Deliveries have resumed over the TürkStream pipeline after successful annual maintenance, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in St Petersburg on Thursday, adding that Hungary’s winter reserves are being filled according to plan.
The Russian provider restarted deliveries earlier this week, and the volume is now up to normal levels, Péter Szijjártó said. Hungary’s reserves already cover 37 percent of the country’s annual consumption, against a European average of 21 percent, he said. “No matter how hard the winter will be, curbing gas consumption is out of the question,” he added.
“It is time everyone understood that energy supply is not an ideological or political issue but of rock-hard reality,” he said.
Should it be cut off from Russian resources, Hungary would be unable to satisfy its energy needs, “and so a pragmatic energy cooperation with Russia remains in our interest,” he said. The European Union’s sanctions also allow such cooperation, he added.
Szijjártó is attending the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he is slated to meet Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.
A Turkish Airlines plane interrupted its journey in Budapest to save the life of an 11-year-old child. The kid lost consciousness on board. The flight was headed from Istanbul towards New York.
According to portfolio.hu, an 11-year-old child lost consciousness on board of a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul this morning. The Airport Medical Service (AMS) of Budapest offered immediate help for the girl and continued to try to revive her. Despite the quick and professional help, however, they could not save her life. Flight TK003 will soon continue to its destination, Budapest Airport told MTI.
Later today, Blikk gained more information about the passenger and the circumstances. They wrote that the 11-year-old Georgian girl was unable to move and has been sick since birth. After she lost consciousness, the cabin crew tried to help. Then the pilot asked whether there was a doctor on board. Afterwards, he decided to land in Budapest to get professional help for the little girl.
She was travelling to New York with her parents to their family living in the USA. When they boarded the plane, she did not have any problems. However, after the aircraft took off, she struggled with the lack of oxygen. Later on, she fainted.
There was a doctor trying to help her for 40 minutes with the cabin crew. In Budapest, the ambulance of Szent Márton Hospital struggled for her life unsuccessfully. The plane left Budapest to continue its journey to New York at 1 PM GMT.
Indian low-cost airline IndiGo, which carries 100 million passengers a year, is planning a major international expansion and fleet expansion. They will soon be able to reach a significant part of Europe with direct flights. Budapest, the Hungarian capital, is also among their desired destinations.
IndiGo is planning a major expansion
Indian low-cost airline IndiGo is planning a major international expansion and fleet expansion. With their long-range narrow-body aircraft already on order, they will be able to reach a significant part of Europe with direct flights, CEO Pieter Elbers told a press conference in Istanbul, which was also attended by AIRportal.hu.
Founded in 2006, IndiGo is one of the best-known brands in India and the region. They own a fleet of more than 300 aircraft and operate services to more than 100 airports.
“The airline currently connects 78 domestic destinations with 1,800 daily departures from 12 bases, operates flights to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and is expanding in Europe, Central Asia and Africa,”
said Pieter Elbers, the airline’s CEO who transferred from KLM, at a press conference in Istanbul on the occasion of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting.
India’s economy is set to become the world’s 3rd largest in a few years. With a population of over 1.4 billion, the country’s aviation sector is set for explosive growth, with far fewer planes per million people than in Europe or the US.
Budapest is already available, but with a transfer
Passengers can currently fly onwards to 33 European destinations, including Budapest, via Istanbul, thanks to a code-sharing agreement with the Turkish national airline, which facilitates ticket changes and transfers.
According to AIRportal.hu, even though Pieter Elbers did not want to go into details about the future European routes, he said that the European destinations currently offered with a transfer in Istanbul are included in the network development plans, including Budapest.
As we wrote earlier on Friday, the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air made a surprising step and took its airplane full of passengers to an unknown destination. Read more HERE.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has left Budapest for Ankara to attend the inauguration of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Türkiye’s re-elected president, on Saturday afternoon.
According to information from the prime minister’s press office, Orbán “found it important to accept President Erdogan’s personal invitation, since his election victory is crucial for the security of Hungary and Europe”. Orbán posted on his Facebook that his plane’s landing was stormy in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Later he shared a video in which it was clear that the weather was not favourable above the city, there were huge rainfalls, and the prime minister’s jet could have fallen into trouble, but thankfully, nothing special happened.
Erdogan a champion of peace in Ukraine?
In the video, Orbán said that Erdogan is a pro-peace president. If he lost the election, a war supporter would have become the leader of the second-strongest NATO member state, which could have resulted in a disaster. Furthermore, he shows NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shaking hands happily with Erdogan in Ankara.
Stoltenberg went against the Hungarian government this March when he convened the NATO-Ukraine Committee for the first time in four years. The decision was made even though Hungary did not support it. Péter Szijjártó, the Hungarian foreign minister, said that the pressure on the government is enormous. “I have the mandate to convene it. In respect for the issues that Hungary has raised I have not convened that for some time, but now I will continue to convene the meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission,”, the NATO Secretary General said then about his decision. In Ankara, Orbán and Stoltenberg probably met. But nothing was released about the details of a conversation.
According to the video, Orbán believes Erdogan may become a mediator between the warring parties bringing peace back to Eastern Europe.
It would have been a “tragedy” had Recep Tayyip Erdogan not won Türkiye’s elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on public radio on Friday, adding that Erdogan’s opponent, a “Soros man”, would have “released four million refugees in Turkiye onto Europe”.
Orbán said Erdogan’s re-election had been a “great relief” for him, adding that he had prayed a lot for his victory. Had Erdogan’s opponent won, “one, two, or three million refugees … would appear at the Hungarian border before the end of this summer,” he said.
Orbán also said Hungary received its Russian gas supplies through Türkiye, and that country having a “pro-American leader or one supported by George Soros” would make it “strongly doubtful if the gas could reach Hungary or Serbia”.
Erdogan’s losing the election would have “given Türkiye a pro-war president”, the prime minister said, adding that “the ramifications would be unforeseeable”. Erdogan has a chance to mediate between Ukraine and Russia, as he earlier mediated over Ukraine’s grain exports, Orbán said.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, recently re-elected president of Türkiye, by phone on Wednesday evening, his press chief told MTI.
Orbán congratulated Erdogan on his re-election, and said “the decision of Turkish voters and Türkiye’s stability is good news for the whole of Europe”. He added that the community was facing a number of security challenges and “it needs a strong and reliable Türkiye”.
Erdogan voiced his readiness to further develop bilateral relations and invited Orbán to attend his inauguration ceremony scheduled for Saturday. The Hungarian prime minister accepted the invitation.
The forint exchange rate against the euro continues to decrease despite the American inflation data and other external effects. But will that trend remain durable? For example, the Turkish elections may result in a plummet next week. At least, that is what experts said before. The forint seems to have become more resistant to external monetary and policy changes.
According to Világgazdaság, despite the USA announcing higher inflation data than expected, the forint continues to rise. The USD strengthened while the euro weakened, but the forint did not follow the European currency. Last year, such exchange rate changes considerably affected the Hungarian national currency.
Furthermore, the Hungarian central bank announced the reversal of the previous interest rate increase program this Tuesday. But the forint was not disturbed by that news even though its exchange rate is protected by the high Hungarian base interest rate (13 percent currently). At the moment, its currency exchange rate against the euro stands at 371.41, even though, on Thursday, it was above 372.
Forint among the favourites of the investors
Interestingly, last year, the Polish zloty and the Czech koruna were the better-performing regional currencies. However, the trend has changed. The Hungarian forint has become one of the favourites of the foreign investors, while the zloty’s and koruna’s currency exchange rates face more risks.
We wrote before about the presidential and parliamentary elections in Türkiye and their effects on the forint. President Erdogan could not win in the first round, but he will probably celebrate his victory this Sunday after the second round. Experts said the extension of the unorthodox Turkish economic policy might affect the forint badly. However, nothing happened after the first round and probably nothing will happen even after the second since the markets already priced that Erdogan will remain in his office.
The second Wizz Air route to Turkey is now open, and it allows you to fly directly from Budapest to Antalya.
The route, which is the Hungarian airline’s fourth newly announced destination this year, follows the inauguration of its Istanbul network addition by almost two months. Tickets can be purchased via the website of Wizz Air or the airline’s mobile app.
Wizz Air’s ever-expanding network offers travellers more than 60 destinations from Hungary this year. The new flight is part of the airline’s wider expansion scheme, connecting Turkey with many other countries and cities. The expansion will cut travel time and thus make it easier and more affordable for passengers to reach many sought-after destinations.
Good news for beach lovers: this summer, Wizz Air will be launching flights from Budapest to Antalya, a popular leisure destination on the “Turkish Riviera”. In addition to the clean beaches, the city boasts countless picturesque sights, such as Kaleiçi its romantic old town, where visitors can enjoy a wide range of gastronomic and cultural experiences. The city, also known for its vibrant nightlife, offers plenty of family-friendly options for the perfect beach holiday.
“We are very pleased to announce the launch of a new service with our largest partner, Wizz Air to Antalya, known for its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage. Türkiye continues to be one of the most popular destinations among Hungarian travellers and the opening of Wizz Air will allow a bigger crowd to discover this magical country.” – said Balázs Bogáts, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer of Budapest Airport.
The Turkic States Ombudsman Association is holding its next international conference in Budapest, the Hungarian Ombudsman’s Office said in a statement on Wednesday.
A delegation of the association has arrived in Hungary comprising of ombudsmen from Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. They visited north-eastern Hungary’s Beregsurány to observe the legal and humanitarian support provided to people fleeing Ukraine by the Hungarian Ombudsman’s Office, the statement said.
The delegation is scheduled to visit regional ombudsman offices in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, as well as meet the president of the Constitutional Court and other officials, it said.
A Turkish Pegasus Airlines Istanbul (SAW) – Paris (CDG) flight was interrupted in Budapest due to an altercation between passengers on board. The violent passenger was removed from the aircraft.
The pilots of the Airbus A321neo aircraft on flight PC 1133 decided to make a stopover in the Balatonfenyves area, then proceeded towards Győr and later turned towards Budapest, airportal.hu reports.
According to information provided to airportal.hu by Budapest Airport, the flight was interrupted due to a confrontation between passengers.
At 12:01 PM local time, the aircraft landed safely at Liszt Ferenc International Airport and rolled to its designated parking position. The Airport Police Department removed the passenger from the plane and interrogated him. The injured did not seek medical attention, the airport operator added in a statement.
The plane then continued its journey to Paris after the police action. The incident has not disrupted air traffic and the airport is operating smoothly.
The Hungarian forint has been strengthening for months after the historic lows against the euro and USD last year-end when the exchange rate even exceeded the psychological barrier of 430/EUR. Will those days return next week?
As we wrote yesterday, the Hungarian forint has become one of the foreign investors’ favourite currencies. It can be explained by the forint’s significant strengthening since end-2022. The currency exchange rate stands around 370/EUR, an annual record. And the Bank of America expects the forint to continue to move on that track. By the end-2024, they project a 360/EUR exchange rate.
However, they also admitted in their most recent analysis that the forint is still among the most vulnerable currencies. The American bank crisis early this year also took a heavy toll on forint. Despite the previous strengthening trend and the high interest rates the central bank introduced to protect the national currency, the forint started to fall as a result of the bad news.
The Turkish elections may have a significant effect on the forint
Let’s examine what today’s presidential and parliamentary elections in Türkiye may bring to us. According to portfolio.hu, the most pressing question is whether Erdogan retains his presidency and majority in the parliament or loses one or both. The opposition is united in Türkiye, but the inflation is skyrocketing, the economy is under central control, and the Turkish lira lost 95 percent of its value in the last 1.5 years. Thus, economic prospects are gloomy. However, uncertainty is a more considerable problem. Pollsters say the two presidential candidates have 50-50 percent, so it might occur there will be a second round on 28 May, increasing uncertainties.
Regardless of the results, there will be significant changes in the currency exchange markets today. Since the forint is vulnerable, any changes initiated by the Turkish elections may affect it seriously. And recovery can be a long and challenging process. Portfolio.hu argues that markets prefer Erdogan to leave, which could mark liberal economic reforms, the strengthening of the Turkish lira and the return of foreign capital previously impeded by Erdogan’s unorthodox policies.
Three months have passed since the earthquakes in Turkey began. The disaster affected an area larger than Hungary, around 110 000 square metres, 11 major cities and a total of 14 million people. One of the great disasters of the century has killed more than 50 000 people. Although the tragedy is no longer in the headlines, major Hungarian construction companies have put relief efforts on the agenda, following an initiative by PERI Hungary.
In an unprecedented charity campaign, Hungarian construction companies contributed to the work of the Hungarian Interchurch Aid in Turkey, supporting the humanitarian efforts in the earthquake-affected area with donations ranging from HUF 100,000 to HUF 1 million. The charity gala was held at the Aria Hotel Budapest, which also joined the list of supporters.
23 major Hungarian construction companies and real estate developers have accepted the invitation of PERI, one of the world’s largest formwork, scaffolding and engineering companies, to donate to the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey. The Guest of Honour at the event, representing Turkey, was Ambassador Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, who attended the charity dinner with her husband, Mr Ekrem Ekşioğlu, and First Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Meltem Güney.
Photo: Zerocom
The Ambassador said, “Trouble shows us who our good friends are. The Hungarians are our true friends and they will always remain so…. In these difficult days, even the smallest support makes a big difference. I believe that every drop of help becomes an ocean, brings hope for the victims of the earthquake and helps them to return to their lives.”
The donations were offered to the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, whose staff had been contributing to the humanitarian effort since the first days in the earthquake-affected areas. The charity’s President-Director, László Lehel, had just returned from the disaster area. In his speech, he said that after the rescue phase, they have established local cooperations, they are involved in the international coordination and, organised from Iskenderun, are working with local partner organisations to set up containers, provide housing and help with food and hygiene distribution in a 6-month humanitarian aid programme.
László Lehel. Photo: Zerocom
Miklós Ézsiás, Managing Director of PERI, organiser of the charity gala dinner stressed that PERI is a family business with a presence in 70 countries, which means that whenever there is trouble somewhere, they know about it and help. “It is important in any profession, including ours, to have positive common goals that forge us into a community beyond business interests,” he said.
Miklós Ézsiás. Photo: Zerocom
The charity event was also attended by Turkish businessmen living in Hungary, including Hakan Yildiz, an important player in the domestic construction industry, engineer and founder of Tura Group. In his speech, he stressed that Hatay province, which was severely affected by the earthquake, has always symbolised a kind of cultural bridge between Western and Eastern civilizations, as the region is home to Christian cultural heritage, such as the Cave Church of St. Peter in Antakya. The businessman thanked Hungary and the Hungarian people for their support and help in the rescue efforts so far.
Hakan Yildiz. Photo: Zerocom
For more than 3 decades, Hungarian Interchurch Aid has been helping people in need with regular or periodic support from tens of thousands of individuals and hundreds of companies. This makes it one of the largest aid organisations in Hungary and one of the most internationally recognised Hungarian charities with the greatest commitments. In the past decades, the relief organisation has provided assistance in a number of natural and humanitarian disasters around the world; building on this experience it is able to provide effective professional assistance with commitment and focus. More information on the organisation’s earthquake-related activities can be found here.
Companies that have made a donation to the victims of the earthquakes on the charity event: Aria Hotel Budapest, CLC-Construct Építőipari és Szolgáltató Kft., Épület-Forma Kft., Hercsel Csoport, LupEx Kft., Most-Épker Kft., Moratus Szerkezetépítő Kft., PERI Magyarország Kft., Rózsadomb Investment Kft., Tuffply Europa Kft., Tura Kft., Veréb Kft, X Properties Kft.
Türkiye is a reliable and predictable transit partner without whom Hungary’s energy security would not be guaranteed, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Ankara on Wednesday.
Medicor plant inauguration in Türkiye
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó attended the inauguration of an incubator plant built by Hungary’s Medicor in Türkiye.
The foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying that the Hungarian government had provided a grant of 480 million forints to the 800 million project, adding that the facility would start production in the second half of the year.
Szijjártó said Medicor would also move research and development activities to Ankara, in preparation for “pioneering efforts by Hungarian and Turkish engineers to make services for premature babies more effective”.
The minister noted the Hungarian government’s support for Hungarian companies making investments in other countries, and said “new export markets will generate more income … and the Hungarian economy will become stronger”.
Szijjártó highlighted the strategic political and economic cooperation between Hungary and Türkiye, adding it was a “success story with both partners benefitting”.
Since the beginning of the year, the turnover of bilateral trade has increased by 19 percent, and “Turkish exports to Hungary have broken a record”.
On another subject, Szijjártó expressed the government’s support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party in Türkiye’s upcoming election.
Energy security with Türkiye
Responding to a question at a news conference following the inauguration of an incubator plant built by Hungary’s Medicor, Szijjártó expressed Hungary’s gratitude for the role Türkiye plays in guaranteeing the country’s energy security.
“There can be no secure energy supply in Hungary without the transit route in Türkiye,” the minister said, pointing out that the TurkStream gas pipeline was the only east-west pipeline in Europe that was operating reliably.
He said “we received some friendly warnings, or more specifically, threats of sanctions from our common friends and allies” that building the pipeline would “lead to big trouble”.
“But we held out, and didn’t give in to the threat of sanctions,” Szijjártó said.
“If we hadn’t held out, the TurkStream pipeline wouldn’t have been built, and we wouldn’t be able to guarantee Hungary’s natural gas supply.”
He said the Hungarian government would continue to count on Türkiye’s role as a gas transit country, noting a developing agreement on the purchase of gas from Azerbaijan which would require the same transit route. Talks are also ongoing with Turkish energy company Botas on the purchase of Turkish natural gas, he added.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó highlighted the importance of nuclear energy when it comes to energy cooperation, given that Hungary and Türkiye are building nuclear plants that use the same technology.
The reactor blocks being built in Türkiye are expected to be the ones to go online sooner, and will provide useful information to Hungary for when its own new blocks become operational, Szijjártó said.
The friendship between the Turkish and Hungarian nations should “continue to be about courage and unselfish help in the next 100 years,” President Katalin Novák said in Kocaeli on Friday.
The president spoke at the unveiling of a monument to Mancs (Paw), a famous Hungarian rescue dog, and noted that diplomatic ties between the two countries had been established in 1923. Novák also noted Hungary’s aid to Turkey after the earthquakes in 1999 and in February this year. The late Mancs belonged to the Spider rescue team in Miskolc, in northern Hungary. He became famous when he rescued a three-year-old girl in 1999, buried under the ruins of a house for 82 hours.
Katalin Novák, the President of Hungary, wrote the following thoughts about Mancs on her Facebook page:
“The statue of Mancs (Paw) symbolises selflessness, helpfulness and bravery. Characteristics that we Hungarians are proud of and aspire to have.
We unveiled the statue of Mancs, the heroic dog saving lives, in Kocaeli in Türkiye. Hope, one of the four-legged heroes of the rescue operations after the recent earthquake, laid flowers at the statue, in the presence of both dogs’ trainer, László Lehoczki. Mancs saved several lives after the earthquake in Izmit in 1999. This time, 29 rescue dogs from Hungary helped to save 35 human lives.”
Katalin Novák also visited mourning women who lost their loved ones in the recent devastating earthquake:
President Erdogan also expressed his thankfullness for the Hungarian rescue teams and their dogs:
A new regular Wizz Air flight will carry passengers between Budapest and Türkiye’s biggest city, the historic and cultural centre of the country. Furthermore, the Hungarian budget airline plans to announce further Turkish flights soon.
Wizz Air takes you from Budapest to Istanbul
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian travel Facebook page, the first Wizz Air Istanbul flight took off on Friday from Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The airline plans to carry passengers to the greatest Turkish city every day.
Zsuzsa Trubek, the communications manager of the Hungarian budget airline, said they are happy they could launch their first flight to Istanbul’s nr1 international airport, a historic, artistic and cultural hub of Europe. “That is another milestone in the life of our airline, which will be followed by additional Türkiye-flights from Hungary”, she added. The company’s manager highlighted that they are committed to enabling travelling for as many people as possible.
Balázs Bogáts, the Airline Development Director of the Budapest Airport, said that the new flight strengthens the connections between Hungary and Türkiye. “Istanbul is a defining trade and transport hub between the East and the West, while Antalya is the gate of the Southern Mediterranean region of the country”, he added. Therefore, they are sure the new flights will be popular both for holidaymakers and passengers doing business.
Here are three photos taken after the arrival of the first Wizz Air plane to Istanbul:
Fly direct to Istanbul from London Luton and Gatwick Airport with Wizz Air
Wizz Air also launched two new routes from London Luton Airport and Gatwick Airport to Istanbul in Türkiye, the company’s official website said. The inaugural flights from London Luton Airport and Gatwick Airport took off on 28 March, with flights from both airports operating daily to Türkiye’s largest city, Istanbul. Known as the country’s cultural capital, Istanbul is brimming with historic sights, contemporary art museums and lively cafes. Whether visitors are looking to tour the famous sights, take a relaxing break at a local hammam, or make the most of the vibrant nightlife, Istanbul offers something for every traveller.
Wizz Air’s new routes will now serve holidaymakers and facilitate more convenient travel for residents visiting friends and family in Türkiye. In addition to strengthening the UK’s ties with Türkiye, the new routes build on Wizz Air’s continued expansion, with new routes from Gatwick Airport to Antalya, Dalaman, (Türkiye) and Verona, (Italy) and from London Luton Airport to Amman, (Jordan), Bydgoszcz, and Lodz (Poland). Wizz Air now offers nearly 30 routes from Gatwick and over 60 routes from Luton, where it is the largest operator.
“Hungarians helped the people of Turkiye at the time of the earthquakes and will continue to help them in the coming period, too,” President Katalin Novák told a press conference held together with her Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday.
The Hungarian Ecumenical Charity has sent donations of a total 100 million forints (EUR 262,900) to Turkiye, while Hungary is also sending 100 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment to earthquake-hit parts of that country, the president said.
The talks between the two presidents touched upon the war in Ukraine, illegal migration, the enlargement of the European Union and of NATO, as well as energy cooperation and demographic challenges, Novák said.
Novak also said she and Erdogan would jointly open a Turkiye-Hungary cultural year in December, to mark the centenary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
On the subject of the war in Ukraine, Novak highlighted the importance of an early ceasefire, peace talks, and an equitable peace treaty, and made special mention of Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarian community. Escalation of the war must be avoided, she said, and thanked Turkiye for its mediation.
Answering a question, she said peace required “a joint will”, adding that “tension should be cooled rather than increased … the warring parties must sit down to the negotiating table”.
Novák said Turkiye had a key role in tackling illegal migration.
The president also said Hungary supported the enlargement of the EU and NATO, especially with regard to the Western Balkans. She noted that she had recently signed Hungary’s law ratifying Finland’s NATO entry, adding that “Sweden’s accession is on the agenda, too”.
Novák thanked Turkey for ensuring supplies to Hungary through the Turkish Stream pipeline, and highlighted the importance of cooperation with strategic partners such as Turkey.
Concerning demographic challenges, Novák said preservation of traditional family values was a top priority for both countries, and invited Erdogan to join the Network of Family-Friendly Presidents.
Erdogan said Turkiye and Azerbaijan were prepared to give Hungary all the support it needed in terms of its gas supply.
Concerning Turkish-Hungarian ties, Erdogan thanked Hungary for the support it provided in the search and rescue efforts following the February earthquake, noting that the Hungarian teams rescued 35 people from the rubble.
As regards the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan urged peace talks and an end to the conflict.
Erdogan said he and Novák had mainly discussed trade, military, economic and cultural matters. He said the sixth meeting of the Turkish-Hungarian High Level Strategic Cooperation Council will be held in Budapest in December. Annual bilateral trade has reached 3.5 billion dollars, he said, adding that the two countries were now targeting a turnover of 6 billion dollars.
Novák is on a three-day visit to Turkiye. On Thursday she is scheduled to attend Turkiye’s national assembly, and visit earthquake-hit parts of the country.
We interviewed Her Excellency Ambassador Gülşen Karanis, head of the Turkish embassy in Hungary. During the interview, we talked about the devastating earthquake that hit Türkiye in February, the history of the Turkish-Hungarian brotherhood, upcoming events, her favourite pieces of Hungarian gastronomy and more!
Daily News Hungary (DNH): I must ask you about a very tragic event at the beginning of this interview. The earthquake has also touched many people in Hungary. Can you tell us exactly how much Türkiye and the Turkish people have suffered in this natural disaster? (Losses in numbers) Also you were involved in a way, as your husband was in the area affected by the earthquake.
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: As you mentioned, we experienced two consecutive earthquakes on February, the 6th. These earthquakes, measured respectively on a Richter scale of 7.7 and 7.6, caused massive destruction and devastation in South-East Turkey. A total of 11 provinces, 62 districts and almost 11.000 villages were affected. We lost around 50.000 people and around two million were evacuated from their homes.
Just for you to comprehend the all-powerful nature of the disaster, we are referring to an area 20% greater than the entire landmass of Hungary. This is particularly why, disaster relief and the WHO emergency response experts called these twin earthquakes as “the disaster of the century”. Both in terms of the number of losses and the ensuing suffering, they certainly brought about the gravest suffering in our Republican history.
Due to the harsh winter conditions in the region as well as the destruction of the fundamental infrastructure including transport, communication and energy, we were faced with enormous challenges. Our disaster and emergence response teams, whose own family and friends were also affected by the earthquakes, mobilized quickly and effectively.
Given the sheer magnitude of the disaster and its coverage, almost all families in Türkiye were affected one way or another. Our family was no exception. When the earthquakes stroke, my husband Ekrem was in Hatay, very close to the epicenter. He was working there as an assistant coach for the city’s football team competing in the Turkish Super League. He was trapped under debris for a while, yet lucky to be able to save himself. He attended to the rescue of his colleagues and players, but unfortunately some of them did not survive the earthquake. His team, Hatayspor, had to eventually withdraw from the competition.
DNH: As far as I know, the Hungarian people have expressed their great sympathy and have tried to help the victims of the Turkish disaster in many ways. The HUNOR rescue team is a source of pride for all of Hungary. Their help certainly meant a lot in Türkiye. Can you tell us about the reactions?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: We are most grateful for the international solidarity displayed in the aftermath of the disaster. In response to our call for international assistance, many countries mobilized their search and rescue teams and extended us a helping hand. Hungary was one of the first to rush to our rescue.
The official Hungarian teams, including HUNOR, and 5 different non-governmental organizations dispatched their teams to the earthquake-stricken provinces. We received a total of 167 Hungarian personnel, accompanied by 28 search and rescue dogs. Together, they managed to save 35 Turkish people from under the ruins. Upon their return, there were ceremonies and events to honor the Hungarian teams. It was also very touching to see President Novák’s display of solidarity with Türkiye when she received them in the Sándor Palace on February, the 14th.
Following the disaster, we received many phone calls from our Hungarian colleagues in so much so that our lines were locked, our Google profile sustained a seven-fold increase in terms of viewings and many interactions with our social media accounts. Our Hungarian friends from different age groups, professions and walks of life made generous donations, both in-kind and cash, to our campaign. Donations literally poured in the Embassy chancery and our logistical warehouse. We could not withhold our tears when we saw small Hungarian children painting pictures and bringing them to us to be sent to children in the disaster area. They even sent their pocket money to the Embassy’s relief account. We dispatched all those materials to Türkiye with 6 planes and 12 trucks. The total amount collected in our donations’ account is more than 300.000 Dollars.
Foreign Minister Szijjártó visited Türkiye on 27 February to show solidarity and convey his condolences. Prime Minister Orbán also brought along 100 tons of medical and humanitarian aid last week. As Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu particularly underlined, it was not the first time that Hungary responded to our call in the moment of need. We still remember your help and solidarity after the massive earthquake in 1999. Hungarian rescue dog, Mancs, was all over the Turkish newspapers after saving a 3-year-old girl. It must be an act of fate that his trainer, László Lehoczki, saved another child last month in Hatay.
Turkish people were really touched to watch László Pavelcze to burst into tears after saving another child. And some of our people wanted to reciprocate in their own way. When the Hungarian search and rescue team run out of gas, Turkish people did not let them pay in petrol station. A hotel in the region did not accept payment from Hungarian journalist covering the disaster. Recently, Hungary has demonstrated more than once that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.
DNH: The Hungarian-Turkish brotherhood is not just an empty phrase, it has a serious background. What links can you highlight? The Turkic Council is playing an increasingly important role in the life of both countries. The Hungarian and Turkish governments are also in very close political contact. How is this reflected nowadays?
Gülşen Karanis, Turkish Ambassador. Source: Facebook/T.C. Budapeşte Büyükelçiliği/Turkish Embassy in Budapest
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: You rightly underlined the strong nature of Turkish-Hungarian brotherhood. Our relations have deep historical roots. We supported each other at important milestones. The traces of Hungarian national heroes like Kossuth, Rákóczi and Thököly Imre are all over Anatolia, from Kütahya and Tekirdağ to İzmit.
Similarly, we did not forget your support at crucial junctures like the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 or later in Gallipoli in 1915. Similarly, our soldiers fallen at the Galicia front during the World War I, are buried here in Budapest. We recently commemorated them in the military cemetery in special service on March, the 18th.
Hungarian engineers, academics and experts have contributed to the development of the young Turkish Republic. In fact, we signed the first treaty as “the Republic of Türkiye” with Hungary back in December 1923.
I felt the special nature of our relation when I first visited the tomb of Gül Baba immediately after my arrival here in this beautiful city. It is yet another eternal symbol of our friendship.
Our relations have recently gained momentum and we successfully managed to diversify the portfolio of relations. We established “High-Level Strategic Council” in the form of joint cabinet meetings back in 2013. When Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu visited Hungary in January, we decided to elevate the level of our relations to that of “Enhanced Strategic Partnership”. Hungary is one of the very few countries with which we have such high-level cooperation.
Only in the first three months of 2023, three Turkish Ministers visited Budapest, whereas Foreign Minister Szijjártó and Prime Minister Orbán visited Ankara. Late this month, we are expecting President Novák to pay an official visit too. This traffic illustrates the breath and depth of our relations.
Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the successor of the Turkic Council, is the latest addition to the portfolio of our relations. Hungary joined this important intergovernmental organization as an observer in 2018. Budapest now hosts the OTS Representation Office. Prime Minister Orbán attended the Extraordinary Summit of the OTS in Ankara on March, the 16th.
Our leaders get along very well and they maintain close contact on a range of regional and international issues as well. This paves the way for the enhanced strategic cooperation between our two countries. The strongest element in our relations, however, is the bond with our two nations at the people-to-people level and it will remain as such.
DNH: Next year will be a special year for the two countries. Can you tell us about the diplomatic anniversary and the series of events? In the near future, there will be major events this year. What are the biggest ones?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: Next year will be a very special occasion in the long history between the Turks and Magyars. First and foremost, we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Hungary.
We would like to celebrate the centenary with special events that would span the entire year. Both our governments decided to mark 2024 as the “Year of Culture”. On our part, we are planning to organize many cultural, artistic and sports events all across Hungary. Our aim is to organize “100 events for the 100th anniversary”. Our Hungarian friends will hear more about Türkiye in the year to come, and we would be pleased to invite you and your readers to our events.
Our President is envisaged to visit Budapest for the next meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council in December 2023. This will mark the opening of the Year of Culture between Türkiye and Hungary. I know that the Hungarian side is also planning many events for this joyous occasion and the closing event will take place in Ankara at the end of the year.
DNH: On the economic front, there have been some major Turkish investments recently and there are likely to be more announcements. Where can Hungarian businesses (services, industry, food) enter the Turkish market?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: Economic and commercial relations is one of the key driving forces in our bilateral relations. Last year, we sustained a 13% increase in our trade volume and reached around 3,5 billion Dollars. Our target is to increase this figure to 6 billion soon. This is our vision and we work together to reach this target.
Last year, we established a new platform to ensure coordination and coherence on the economic front, while the Joint Economic Commission between the two countries held its 8th session in Budapest in January. We hope to convene the newly established Joint Economic and Trade Commission with the participation of business circles in recent future.
We are pleased that around 500 Turkish businesses are currently operating in Hungary. Turkish construction companies recently undertook 55 projects, whose total worth already exceeded 1,5 billion Dollars. As a matter of fact, Turkish companies are building new production lines for global giants in Hungary. Turkish and Hungarian automotive companies have established a very comprehensive partnership. One of the world’s leading automotive glass suppliers and glass packaging firm is Turkish-owned and they will soon have a production facility in Hungary.
There are many Turkish investments in the field of tourism and hospitality including hotels and restaurants here in Budapest and elsewhere.
In terms of trade and investment, Türkiye offers a lot of opportunities. We have one of the fastest growing economies in the world and a sizeable domestic market with strong access to the surrounding regions. Due to our convenient location and connectivity, we host many regional headquarters in our country. We have a very young and dynamic population, who is well trained and highly skilled. The general climate for foreign direct investments is very favorable.
Over the years, we crafted a very supportive and advantageous ecosystem for research and development. This is particularly important for certain sectors, like technology, defense & aerospace, chemicals, energy, financial services and life sciences. Prospects for these sectors are bright. It is particularly telling that a Hungarian company has recently invested to manufacture incubators in our capital city. We encourage more Hungarian investments in Türkiye and stand ready to support any businesses who might be interested.
DNH: Tourism between the two countries is also growing. What figures can the two sides boast?
Gülşen Karanis, Turkish Ambassador. Source: Facebook/T.C. Budapeşte Büyükelçiliği/Turkish Embassy in Budapest
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: Our shared past, the Ottoman cultural heritage in Hungary and numerous places of historical significance for renowned Hungarian figures in Türkiye are behind the booming tourism numbers. Last year, around 170.000 tourists from Hungary visited our country and thousands of Turkish people visit different places in Hungary as well. We also have a sizeable Turkish student community. More than 1.000 chose Hungarian universities for their college education or spend sometime in higher education institutions as part of EU programmes.
I am pleased to hear that Turkish tourists are feeling at home in Hungary. Our cultures and cuisines are very close to each other. I consider myself as an eternal tourist as well. I am exploring different regions of Hungary and enjoying every moment of it.
DNH: I don’t know how well-known it is, but I really liked the idea of Turkish police officers on duty at the Hungarian border. How long has this cooperation been going on and what is the main purpose of this initiative? And how do the policemen feel here?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: As transit countries for illegal migration, both Türkiye and Hungary raised concerns for a long time in different platforms. This phenomenon, which is too big and complicated to be handled by any single country alone, created some problems for regular cargo and passenger traffic.
In February 2021, our Foreign Ministers decided to boost cooperation in this regard. In December 2021, our respective Interior Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding. Turkish and Hungarian police forces are now patrolling together in your border crossings along Romania and Serbia. There are 50 police officers in these borders, who also extend their help for smooth passage of people and ordinary goods.
This project became one of the flagship cooperation schemes between Türkiye and Hungary. So far, we have received very encouraging feedback from Turkish and Hungarian officials as well as our citizens. Our police officers checked around 750.000 vehicles. Turkish travelers have been really happy to see our police officers with Turkish insignia extending them help while crossing borders. It is a textbook example of mutually beneficial cooperation.
DNH: It can’t be easy not having a family together because of work. Despite this, have you found a home in Budapest?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: Throughout my career in different avenues, I managed to balance my work and family obligations with the help of natural talent of women. It has not always been easy. At times, albeit briefly, we had to stay apart.
Nowadays, we consider ourselves lucky as we are now united as one family. Budapest is a very welcoming city. For us, it is home away from home. My three kids settled well in their schools and already started enjoying their life. We strive to visit different parts of the country on every occasion. We are amazed by Hungarian history and culture as well as its natural beauty. Hungary offers an excellent base to explore the rest of central Europe as well.
It seems that we will be travelling a lot in the days and months to come!
DNH: You are a very active ambassador, as we can see from the press and social media. When you need to relax, what do you do? Do you have a favourite place in Budapest where you go to relax?
Gülşen Karanis, Turkish Ambassador and Zsolt Németh. Source: Facebook/T.C. Budapeşte Büyükelçiliği/Turkish Embassy in Budapest
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: All Turkish ambassadors maintain active and engaging profiles abroad. After all, as diplomats, it is our duty to build bridges and connect people. Investing in relationships to promote Türkiye and deepening relations with our host countries is part and parcel of our job.
Yet, it is true that I pay particular attention to develop close relations with the press and reach out to different segments of the Hungarian society. In today’s world, social media channels provide us with unprecedented ways and means for engagement.
I have an excellent team at the Embassy supporting my role as the Ambassador. We work hard for further improving the Turkish-Hungarian relations, and we use every opportunity to underline both the importance and potential of this very special connection between our two nations.
We must arrange another interview so that I can at least try to do justice in terms of my favorite places in Budapest. They are so many and so diversified! From finding treasures and vintage items in the Ecseri flea market to a relaxing walk along the Danube, I never experience a dull moment strolling in and around the city.
DNH: Outside of Budapest, which Hungarian cities and attractions have you enjoyed?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: I pay particular attention to connect different regions of Hungary with Türkiye. I regularly visit different cities to meet with Mayors, Chambers of Commerce, Hungarian and Turkish businesses. In this regard, I visited Kaposvár, Debrecen, Szigetvár, Pécs, Esztergom, Székesfehérvár and Szeged so far and more visits will follow. I also have cities with Ottoman heritage like Szigetvár, Eger and Mohács on my list.
DNH: Turkish and Hungarian gastronomy are not that far apart. How much do you like Hungarian food?
H. E. Ambassador Karanis: There are many similar and almost identical dishes in our cuisines, including your famous stews, soups, renowned pogacas and even servings of bulgur along with main courses. I absolutely love the Hungarian food. It is very rich and tasty.
I must admit that your patisserie is my all time favorite. First Hungarian sentence that I have learned was “hosszú kávét kérek” next to my cake for the afternoon time.
Hungary has offered to finance the reconstruction of an orthodox church and a cultural centre in Türkiye following last month’s earthquake, and will help rebuild a hospital destroyed in the disaster, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday.
Addressing an international donors’ conference in Brussels to support the victims of the Türkiye-Syria earthquake, Szijjarto said Hungary will cover the costs of rebuilding the Syriac Orthodox Church’s St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Adiyaman.
The Hungarian government will also finance the reconstruction of a cultural centre in Osmaniye, which houses a permanent exhibition focused on Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, a ministry statement cited Szijjártó as saying.
In addition, Hungary will contribute to the reconstruction of a hospital chosen by the local authorities, he added.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said Hungary has earmarked one million US dollars towards programmes launched by Syria’s Christian churches aimed at helping those displaced by the disaster.
He noted that Hungary sent search and rescue teams to Türkiye immediately after the earthquake. The 167 experts and 29 rescue dogs Hungary sent to the disaster zone rescued 35 people, Szijjártó said. Hungary also delivered 120 tonnes of hospital equipment to Türkiye, he added.
Szijjártó expressed hope that Türkiye’s reconstruction efforts would be successful, adding that the country’s chances were good, “knowing Türkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s level of determination”.
As we wrote last week, talks between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara focused on the war in Ukraine and energy security issues, details HERE.
