Middle East

Hungarian FM: ‘Age of danger’, ‘humanity lurching from crisis to crisis’

Hungarian minister Péter Szijjártó

Global security is at a post-Cold-War nadir and the world is enmeshed in danger, lurching from crisis to crisis, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, told a session of parliament on Wednesday.

A new world order is emerging following successive crises and the outcome is unknown, Szijjártó said, “but it’s almost certain Europe won’t have a stronger role than previously.”

Last year China’s GDP overtook that of the European Union, while the United States’ share of global GDP fell from 30 percent to 25 percent and EU’s dropped from 22 percent to 17 percent, the ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying. EU competitiveness is steadily decreasing, he added.

Also, Europe’s security environment is also more and more fragile, exacerbated by its “completely flawed” handling of the war in Ukraine, which, he said, globalised the conflict rather than isolating it. Growing arms deliveries prolong the war when talk should be of peace, he added.

Regarding migration, Szijjártó said Hungarian border guards now faced a new paradigm of criminal groups shooting at them from across the border with automatic weapons. “Brussels thinks we should let these people into Europe…” he said.

Meanwhile, calling Hungary a “meeting point of Eastern and Western economies”, he said it was in Hungary’s interest to forge “connections and cooperation” rather than succumb to attempts to stymie relations, “because this is the only way to effectively handle crises in the world.”

Underlining statements he made earlier, the minister said it was important to “speak clearly” about Israel’s right to self-defence. “Israel was hit by a … brutal terrorist attack, so now it is in the interest of the entire world to successfully fight against terrorism” while making sure this fight “does not turn into a war between countries”, as this would have “utterly unpredictable consequences in the Middle East“. He also reiterated concern about the future of the Abraham Accords, and underscored an earlier statement expressing worry about “anti-Semitism rearing its head in western Europe”.

Hungarian Foreign Minister: modern-day anti-Semitism has reared its head in western Europe

israel flags

The international community must do everything it can to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from escalating into an interstate war, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said in Luxembourg on Monday.

European Union member states are sharply divided on the crisis in Israel, Szijjártó said after a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, according to a ministry statement.

The Hungarian government’s position on the matter, he said, was clear: killing thousands by firing thousands of missiles at a country and taking hostages was “unacceptable and inexplicable”.

“So we consider it self-evident that Israel does indeed have a right to defend itself,” Szijjártó said. “The European Union must stand by Israel as firmly as possible, since it is a victim of a terrorist attack.”

“At the same time, we also think that the international community should make efforts to avoid escalation,” the minister said. “If an escalation can’t be avoided, a broadening of the Middle East conflict could create a situation which could poison the life of the Middle East and the wider region for many years and possibly decades.”

The most important goal, Szijjártó said, was to prevent the conflict from escalating into a formal interstate war. “We hope all members of the international community will act responsibly,” he added.

Concerning the safety of civilians, Szijjártó said the ministry is in contact with all 15 Hungarian nationals still stranded in Gaza, from where it is currently impossible to leave.

“We are, of course, working to make sure they can leave the Gaza Strip as soon that is made physically, politically and legally possible,” he said.

Szijjártó also underlined the importance of making sure that the conflict did not hurt the stability of other countries in the region, particularly those such as Egypt, helping to halt migration towards Europe.

“If it were not for Egypt acting responsibly, if it weren’t keeping illegal migration at bay, Europe would be faced by a migration wave from the south-east, which would pose an almost insurmountable security challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó assured Oliver Várhelyi, the EU commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement, of his support in connection with “attacks” levelled against him. “We believe it is totally normal and expected in this situation to monitor the transfer of all forms of EU funding if there’s a chance that it could end up in the hands of terrorist organisations,” he said.

The minister also expressed concern over the “alarming” images seen on the streets of certain western European cities.

“The modern-day anti-Semitism that has emerged in western European countries is a cause for serious concern, as is the fact that demonstrations in support of terrorist organisations are permitted in various western European cities,” Szijjártó said.

“This is inconceivable on Hungary’s territory,” he said. “It is not permitted to organise demonstrations in support of terrorist organisations in Hungary.”

“We regret that western European countries think differently about this, and we regret that modern-day anti-Semitism has reared its head in western Europe,” Szijjártó said, adding that this was an “obvious consequence” of the absence of joint European action against migration.

The minister said that as long as illegal migration was “encouraged” from Brussels, western Europe could expect the continued formation of parallel societies as well as a rise in anti-Semitism.

As we wrote 10 days ago, PM Orbán citied, EU’s current leaders pose a constant security threat to Hungary, details HERE.

Ministry in constant touch with Hungarian citizens trapped in Gaza Strip

gaza strip

Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, has said the ministry is in constant touch with 15 Hungarian citizens stranded in the Gaza Strip, and efforts are under way to bring them to safety as part of an international agreement.

Speaking at the press conference in Luxembourg on Monday, Szijjártó said parents and children were among the stranded.

According to a ministry statement, he noted that

international cooperation was underway to evacuate people, “though for us, clearly what’s most important is that the 15 Hungarians who … want to leave Gaza can do so.”

The minister said that people attempting to leave Gaza via the Rafah border crossing towards Egypt must pass through three checkpoints, “and they had managed to pass through two when they were turned back for security reasons”.

Szijjártó said he had spoken with his Egyptian counterpart, and permission had been granted for them to enter Egypt, but “they didn’t reach the point where this would have been physically possible,” he said, adding that this had taken place “more than ten days ago, so I don’t think I’ve endangered anyone by talking about this now.”

As we wrote today, Hungarian governing Fidesz presents a declaration against Hamas and illegal migration, details HERE.

Also, we wrote a few days ago, the Council of Arab Ambassadors to Hungary held an urgent meeting in Budapest, details HERE.

Hungarian governing Fidesz presents a declaration against Hamas and illegal migration

Palestine Israel Flag gaza

Ruling Fidesz will next week submit a political declaration to parliament stating that the legislative body condemns Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel and expresses its sympathies to the victims, Máté Kocsis, the party’s group leader, said on Facebook on Sunday.

The Fidesz document says Hungary condemns terrorists and is on the side of the victims. The victims of terrorism have the right to defend themselves and do whatever it takes to prevent another attack, it says.

Hungary recognises Israel’s right to self-defence, but an interstate war must be avoided, the declaration says, calling for the preservation of the Middle East peace process generated by the Abraham Accords.

It also points out that uncontrolled migration into Europe poses the risk of migrant groups being infiltrated by the agents of Hamas and other terrorist organisations.

Israeli Ambassador to Hungary: Hamas attack ‘watershed’ moment

Jewish Hungary israel flag

Hamas’s attack on Israel was a “watershed” moment for the Middle Eastern country, Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yakov Hadas-Handelsman told parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Monday.

Hadas-Handelsman thanked Hungary’s parliament for its support, and asked for international support for Israel’s self-defence.

What happened on October 7 was not a terrorist attack but a “pogrom”, and even Holocaust survivors say they had not experienced such actions even during the Holocaust, the ambassador said, adding that Hamas’s terrorists had tortured people and murdered children. The attack was total destruction and a “barbaric act”, he said, adding that Hamas was as big a threat as the Islamic State terrorist group, with neither distinguishing between nationalities.

Hadas-Handelsman said Israel had been caught in a surprise attack. He said putting an end to this “barbarism” was not just in the interest of Israel, but also that of the international community, arguing that Hamas’s actions were being celebrated in multiple parts of the world. Israel wants to end Hamas’s political and military rule in the Gaza Strip in a way that this has minimal effect on those it does not concern, he said, adding that this was why Israel had called on civilians to leave northern Gaza.

He said Israel aimed to rescue all of the hostages held by Hamas.

Meanwhile, the country is prepared to have to defend itself on two fronts in the event that a second on opens up from Lebanon, he said.

The ambassador also said that while the reasons behind Hamas’s attack were unknown, it was possible Hamas had thought that Israel had been weakened and was divided by the ongoing internal social dispute, giving them a good opportunity to strike. One other possibility, he said, was that Iran could have been the one behind the attack because of its concerns over the United States’ taking a leadership role in the process to normalise the situation in the Middle East, and the significant changes this could bring to the region.

Some also interpret the attack as Iran and Russia working together to create a more difficult situation in the Middle East with the aim to divert attention from Ukraine, he said.

Ruling Fidesz’s Zsolt Németh, the head of the committee, said there was broad consensus on the condemnation of Hamas’s actions and the recognition of Israel’s right to defend itself. Hamas’s attack had been aimed at the destruction of Israel, so the world cannot be indifferent in this situation, he said, stressing the importance of supporting the existence of the state of Israel.

Németh also said there were no pro-Hamas demonstrations in Hungary, and that the Jewish community could count on the Hungarian state’s protection.

Ágnes Vadai of the leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) said her party had submitted a draft resolution aimed at parliament designating Hamas a terrorist organisation in line with a resolution adopted by the Council of the European Union.

Lőrinc Nacsa of the co-ruling Christian Democrats said the events had “shocked” everyone.

Hadas-Handelsman said in response to Nacsa that the pro-Hamas rallies held across several cities was the exact reason why they did not think that the attack was solely Israel’s problem.

Opposition Jobbik’s Koloman Brenner said the reason why Hamas’s actions could be considered “barbaric” was because it demonstrated the group’s brutality and had been part of a pre-planned strategy.

Zita Gurmai of the Socialist Party said they condemned Hamas’s attack, but stressed the need to take civilians into consideration.

Government: EU money probably used for terror purposes in the Middle East

EU money terror Israel Palestine

Anti-Semitism has been a tradition for the European left now for a decade, Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary for government communications and international relations, said in a podcast released by the portal Mandiner on Friday.

“We are going to witness a new era in Western Europe and the United States, related to the attitude of Muslim immigrants who arrived there in large numbers,” he said in the interview recorded on Wednesday.

He said that “in the most surprising events, Palestinians and Arabs are marching in the streets from Sydney to New York, from Manchester to Dusseldorf, hailing the attacks and the murder of more than a thousand Israelis“. At the same time, politicians and the public in western Europe look on confused and shocked, he said.

“It will be very difficult for them to do anything about it because most of those people are most probably citizens of those countries with a vote.”

“It is not about being anti-Israeli, it is about anti-Semitism,” he said, adding that left-wing groups in the European Parliament are also expected to call for support for Palestine.

Read also:

  • Hungarian police do not allow a demonstration in support of Hamas in Budapest – Read more HERE
  • Wizz Air advice: HERE’s what you can do with your ticket to Israel

A new level of ruthlessness and baseness

“The West built itself a trap we must avoid at all cost,” said Kovács, adding the spread of anti-Semitism should serve as yet another “strong argument” against illegal migration. He said recent developments justified anti-migration steps, insisting that “our position is valid and should be maintained, or else we are going to drift into the conflicts”.

He said further terrorist attacks could be expected in big western European cities where local internal conflicts in society prevail.

Kovács called the terrorist organisation Hamas’s attack on Israel “a new level of ruthlessness and baseness”. The attack will reshape the situation in Israeli-Palestinian relations and the region’s future, he said.

“We have talked much about the era of dangers. Covid and the war in Ukraine brought things we thought (…) we wouldn’t have to face. The events in Israel now brought a new element to that era,” he said.

He slammed the Western European and EU approach as “hypocritical”.

“The European Union is one of the biggest supporters of the Palestinian Authority,” he said.

Hamas, besides the Palestinian Authority, is the “organiser and operator of local life” in Palestine, he said. The EU funding sent there is channelled to the group “in some form”, he insisted.

The EU, however, “is willing to look the other way” when the funding, well over 400 million euros a year, is “probably used for terror purposes amid a lack of transparency”, and so the monies will keep flowing even after those “unacceptable and unspeakable events”, he said.

Meanwhile, within Europe, “the Polish and us don’t get any money” under the excuse of rule-of-law regulations, Kovács said. Hungary’s funding is being withheld under false pretences, “because it is crystal clear that Hungary has fulfilled all obligations,” he added.

Another Hungarians evacuated from Israel – UPDATE

hungarian air force

Another 65 Hungarian nationals including 18 children have been rescued from Israel.

The group is aboard a ship on its way to Cyprus, the foreign ministry quoted, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó as saying. The rescued Hungarians will be met by members of the Hungarian embassy at the port, and will be provided a special flight to return to Budapest on Friday afternoon, the minister said. He also added that the next group of Hungarians still in Israel would soon be notified about the next evacuation operation.

“The goal continues to be to help all Hungarians in trouble return home,” Szijjártó said.

UPDATE

Group of 65 Hungarians evacuated from Israel arrives in Cyprus

A ship carrying a group of 65 Hungarian citizens, among them 18 children, evacuated from Israel has arrived in Cyprus, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday.

Owing to the insistence of Hungarian diplomats, the government was able to acquire 200 tickets for a ship bound for Cyprus, which were then offered to the Hungarians stranded in the Middle Eastern country, 65 of whom boarded the vessel, Szijjártó said on Moscow.

“It’s good news that the ship has docked in Larnaca, where my Cypriot colleagues are waiting for the Hungarians,” Szijjártó said. “They will accompany the group to the Larnaca airport, where the Hungarians will board a plane reserved by the foreign ministry that will take them home.”

“So these Hungarian citizens are scheduled to arrive home sometime this afternoon or evening, and will then be permanently safe,” the minister said.

Later on Friday, an aircraft of the Hungarian Armed Forces left Israel with 105 people, 89 Hungarians and 16 foreigners on board, Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

The plane evacuated Hungarian, Slovak, US, Israeli and Austrian citizens. Of the passengers, 44 are children, he said.

Also we wrote about Wizz Air advice, here’s what you can do with your ticket to Israel.

Fidesz calls for saving Middle East peace process

Németh Zsolt Fidesz politician revolution of national cohesion

Zsolt Németh, the head of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, on Wednesday called for saving the Middle East peace process and preventing an escalation of violence.

Speaking to MTI by phone after a debate on the Israel-Palestine conflict at the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, Németh said this past weekend’s terrorist attack had jeopardised the peace process generated by the Abraham Accords aimed at stabilising the Middle East.

Németh said the attacks launched by the Hamas Islamist terrorist group were reminiscent of the actions of the Islamic State terrorist organisation.

“Hamas’s terrorism is so clear that it has become indisputable that it is a terrorist organisation,” Németh said, warning that Hamas was not synonymous with the Palestinian people.

The state of Israel has a right to defend itself, Németh said, adding that “based on what we have seen, there can be no doubt about the recognition of the full enforcement of the international right to self-defence”.

The priority right now is to cut off Hamas’s financial resources and prevent them from accessing European Union funds even indirectly, Németh said.

More Hungarians to be evacuated from Israel

Israel

Hungary’s government is launching another operation to evacuate Hungarian citizens stranded in Israel, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Tbilisi on Wednesday, adding that the authorities were in contact with all 220 people who have registered for consular protection.

The security situation in the Middle Eastern country continues to deteriorate, with more and more airlines cancelling their flights from Tel Aviv airport due to missile strikes, Szijjártó said. Despite this, the consuls at the scene have managed to get three more Hungarian citizens home this afternoon, he added.

The government is in contact with a total of 220 people stuck in Israel and aims to help all of them get home, the minister said.

“We would like it if they could come home as soon as possible,” Szijjártó said. “We’re working to ensure a safe return for everyone. Several evacuation operations are being planned along multiple routes.”

The Hungarian consuls and the entire embassy staff are working round the clock, but they are hindered by having to constantly move to bomb shelters whenever there is an air raid alert, Szijjártó said. This has happened multiple times today, and the phone line and internet connection isn’t always perfect, either, he added.

Szijjártó noted that departures from Israel by land were possible in the directions of Egypt and Jordan during limited parts of the day, and leaving by sea was also an option.

Hungarians still in Israel who have registered for consular protection will soon be notified of the next evacuation, the minister said, urging them not to delay their decision to leave the way multiple tourist groups did earlier in the week. He also warned against making the details of the evacuation public.

 

Ambassador: Israel aims to neutralise Hamas, rescue hostages

Israel is aiming to neutralise the Hamas organisation and rescue the hostages it has taken as soon as possible, the Israeli ambassador to Hungary told the Hungarian press on Wednesday.

Yakov Hadas-Handelsman said Hamas had killed at least 1,200 civilians, including Israeli Arabs, in the recent attacks. He said the attacks served Iran’s interests, adding that Iran and Hamas had been concerned about the United States consolidating its relations with Saudi Arabia, while Hamas could also time its attacks with regard to political divisions within Israel.

The ambassador also suggested that the Hezbollah organisation controlling southern Lebanon could be preparing to open a front in northern Israel. Hamas and Iran aim to involve Palestinians in the West Bank in their war against Israel, Hadas-Handelsman said, but insisted that ties between Israel and the Arab world were going in the right direction and Arab countries could less and less be divided by way of such conflicts. A large part of those countries are dissatisfied with divisions between Palestinians and their inability to make political compromises, he added.

Hadas-Handelsman highlighted the importance of the political assistance to Israel by the United States and European countries.

Minister wants visa exemption and a free trade agreement between the EU and the Gulf countries

Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó

The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may be key to preventing the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, and the European Union should strengthen ties with them, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Muscat on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting of foreign ministers of the EU and the GCC, Péter Szijjártó said Europe was facing serious security threats from the war in Ukraine in the east and migration in the south. Hungary’s geography makes it a subject to both types of pressure, he added. Migration is primarily caused by armed conflicts, wars and terrorism, but changes in global security also have an impact, he said. “If global security improves, the migration pressure on Europe eases,” he said. Europe has a vested interest in ending armed conflicts worldwide as soon as possible, he said.

Szijjártó condemned the terrorist attack on Israel and expressed his concerns regarding the conflict resulting in a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. He lamented that the “peace dynamics” achieved by the Abraham Accords “will have to take a back seat now, and it will take hard work to prevent them from withering completely.” Szijjártó held talks with his Bahraini counterpart on Tuesday. “He also said we should do everything we can to preserve what remains from those achievements, or at least the hope that we can return to that road one day,” he said.

The minister also had talks with his Kuwaiti, Omani and Saudi counterparts, and Qatar’s state minister for foreign affairs. They agreed that the international community must focus on preventing escalation. The Gulf countries had an important role in stabilising the fragile Middle East earlier, and contributed to the closure of many a conflict, he said. “Let us hope they can play … the same role now,” he said. He called on the EU and the GCC to strengthen cooperation by closing important issues such as visa exemption and a free trade agreement.

Read also:

  • Hungarian minister afraid of ‘History’s biggest humanitarian catastrophe’ – Read more HERE
  • Wizz Air launches new flight from Hungary, CEO announces further expansions

Szijjártó calls for international action to prevent escalation in Middle East

The international community should join forces to prevent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Szijjártó said in Muscat on Tuesday. Speaking at a meeting of representatives of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, Szijjártó expressed the Hungarian government’s concern and called for a responsible approach, warning that developments could “easily lead to the gravest humanitarian disaster in history”. The minister said it was regrettable that the conflict had flared up “at the worst possible time”, when stabilisation was under way and the parties had taken significant steps towards peace. “Those achievements may now be ruined,” he added.

Sustainable peace in the Middle East, he said, was crucial, adding that GCC members could play an important role in preventing escalation. Intervention by the group had played “a positive and stabilising role in respect of a number of previous regional conflicts,” he added. The minister said he hoped the world could rely on their efforts towards a settlement that improved European security. Reinforcing cooperation between the EU and GCC “is needed now more than ever”, he said, and urged talks on such issues as lifting visa requirements and signing a free trade agreement with GCC members.

EU-GCC cooperation would be a vital tool in tackling humanitarian crises worldwide, Szijjártó said. “We all know that waves of migration are primarily triggered by armed conflicts, wars, and the mounting threat of terrorism,” he said, adding that “the global security situation has a direct impact on migratory pressure on the EU … whenever the world’s security is improves, pressure of migration on Europe eases; when the security situation deteriorates, it grows.” “That is why Europe is has an committed interest in settling armed conflicts in a peaceful way,” Szijjártó added.

Hungarian minister afraid of ‘History’s biggest humanitarian catastrophe’

Hungarian minister Péter Szijjártó

The international community should join forces to prevent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Muscat on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting of representatives of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, Szijjártó expressed the Hungarian government’s concern and called for a responsible approach, warning that developments could “easily lead to the gravest humanitarian disaster in history”. The minister said it was regrettable that the conflict had flared up “at the worst possible time”, when stabilisation was under way and the parties had taken significant steps towards peace. “Those achievements may now be ruined,” he added.

Sustainable peace in the Middle East, he said, was crucial, adding that GCC members could play an important role in preventing escalation. Intervention by the group had played “a positive and stabilising role in respect of a number of previous regional conflicts,” he added. The minister said he hoped the world could rely on their efforts towards a settlement that improved European security. Reinforcing cooperation between the EU and GCC “is needed now more than ever”, he said, and urged talks on such issues as lifting visa requirements and signing a free trade agreement with GCC members.

Read also:

EU-GCC cooperation would be a vital tool in tackling humanitarian crises worldwide, Szijjártó said. “We all know that waves of migration are primarily triggered by armed conflicts, wars, and the mounting threat of terrorism,” he said, adding that “the global security situation has a direct impact on migratory pressure on the EU … whenever the world’s security is improves, pressure of migration on Europe eases; when the security situation deteriorates, it grows.”

“That is why Europe is has an committed interest in settling armed conflicts in a peaceful way,” Szijjártó added.

Szijjártó: EU-Gulf states foreign ministerial meeting ‘of historic importance’

The foreign ministerial meeting of the European Union and the Arab states of the Gulf bears historic importance in light of the latest developments in the Middle East, the foreign minister said on Tuesday. Péter Szijjártó expressed hope on Facebook in Oman that “all European participants will strike a sincere and respectful voice, and they will not use Tuesday’s meeting to criticise or lecture”.

Szijjártó said that ahead of the meeting, he held bilateral talks with Arab counterparts. The first meeting was held with the host country’s foreign minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, “who has already done much for the development of bilateral relations and decided to set up an embassy in Budapest”. The charge d’affaires has already arrived and is making preparations for the embassy, he added.

Tuesday’s meeting focused on energy cooperation between Oman and Hungary, he said. Hungary is dedicated to establishing the conditions for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy use, but the government has made it clear that progress must be made at a sensible pace, without damaging the competitiveness of the economy, he said. Developments linked to green hydrogen offer a good opportunity, he said.

“Oman is one of the global leaders in green hydrogen development, so it’s a great success for us that Hungary has become Oman’s first central European partner in green hydrogen research and development on the basis of the agreement signed today,” Szijjártó added.

Wizz Air conquers Middle East: here is their new joint venture

Wizz Air Romania

We wrote multiple times that the Hungarian low-cost carrier, Wizz Air, would like to expand in the Middle East and Central Asia instead of West Europe. That is probably because in Europe, they have Ryanair and EasyJet as strong competitors, while in the East, the Orbán government can help them. Of course, the carrier still has strong positions in Eastern Europe.

According to Budflyer, a Hungarian Facebook page promoting air travel and Budapest Airport, Wizz Air would like to create a Saudi-Hungarian joint venture soon. They refer to an article published by Flight Global on 29 September.

Flight Global reminded that Wizz Air established a couple of new routes to the Middle Eastern great power in 2022, after the end of the COVID pandemic and the following closures. Wizz Air also signed a contract with the Saudi government to investigate the possibility of launching new services in the framework of the country’s ambitious Vision 2030 programme.

Read also:

Expansion in the Middle East important aim

”We are now a year into our Saudi programme, that’s the largest destination announcement we have ever done, 23 destinations. Overall, [we are] very happy with that and the progression we see with these markets, just like we have seen in every other market”, Wizz president Robert Carey said at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon.

Wizz Air currently connects European cities with Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh. Furthermore, they carry passengers from Abu Dhabi to Dammam and Madinah.

That will not be the first joint venture of Wizz in the Middle East. The first one was created in 2021 in Abu Dhabi to operate United Arab Emirates flights.

According to Carey, they already have a partner in Saudi Arabia and await the decision of the local regulator.

”Abu Dhabi is growing up to about 12-13 aircraft this winter,” Carey said. ”We have expanded our network and have a diverse set of markets from short-haul, medium-haul, flying east, flying west, north – not too much south, though we do go to the Maldives”, he added. From next month, the low-cost airline will connect Abu Dhabi with Erbil in Iraq. Carey seemed determined to expand their traffic and network in the Middle East and Central Asia. “We are not bringing in connecting traffic, we are bringing in point-to-point traffic”, he highlighted.

As we wrote HERE, Wizz Air had to reduce capacities due to the engine problems of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft.

Wizz Air is 20 years old this year. Today, there are four companies under that name: Wizz Air Hungary (W6/WZZ), Wizz Air UK (W9/WUK), Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W/WAZ), and Wizz Air Malta (W4/WMT), FlightRadar wrote.

Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day in Budapest with magnificent event – Photo gallery

His Excellency Ahmed Yahya Al Dagreer, Deputy Ambassador of Saudi Arabia.

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia hosted friends of the Kingdom and the diplomatic community in Budapest at the InterContinental Hotel on the evening of 25 September.

In 1932, Prince Abdulaziz announced the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, becoming the first king of the Kingdom, and the name of the state was then changed from the Kingdom of Hijaz and Najd to the new name that the country bears until the present day, which is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Read more details here.

Speaking at the event, His Excellency Ahmed Yahya Al Dagreer, Charge d’affaires, underlined that his country can be an excellent example for all, as it is spending enormous energy in the service of development and environmental protection.

“The Kingdom has become a peacemaker, referred to in every forum, as it was able, through its distinguished international relations with all parties, to make decisions and present initiatives, which contributed to taking great steps to combat and refute terrorism and spread the culture of peace, tolerance, and dialogue among peoples and bringing viewpoints between parties closer to each other,” he underlined in his speech.

“I call on all companies in Hungary to seize the huge investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, and to enter the Saudi market, which is characterised by the facilities it provides to investors, in addition to the special economic zones that support a wide range of sectors and business activities that link the markets of the East and the West,” Al Dagreer said.

After the speech, the guests were able to watch a video about Riyadh Expo 2030, an important goal for Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which includes several futuristic cities with smart buildings, which were also shown to the audience. (Read more details here: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia envisions Riyadh Expo 2030)

During the rest of the evening, guests were invited to taste several typical Saudi dishes, including sumptuous dates and other traditional sweets.

Hungary backs Trump’s legacy in the Middle East

Donald Trump Viktor Orbán

Hungary remains dedicated to the expansion of the Abraham Accords on Arab-Israeli normalisation and it is ready to participate in promoting the process, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday.

The ministry cited Szijjártó telling the Peace of Westphalia conference in Münster that the treaty signed 375 years ago made state sovereignty the main principle of international relations and it was still highly important to Hungary. Hungary has always lost out on conflicts between East and West and it is based on this historical experience that the government argues in support of civilised cooperation and peace between blocs today, he said.

Szijjártó told a panel discussion on the Middle East peace process that “to put it simply, the government’s position is that war is bad and peace is good”. It is at the negotiating table that one should seek to resolve all armed conflicts because in the battlefield there is only death and destruction, he added. He criticised the fact that in the case of wars outside the continent, the Foreign Affairs Council had always called for immediate dialogue and ceasefire, but the approach to Ukraine was completely different.

Read also:

He said that the conclusion of the Abraham Accords had demonstrated that in the case of most conflicts there was a chance to find a solution and to pre-empt the re-formation of blocs in the world. Szijjártó said the Abraham Accords should serve as an example for resolving other similar conflicts around the world and added that “even though the Middle East seems to be far away in a geographical sense, we all know that whatever happens in the Middle East, it has direct influence on Europe”.

He said Hungary maintained strategic ties with Arab countries in the region and at the same time was an ally of Israel. Commenting on talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal, he said it would improve global security, and added that sealing off Tehran would be a much worse option.

Hungarian athletes of Palestinian origins honored by Palestinian embassy

The athletes were also invited to visit Palestine.

With the participation of Mr. Gábor Deregán, member of the International Fair Play Committee, and Mr. Al-Salti Marwan, a member of the Palestinian National Assembly, Mr. Al-Salti Munir, the Hungarian secretary of the Fatah Movement, Mr. Mulhem Nabil the honorary president of the Hungarian Palestinian Community Association, Mr. Maharig Gablib the president of the Hungarian Palestinian Community Association and Mr. Faraj Abdulla member of the secretariat of the Hungarian Palestinian Community Association, Hungarian atheletes of Palestinian origins were honored by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Budapest.

Five athletes were awarded at the ceremony:

  • Antoan Habas is a Hungarian boxing champion and coach
  • Dália Al-Salti is a Hungarian gymnastics champion
  • Awaad Ahmed water polo, swimming champion
  • Awwad Zoja is a swimmer, water polo champion, member of the Hungarian national team
  • Al-Salti Maria is an excellent and promising young sports champion in swimming and chess
Photo: Palestinian Embassy

In a recorded interview, Dr. Fadi Elhusseini, the Palestinian ambassador, emphasized that the purpose of this award is not only to build more bridges between the two nations, but also to show a real picture and highlight the active role of the Palestinians in the Hungarian society. He added, we wish as well encourage the young generation of Palestinian origins to strengthen their connection with their roots.

Read also:

  • Interview with Palestinian Ambassador Dr Elhusseini on Israel, Hungarian-Palestinian relations and many others – check it out HERE

In order to achieve this, the Embassy gave the athletes an official invitation to visit Palestine and to visit the national sports associations in each sport. Ambassador Elhusseini added that the current award is a precedent, as it encouraged others, and new nominations were indeed made for awarding other excellent athletes of Palestinian origins. In view of the importance of the above, the Embassy will provide the opportunity to receive further nominations for excellent talents, not only in sports, but also in other fields.

Counselor Mr. Al-Salti Zafer, Second Secretary Mr. Mohammed Al-Hamdallah, Mr. Walid Diab, Dr. Hussam Rajab, and Ms. Dr. Rawan Abuzarqa participated as well in the ceremony on behalf of the Embassy.

Hungarian minister on official visit in the Middle East

Culture and Innovation Minister János Csák has paid an official visit to Israel and Jordan, discussing cooperation opportunities.

Csák told MTI by phone on Sunday that he had met Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar and discussed cultural and scientific ties. The sides agreed on a number of new projects, he added. Csák also visited the Weizmann Institute, a partner of the Hungarian Research Network, accompanied by HUN-REN head Balázs Gulyás.

Culture and Innovation Minister János Csák has visited Jordan, where he discussed cultural and scientific initiatives and education.
Csák told MTI by phone on Sunday that he had met Prince El Hassan bin Talal, who heads a number of Jordan’s cultural and scientific institutions. The sides discussed prospective joint initiatives in areas ranging from climate change to water management, he added. Csák also met Haifa Najjar Jordania’s culture minister.

Read also:

Hungarian FM says Trump will bring peace

Szijjártó Middle East

The Abraham Accords have resurrected hopes of peace in the Middle East, “yet more proof” that people who seek peace can put their trust in Donald Trump, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Szijjártó noted that he had been the only European foreign minister in the White House garden on September 15, 2020 when Israel’s prime minister “and two of my friends, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates and Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain, signed the agreement on normalising their relations”.

Foreign Minister of Hungary said that whereas the accords had inspired general doubts and reservations at the time, experience had since showed that they worked, noting that Israel opened its embassy in Bahrain on Monday, “which a few years ago would have seemed quite unlikely”.

“The time has come to express our respect for our Bahraini and Israeli friends, and to President Trump. We trust that we can count on his peace-making abilities in the future,” Szijjártó said.

Photo gallery: Pakistan Embassy Hungary holds First-Ever Art Exhibition of Pakistani Artists in Budapest

Embassy of Pakistan in Hungary organized the first-ever art exhibition of Pakistani artists in Budapest today. The exhibition titled “ChaharBagh” (four gardens of paradise) showcased artwork of eight Pakistani Artists. The opening ceremony was held on 4 September 2023 and the exhibition will continue till 08 September 2023 at Yunus Emre Institute, Budapest.

The event was organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Türkiye in Hungary and Yunus Emre Institute.

The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of participants including Hungarian dignitaries, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Art enthusiasts, students, and media persons. The Ambassadors of Pakistan and Türkiye along with the Chief Guest Mr. Peter Jakob, Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Hungary inaugurated the Exhibition.

In his welcoming address, Ambassador Asif Hussain Memon highlighted the theme of exhibition and the rich art tapestry of Pakistan. He also underscored the importance of organizing such art and cultural events regularly to foster cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Hungary. The Ambassador also thanked the Türkish Ambassador for their support.

The Ambassador of Türkiye to Hungary highlighted the historic bond between the Türkiye and Pakistan and expressed support for joint collaborations.

Director General Asia Pacific department, Mr. Péter Jakab, highlighted growing bilateral relations between Hungary and Pakistan in diverse areas including arts and culture and welcomed the Pakistan Embassy’s efforts in this regard.

The guests were treated with traditional Pakistani cuisine and refreshments.