well as maintain the pre-existing friendly relations and the dialogue between the two cultures, says GLOBS Magazine.

latimologo_capitalThe union began its work at a time when it was still necessary to “put back” the thought of Latin America into the minds of Hungarians. The constantly expanding network of the past years is a proof that LATIMO could be proud of their work in these years:

Latin America is not as far as the kilometers would suggest.

The Latin American ambassador, accredited to our home, has been won over to this noble cause, and during the past years, meetings and mutually organized events (to which the members of the union have done their best to provide assistance) have become frequent. And, perhaps, it is not exaggerating to state that LATIMO has become a useful partner of the embassy this past period.

At the founding meeting of the union in 2012, where the Latin American consuls working in Hungary were also present, Sándor Balogh was chosen as its president, and Tamás Tóth, Hungary’s former ambassador of Chile, was chosen as its secretary.

The founding members include public figures, businessmen, ex- and current diplomats, representatives of the media and people who interested in the area for personal reasons.

In its first years, the union published a Latin American online journal called Latimoport, with Zsuzsa Kaszab working as editor in chief and Márton Hardy as her associate: with daily updates, the online newspaper, in addition to political, economic, cultural and sports news also published local reports, trivia and travel news. Today, Latin American news are published on the online platform called Globoport.

In the past years, it was LATIMO who remained in touch with all the official organizations and NGO’s whose work was in some way connected to the South American continent’s countries.

These include Latin American performers’ concerts, artists’ and photographers’ exhibitions that were financially supported or organized by LATIMO, as well as conversations centered around current political issues with visiting Latin American government officials, businessmen, and prominent figures of the Latin American scientific sphere. One such example is the meeting with the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, who came to Hungary to an official visit, where LATIMO was present as well. columbia hungary

The union keeps in contact with the departments of Hungarian universities that are connected to Latin America, and supports the dissemination of books or other publications.

If you would like to read more interesting articles on GLOBS Magazine, please click HERE
or you can buy online The GLOBS Magazine on DigitalStand 

Relations in the field of higher education between Hungary and Latin America

university-education-school-class

In recent years, relations in the field of higher education between Hungary and Latin America have developed significantly, among other reasons due to the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme launched by the Government of Hungary in 2013, GLOBS Magazine said.

The mobility programme which is available for students and researchers at undergraduate, graduate and PH.D. level in all scientific fields (based on bilateral agreements on education between Hungary and the specific sending partner) offers vacancies at Hungarian higher education institutions by providing free tuition, accommodation aid, insurance and monthly allowance. The core mission of the programme is to increase the number of foreign students in Hungary and to encourage higher education institutions to attract top foreign students.

Currently, seven partners are engaged in the programme from the Latin American region, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Educational pursuits have been further fostered when in March 2015 the Hungarian government launched its strategy of opening to the south, focusing on two rapidly emerging regions, Latin America (together with the Caribbean), and Africa. In the framework of the southern opening policy, in the last two years, several Hungarian diplomatic missions and trade representations were (re)opened in the region, such as the Trading House in Santiago de Chile and in Mexico City (2015), the General Consulate in Sao Paulo (2015), and the Embassy in Bogotá and Peru (2017).

As a good example of the flourishing collaborations, the Hungarian-Brazilian educational relations were given a new impetus in 2012 with Hungary’s accession to the “Science without Borders” scholarship programme. The programme, launched by the Brazilian government, enabled 101000 Brazilian BSc and PhD students to study abroad in the fields of natural sciences, health sciences, applied sciences, computer sciences, creative sciences, engineering and technology in the period between 2012-16.

In Hungary, the programme has been centrally coordinated by the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference (HRC), and altogether almost 2200 Brazilian students studied at Hungarian universities, which number has made Hungary the 12th most popular destination of Brasilian students among the partner countries around the world.

The foundations of the Central Bank of Hungary also put special emphasis on higher education programs related to the Latin American region. In the spirit of promoting cultural exchange with Latin American countries, in May 2015, Hungarian language and culture courses were launched at the University of Sao Paulo, the biggest university of Latin-America and the most prominent educational and research potential at the region. The project has been realized in the framework of the professional cooperation of the University of Pécs (PTE) and the University of Sao Paulo; was supported by the Pallas Athené Domus Animae Foundation (PADA) with the professional contribution of the HRC. The PADA took the responsibility of maintaining the programme at least for five years; therefore, the possibility of learning Hungarian language and to gain broader knowledge about the country’s culture is guaranteed in long-term. The course is free to all participants, currently welcoming around 100 students learning Hungarian at different levels, uniting the Hungarian diaspora community as well as advocating Hungarian culture to locals and fortifying cultural, educational and economic ties between Brazil and Hungary. Due to the success of the course, in September 2017, another course was launched at the University of Ceará in Fortaleza with the collaboration of Eötvös Loránd University; and plans have been made to expand the initiative to other South American capitals, such as Buenos Aires or Havana.

The Geopolitics and Geoeconomics PhD Program hosted by the University of Pécs and the Pallas Athene Foundations of the Central Bank is also a good example for international scientific collaborations, as various Latin American  lecturers, among others Ambassador Veronica Chahin from Chile, Ambassador Julio César Cancio Ferrer from the Republic of Cuba, Dr. Mercedes Botto from the FLACSO Institute of Argentina and Prof. Roberto Paulo Feldmann from the University of Sao Paulo contributed to the course’ success. Also, “Geoeconomics and Geopolitics of the 21st Century” conference was held in Sao Paulo and Santiago de Chile in November 2016, co-organized by the University of Pécs, the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Chile.

Exchange of students is also among the focus points: Colombian students had the opportunity to learn about the European economic and legal system in the framework of the”Understanding Economic Regulation to European Union Approach” summer program organized by the Corvinus University of Budapest and led by Dr. Ildikó Szegedy-Maszák, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Colombia; meanwhile, Pallas Athene Domus Mentis Foundation (PADMA) funded nine Hungarian students’ participation at the summer program of the University of Chile.

Cooperation agreements signed between national organizations has always had special importance in determining the main directions and trends of development, and the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, as a unique organization representing all Hungarian higher education institutions, is a great advocate of establishing, maintaining and expanding educational ties. In the autumn of 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Mr. René Ramirez, Secretary for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ecuador (SENESCYT) and Prof. Dr. József Bódis, President of the HRC, and in March 2016, the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) and the HRC have signed a MoU in order to promote and strengthen common activities in the fields of academic exchange and research activities.

Regarding the most recent higher education related activities in the Latin American region, Tempus Public Foundation (TPF) with the cooperation of 8 Hungarian higher education institutions and the HRC attended the „Salao do Estudante 2017” education fair organized in three cities in Brazil – Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte; Dr Zoltán Dubéczi, Secretary General of the HRC was invited to give a presentation on ‘The role of universities in regional development’ at the EU-CELAC Summit at the University of El Salvador; while a Chilean delegation from the Association of Regional Universities (AUR) visited Hungary to study Hungarian universities’ role in reducing socioeconomic inequalities, and to discuss their experiences especially their integration in the geographical neighbourhood, particularly in regions outside Budapest.

The next strategic platform for deepening inter-governmental, scientific, technological and educational cooperation between Hungary and Latin American countries is the 3rdHungary-Latin America Forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were held in Budapest on 15-17 November 2017.

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Ambassador of Mexico to Hungary: Increasing the presence of Mexico in Hungary is my main aim – Interview

by Anna POPPER, Courtesy of Diplomatic Magazine

Interview with H.E. David R. Nájera, Ambassador of Mexico to Hungary – Diplomatic Magazine

Your Excellency, after the highly destructive earthquake in Mexico City, on behalf of the Diplomatic Magazine I would like to express our condolences and solidarity with the Mexican people and with the families of the victims.

Many thanks to you and to all the people, who jointly expressed their regret for the earthquakes in Mexico. Solidarity is the best gift that can be given in this misfortune and my nation appreciates it.

Could You describe the current status of the Mexican-Hungarian relationship?

Political and diplomatic relations are excellent but an optimal level in the economic field hasn’t been achieved. Both countries have much to offer and currently, we are working on this. Mexico is the main destination of the Hungarian investments in Latin America.

For Mexico, Hungary can constitute an important economic partner in Central Europe. The bilateral cooperation fields are varied: auto parts, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, hydric resources, new technologies and the so-called smart cities. In international forums, we actively participate and maintain similar policies on issues such as climate change and the conservation of water resources. Both governments offer its support for the candidacies in international organizations.

How to develop the economic ties between the two countries?

The 3rd meeting of the Joint Economic Commission Mexico-Hungary will take place in November in Budapest. In parallel, a Mexico-Hungary business forum will be held and we expect the participation of Mexican companies (particularly SMEs) that are interested in cooperating with Hungarian companies.

Mexico is one of the world’s largest economies. What are its main sectors?

Mexico is a relevant actor on the automotive industry and fully integrated in North America. With a strong manufacture sector that has expanded to more and more complex both on technological aspects as well as innovation, complexity and logistics. We are quite strong in the aeronautical industry and have a developed agro-industrial sector.

We trade one million US dollars every minute through our Northern border, where we have a million legal crossings every day that reflect the dynamic of our society and economy.

Tourism is one of our strongest sectors (8.7% of GDP). With more than 34 million visitors last year, Mexico is already the 8th world top destination. We will have received around 6,000 Hungarians visiting our country in 2017, certainly, at the Mexican Embassy, we have the challenge to motivate more Hungarians to discover the wide array of options that Mexico offers.

What do You think are the most significant challenges that Your society faces today and the priorities of the Mexican politics as a regional power?

The Mexican society is dynamic and adapts quickly to the changes at the global level, a significant percentage of our population is under 30 years, which represents a fundamental workforce for the development of the country. A profound educational reform is currently being implemented to prepare the young people to be more competitive for this new century. This makes our society participate actively in the political, economic and social changes that the country needs.

We have a Congress composed of parties with multiple political tendencies. Democracy is an imperative for my country.

In the international arena, we want to have good relations with all nations. Naturally, we concentrate a huge part of our activities on the American continent. In fact, we have an important political and economic presence in Latin America.

Mexico is a member of the G20 and the OECD among others. Also in this context, we want to strengthen our relations with the most important economies of the world and to participate on solving the problems that affect the international community. We have also signed free trade agreements (including EU) that link us with 54 different national economies, which makes my country one of the most open economies in the world and ready to work for mutual benefits.

What is the heritage of Mexico from its five great ancient civilizations: the Maya, the Aztec, the Toltec, the Olmec and the Teotihuacan?

The Mexican nation is a direct result from the mestization of European Christian influence and the polytheistic cosmogony of pre-Hispanic civilizations. Mexico was built on that heritage that characterizes us and makes us proud. These great civilizations stand out for their monumental architecture and for their influence in our traditions and everyday lifestyle. The continuity of these civilizations is seen in many aspects of our culture such as our cuisine, national holidays, our version of the Spanish language and the 12 million Mexicans, who belong to different ethnic groups with their native tongue and culture. Mexico’s young population has integrated our rich history into contemporary trends such as music, architecture, plastic arts and business.

Not many people know that Mexico is multilingual country.

Spanish is the official language of Mexico, the recognition of Amerindian languages as part of the national languages guarantees the right of bilingual education and respect to customs and cultures of indigenous groups.

With 120 million inhabitants, Mexico is the largest of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries in the world.

It is also relevant to refer to the almost 18 million Mexican and American of Mexican origin living in the United States that constitutes a dynamic community by itself.

The language and cultural identity that characterizes the majority of Latin American countries is also reflected in the reality of peaceful coexistence of the people in that region. The recent development of a group of Spanish-speaking diplomats here in Budapest that includes colleagues from all nations in the world reflects the expanding growth and use of this language.

What are the advantages of the cultural diplomacy that You practice very actively?

Historically, Mexico has sought out to promote its culture in international relations, this is a way to increase its presence in society, to project its values and contribute to coexistence. Nowadays, when the concept of “soft power” is in force in the international strategy of the countries, I would like to emphasize that culture as a means of promoting México is a historical component of our foreign policy and does not seek to impose any power with it. On the contrary, we consider that the understanding between nations passes precisely through the knowledge of others, a path that allows peaceful and constructive solutions to international challenges.

Tell us please, how did You become a diplomat?

I will tell you a personal story: when my wife, who was then only a friend, whom I was infatuated with told me that she would not be able to see me for a prolonged period, because she had to prepare for her entrance to the foreign service, I searched for an opportunity to accompany her in preparation. Her friends suggested that I should tutor them in a few subjects of my expertise at the time, which allowed also me to stay in touch with her. When those lessons ended, they told me that I should apply for entry to the diplomatic service. So, this has been a career for love of my country and my family. My wife is currently the Alternate Representative of Mexico to multilateral organizations in London and we see each other as many times as our agendas allow it and that includes my daughter. She recently started her bachelor studies in London at King’s College, no question that she’s going on to become an International Relations graduate in the future.

As Ambassador to Hungary there is an opportunity to foster the relations that have been historically friendly but requires a greater commercial and cultural boost that will bring our societies closer. I can see many similarities between both countries and we share core values and views about the international scene in many aspects. Increasing the presence of Mexico in Hungary is my main aim.

How do You spend Your leisure time for recharging Your inner batteries?

For many years, I had considered photography as a possible professional option so, to this day I do not like to refer to it as a hobby. It’s a fundamental language that I dedicate time to, almost as much as reading and without doubt Hungarian literature is full of great writers so I have a big challenge waiting me at home.

Photos by Timea Drobilich

Wait… is there a Balaton in the USA?

Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu reports that in fact, there is an American town that has the same name as the “Hungarian Sea”, the Balaton. Who were its founders? When was it founded and how does it look like? Let’s try to find some answers to these questions and see whether there are any Hungarian relations concerning this town.

A few things we know for sure about the town

The American Balaton, situated in Minnesota state, was founded in 1879 when the railroad was laid down, but this was the time when it got a post office, too. It was only after 1892 that it became an independent settlement.

The website of Balaton starts with the following statement:

“There’s only one Balaton… You can search the entire United States and you won’t find another Balaton.”

However, this issue is not so simple as we know that, although there is only one Balaton in America, the “Hungarian Sea” also has the same name. As a consequence, we might ask whether the two are related to one another and if yes, then how. The interesting thing is that even the inhabitants of the American town contest the origin of its name and believe that there exists more than one theory about its origin.

  • One theory says that it was named after the beautiful Hungarian lake, Balaton. It is interesting to examine that Wikipedia claims it as a fact, and in Hungary there are people who believe that Hungarians founded the settlement.
  • Another theory is that the name comes from one of the stockholders and employees of the railroad built at that time, a Mr Balaton.
  • Balatonm.com writes about a further possibility. According to this, when it came to the voting about the settlement’s name, the inhabitants suggested a “ballot-on” and here comes the name 🙂
  • Some mention that one early source refers to the town as Belltown, but due to the advice of a travelling salesman, it was changed to Balaton because there is “only one other place with that name… a lake in Europe… the most beautiful lake in the world.”

Some facts about Balaton

  • Population: 524 person
  • Median Age: 44.4%
  • Median Household Income: $45,250
  • White ethnicity: 95.2%
  • Black ethnicity: 1.1%
  • Hispanic ethnicity: 1.1%
  • Indian ethnicity: 1%
  • Other: 1.1%

And what is this town the most notable for?

Mostly, it is the neighbouring Yakon that is popular among tourists and locals alike, because it is the ideal place for summer and winter fishing. Balaton also organises its annual festival, the Balaton Fun Fest, in July. Among others, they have ship carnival and street festival during the fest. Balaton is an idyllic place full of parks that are excellent for holidays, but campsites and golf courses can also provide a great place for recreation.

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facebook/Balaton Bay Golf Course

 

Featured image: balatonmn.com

Government official: Mexico crucial stronghold for Hungary

In the next few years, Mexico will be “the main pillar of Hungary’s presence in Latin America“, Levente Magyar, state secretary at the foreign ministry, told a press conference in Budapest on Thursday.

Speaking after the third session of the Hungary-Mexico mixed economic committee, Magyar highlighted Mexico’s growing weight in terms of Hungarian foreign trade, adding that Hungary’s exports to Mexico had increased by nearly 60 percent last year.

Mexico, the second largest economy in its region, is considered an economic and political ally for Hungary in the long term, Magyar said.

Armando Lopez Trujillo, Mexico’s deputy director-general for bilateral economic relations, said his country was glad to be participating in the cooperation which started two years ago, and was committed to further deepening relations.

Featured image: www.htcc.org.hu