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PHOTOS: Hungarian president accepted Macron’s invitation to Paris but she visited somebody else first

“We must find a common language that can lead us to a just peace as soon as possible,” President Katalin Novák said on Facebook after meeting former French president Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Thursday.

This was the reason, Novák said in an English-language post, she had accepted French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to the international Peace Forum in Paris. The president said she started the day by visiting “Hungary’s long-standing friend”, Sarkozy, whom she called a representative of the “grand generation”. She noted that the former president had been a “prominent shaper of French and European public life for a long time”.

Novák said her discussion with Sarkozy had centred on “how much Europe and the world needs Hungary acting as a bridge”. “We Hungarians are not only geographically located at the meeting point of East and West, North and South, but also understand the various nations and people, and are able to mediate between them,” Novák wrote. Novák said held a lecture on Hungary’s family policy and demographic challenges at the Institut de Philosophie Comparee in Paris later on Thursday.

katalin novák president usa roller skates school

Read alsoThe Hungarian President rolled into her former school in America on roller skates

The president noted that fertility rates are below 2 in all European countries, the ratio necessary to maintain the population. “The fact that Europe’s population is growing is not a natural process but a result of immigration,” she siad.

Hungary’s population has been declining for four decades, Novák said. Therefore, family policy has been strong in the past 10-12 years, with the government focusing on narrowing the gap between the number of children couples strive to raise and the number they end up having. Hungary spends 6.2 percent of its annual GDP on family support in various forms such as the home purchase subsidy (CSOK), and forgiving university fees after the third child, she said.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, Novák said that over 200 Hungarians have died in the war so far. The situation is “extremely fragile”, and escalation should be avoided at all costs, she said.

Read alsoPHOTOS: Hungarian Diaspora Mission Centre inaugurated in Toronto, Canada

November 11, 2022

PM Orbán travelling to Uzbekistan with 60 businessmen, several ministers

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is travelling to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, to a summit of the Organisation of Turkic States, where he is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Turkic countries, the PM’s press chief said.

Orbán is heading a delegation of government members, including Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy and the PM’s political director Balázs Orbán, and some 60 Hungarian businessmen, Bertalan Havasi said. Besides current events in international politics, the summit will also touch on economic, trade and transport issues, he said.

Orbán is slated to hold bilateral talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Havasi said.

Hungarian government parliament crisis Hungarian House Speaker

Read alsoMissing file: Hungarian government’s crisis management plan

FM Szijjártó: Hungary, Maldives agree to develop mutual cooperation

Hungary and the Maldive Islands have concluded a cooperation agreement on economic ties, higher education and sports, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Wednesday in Male, after meeting his Maldivian counterpart, Abdulla Shahid. The Pacific region is an important focal point of geopolitical rivalry, which boosts the significance of “countries like the Maldives which are building their policies on common sense,” Péter Szijjártó said. The European Union and Hungary see the Maldives, a regional stabilising influence in a strategic geographical location, as a key partner in the region, he said, adding that supports the country’s request for visa-free travel and tax exemptions for Maldivian fishing products, he said.

Under the agreement they signed today, Hungary will raise the number of scholarships offered for Maldivian students to 25 from 15, and extend it to athletes and trainers, he said. The government is also supporting Hungarian companies investing in the islands nation, especially in water management, waste management and tourism. Hungary is also sending Hungarian-made X-ray machines to the country, he added.

Read also Here is how Hungary will never support Ukraine: it is not the arms deliveries

Szijjártó is scheduled to meet President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the ministers for higher education, economic development and sports later in the day. Shahid thanked Hungary for its help to Maldivian students stranded in Ukraine when the war started, and noted Szijjarto was the first Hungarian foreign minister to pay an official visit to the country. He called the talks “extremely fruitful” for boosting further cooperation, and he welcomed Hungary’s commitment to supporting the Maldives, especially its health-care sector.

November 9, 2022

Orbán met world-renowned US political scientist and scholar

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Tuesday met John Mearsheimer, world-renowned political scientist and scholar of international relations, the PM’s press chief has said.

Orbán and Mearsheimer mainly discussed the roots, causes and possible outcomes of the war in Ukraine, Bertalan Havasi said. They agreed that the war is the most dangerous conflict of the past decades and that it should be ended as soon as possible, he said. Balázs Orbán, the PM’s political director, also attended the meeting.

Read alsoHungarian judges will be fired only for meeting with the American ambassador?

November 8, 2022

PHOTOS: The Wolf of Wall Street and a member of the Royal Family come to Budapest

The former wife of Andrew, the Prince of York, Sarah Ferguson, will come to Budapest to present her new book. Moreover, the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, will also be in Hungary’s capital in November to hold a lecture.

British royalty in Budapest

Prince Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, wrote a novel titled ‘Her Heart for a Compass’. The novel’s Hungarian copy will be in the bookstores from 21 November, and the British Royal Family member is to come to Budapest’s Libri Allee to present it on 1 December at 4 pm. The story of the novel revolves around the life of Fergie’s great-great-aunt.

Sarah Ferguson lived a rollercoaster life while married to her former husband Prince Andrew. As an officer of the British Armed Forces, he was sent multiple times on duty abroad, and his wife spent that time entertaining herself in the company of other men. On top of that, her half-nude photographs made headlines all over the press back then, alienating her from the Royal Family. She divorced Andrew in 1996, but they still share the same estate. They raise two children, Beatrix and Eugenia, divany.hu said.

Sarah Ferguson the Princess of York — Sarah Ferguson. Photo: Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Read alsoKing Charles’s Hungarian cook shared secrets about his visits in Zalánpatak

What can you learn from Jordan Belfort in Budapest?

Meanwhile, Jordan Belfort, the Wolf of Wall Street, will also visit Budapest to hold a seminar on 14 November. Belfort has been running motivational training sessions since 2013 when the movie about his life starring Leonardo di Caprio hit the world’s cinemas. He educates attendees on key aspects of commerce, business negotiations and techniques to increase sales and lead a successful enterprise, telex.hu wrote.

Belfort spent two years in prison and paid 100 million dollars for destroying the lives of many Americans who invested money in invaluable shares Stratton Oakmont, Belfort’s company founded in 1989, sold them. Today, he talks about the legal ways of making fruitful business deals in front of large crowds.

His very first session in Budapest will be held on 14 November. The tickets are quite pricey, but telex.hu promised to report on the event.

Read alsoTwo Hungarians among the world’s wealthiest people, can you guess who?

November 8, 2022

PHOTOS: Hungarian President met Conservative Ontario premier

President Katalin Novák met Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, on the fourth day of her Canadian tour.

During the talks, focusing on ethnic minorities, the Hungarian president shared her recent experience in the Hungarian communities of Toronto, and the difficult situation of Transcarpathian Hungarians, further aggravated by the Ukraine war. Novák thanked the government and parliament of Ontario for recent legislation under which October was declared Hungarian Heritage Month to be observed each year.

Hungarian Heritage Month programmes included cultural, business, and scientific events in Ontario, concluded with a gala evening addressed by Novák.

Read alsoPHOTOS: Hungarian Diaspora Mission Centre inaugurated in Toronto, Canada

The talks in the Ontario Legislative Building were attended by Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s minister for mental health, Peter Bethlenfalvy, the province’s finance minister of Hungarian origin, Kinga Surma, the infrastructure minister, and Rudy Cuzzetto, the lawmaker who submitted the proposal for Hungarian Heritage Month.

Novák also had talks with Victor Fedeli, the minister of economic development, and paid tribute to Hungary’s anti-Soviet revolt of 1956, at a plaque in the legislative building.

Read alsoVIDEO, PHOTOS – America’s best butcher’s shop is Hungarian!

November 1, 2022

PHOTOS: Hungarian President in Canada, she met even Katalin Karikó

Hungarians are liked and recognised in the Canadian province of Ontario, and the Hungarians here can count on Hungary as much as on Canada, President Katalin Novák said in Toronto on Saturday.

Attending the closing night of Hungarian Heritage Month in Toronto, Novák said she felt it was her duty to be aware of Canada’s Hungarians, to care for them and to be proud of them. She is committed to work for Hungarians to be better understood and recognised in the world, she added.

Novák said October is a special month for Hungarians, the “month of freedom”, when Hungarians celebrate the acts of great Hungarians who won the world’s recognition, but the world was not brave enough to help the people who started the uprising in October 1956 to complete their revolution.

She said it would be great if Hungarians today could turn towards the future with all their might and called for an end to the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.

Read alsoWere Hungarians in America Before Columbus?

Novák handed over the Hungarian Order of Merit to László Radványi, President of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, whose parents arrived to Canada as 1956 refugees, and Michael Tibollo, member of the Ontario Provincial Government of Italian origin, who was one of the initiators of the enactment of Hungarian Heritage Month into law in Ontario.

Novák also met Hungarian-born biochemist Katalin Karikó in Toronto on Friday. Karikó received the Gairdner International Award, one of Canada’s most prestigious medical science awards on Thursday.

Read alsoCanadian swimmer drugged in Budapest? Some say she was just badly drunk

October 30, 2022

PHOTOS: Hungarian president gave lecture at an Austrian Catholic university

Education and emphasising the importance of human life are key to a successful family policy, President Katalin Novák said at the ITI Catholic University in Austria on Thursday.

Novák’s lecture focused on the importance of the traditional family model, the role of grandparents, having children and ways to coordinate family life with a career. Hungary spends 5 percent of its GDP on family support and significant efforts are being made to enable everyone to have as many children as they wish, she said.

There has been a population decline since 1981 but thanks to government measures in the past ten years, the number of marriages doubled and the number of abortions halved, while the number of divorces also decreased, she added.

Novák said that Hungary’s constitution protects the institution of marriage as a union based on a voluntary decision between a man and a woman, as well as the family which forms the basis for the survival of the nation.

Read alsoThe Hungarian President rolled into her former school in America on roller skates

October 29, 2022

Hungary and Austria agreed that their views differ on the anti-Putin sanctions

Europe needs easily traversable, open internal and secure external borders, President Katalin Novák told a press conference in Vienna on Thursday, after meeting her Austrian counterpart, Alexander Van der Bellen.

Novák told the joint press conference that they had touched on the war in Ukraine and the situation of Hungarians living there, energy independence, migration and the importance of the European Union’s enlargement in the Western Balkans. At the talks, Novák and Van der Bellen agreed that the two countries should have stable relations and be strong allies.

Regarding migration, Novák said Hungary was on the same page with Austria that accepting and helping refugees was a humanitarian task. At the same time, while regulating legal economic immigration could be a sovereign national decision, firm countermeasures are needed against illegal migration, she said.

Hungary wants the southern borders strengthened to stop illegal migration, including the border between Serbia and Macedonia, she said. At the same time, it has already received some 1 million refugees from Ukraine, and “right from the beginning, Hungarians and Austrians were on the side of those in need of help”.

Read alsoOrbán cabinet: Illegal entry attempts exceed 200,000 this year

“Hungary’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war has always been unequivocal: we condemn Russian aggression and the military attack on a sovereign country, we do not recognise Russian sovereignty over the annexed regions, and support Ukraine in its fight,” she said. Hungary and Austria are both for achieving peace as soon as possible, she added.

Hungary also supports the EU integration of the Western Balkans, and enlargement is also in the EU’s interest, she said. Novák said some 115,000 Hungarians were working in Austria, contributing to Austrian economy, she said. An Austrian decision in 2019 to reduce family support for non-Austrian citizens impacted nearly 9,000 Hungarians working there, but since the regulation has been retracted, the affected families “can receive the support they are entitled to”, she said.

Van der Bellen told the press conference that Austria and Hungary had historically strong economic and cultural ties, and economic ties strengthened further recently. Austria is Hungary’s second most important trading partner and the third most important investor in the country, he said. Austrian exports to Hungary have grown by an annual 40 percent in 2022, and Hungarian exports to Austria by 18 percent, he said.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, Van der Bellen said “we in Austria might not be fully aware of the special significance of this war for Hungary, because of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine,” which he said made the situation “especially worrisome” for Hungary. Austria sees sanctions as the only possible response to the aggression whipped up by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said. He expressed hope that European countries will continue to stand by them and to “speak with one European voice”. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government regularly expresses that the sanctions do not work, they only help Putin and Russia to get wealthier. However, Novák did not mention those views during her visit, at least MTI did not say a word about such assertions from Hungary’s president.

Below you may check out some photos take during her official visit to Austria:

Read alsoHungarian politician thinks the inventor of sanctions is Russia’s best friend

October 28, 2022

PHOTOS: North Macedonia’s chief of staff on official visit in Budapest

North Macedonia military Budapest Hungary

Peace and security in the Western Balkans is of paramount importance for Hungary, Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, commander of the Hungarian military, said after talks with Vasko Gjurchinovski, chief of staff of North Macedonia’s armed forces, in Budapest on Wednesday.

North Macedonia is key in keeping peace and security in the region, the Hungarian commander said.

At their annual meeting, the two military leaders reviewed the situation in the Western Balkans and agreed that Hungarian troops serving in the region would participate in exercises organised in North Macedonia. They also discussed the future of the EUFOR Althea mission, Hungary’s military reform and North Macedonia’s military plans, Ruszin-Szendi said.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, Ruszin-Szendi said he had shared with Gjurchinovski information Hungary had gained as “a NATO front country”. Concerning illegal migration, Ruszin-Szendi said North Macedonia’s experience was indispensable for Hungary to prepare for a possible increase in the pressure posed by migration. He expressed the Hungarian government’s support for the EU integration of the whole of the Western Balkans.

Read alsoPHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungary’s brand new infantry fighting vehicles are displayed in Budapest!

October 20, 2022

Hungarian etiquette: how to behave when you are staying in Hungary

Hungarians are proud of their customs and traditions. In addition, they have strict rules when it comes to etiquette and expect others to follow them. Read our article to find out how you should behave when you are staying in Hungary!

No loud noises in public

In some cultures, people are used to speaking quite loudly. However, in Hungary, you should avoid any loud noises. No loud singing, whistling or humming is tolerated. If you are using public transport, make sure you use your earphones or headphones when listening to music, as it is considered to be rude, if you listen to music loudly.

Read also: 5 things you should know about Hungarian people before you travel to Hungary

How to behave when you are invited to someone

According to c ulturalatlas.sbs.com.au, most visits are arranged in advance. You should not show up at someone’s doorstep unannounced. Give them time to prepare for your visit. More importantly, punctuality is crucial for most Hungarians. Therefore, if you are invited to an event, try to arrive on time. However, if you plan to go to a more informal party, it is acceptable to be late about 30 minutes.

Meeting people in Hungary

According to the rules of etiquette, when meeting people of the same sex, the younger person always greets the older person in advance, thereby expressing respect for the older person’s age, writes www.irodalmiradio.hu. Men usually greet each other with a handshake, in the case of women a handshake is not expected. According to the rules of the protocol, you must introduce – the man to the woman, – the younger person to the older person, – the lower position path/rank path to the higher one, – the later arrival to the person already there, taking into account the previous rules.

Read also: The history of the Hungarian language

The Hungarian hospitality

Eating and drinking are always considered special occasions for Hungarians. No matter if it is lunch or dinner, Hungarians like to organise the event to make sure everything is appropriate for the occasion. When catering at home, the host welcomes all arriving guests personally and ensures that the guests will get a drink immediately. As the guests leave, the host expresses how grateful they are that the guests have accepted the invitation.

Read alsoThe most beautiful Hungarian words

October 17, 2022

King Charles’s Hungarian cook shared secrets about his visits in Zalánpatak

Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, found the Hungarian cook of King Charles III. Aunt Éva (Éva néni) is proud of the walking stick she received from the former Prince of Wales. She shared some secrets about the king’s visits to the tiny Hungarian village of Zalánpatak in Transylvania. She said they hoped the king would continue his visits to Transylvania, where locals would always welcome him. Here are some stories about Charles you probably never read before.

Zalánpatak, where the king bought a house

According to blikk.hu, Charles III visits a tiny Hungarian village in Central Romania if he seeks time and opportunity for recreation. He “fell in love” with a small Hungarian village, Zalánpatak, fifteen years ago. The village is at the end of a side road, in the middle of some beautiful forests where only the barking of the shepherd dogs disturbs tranquility.

96 percent of the locals are Hungarians, and the village looks as though time stopped there. The king bought an estate in the settlement years ago. He renewed it, but it remained a small farmhouse-like building with a beautiful garden with flowers and endemic trees and plants. Instead of numerous staff, there is only Aunt Éva. She is the cook but also does the washing up, the washing, and the administration.

Anybody can book a room in the house. Furthermore, you can even sleep in King Charles’s bed, and you only have to pay 100 EUR per night.

Hungarian relative King Charles III Count Tibor Kálnoky

Read alsoEverything you should know about King Charles III’s Hungarian relative

Locals shared some secrets about his visits

“I have known the prince since 2012. He visited us every year except the years of the pandemic. We met in May for the last time. He behaves simply, not flamboyantly. He has a good sense of humour, he is friendly, and his staff always thanks everything. He never goes to sleep without saying goodbye to us in the kitchen. We always wait for that”, the king’s Hungarian cook said.

Charles regularly arrives with 9-10 of his staff and in secret. Of course, locals know when he comes, so they swarm the entrance. But that never disturbed Charles. On the contrary, he shook the hands of the children and greets everybody. “He likes our village and finds our dishes attractive. I cook for him and he regularly tastes everything. His favourites are tomato soup and pörkölt. There is a small table in the back of the garden where he paints and draws. He likes wildflowers and takes long walks on the hills. He drinks tea at 5”, she added.

Even the king’s room is cheap

Blikk visited the king’s room, and they experienced the lack modernity, maybe for the lamp. “He respects traditions and likes to preserve what is old”, Éva said. She added the king always sleeps in one corner of the bed and puts the photos of his wife and children on the cabinet. He never brings too many clothes, only what he needs. There is always enough space for his clothes in the wardrobe, she told Blikk.

Read alsoVIDEO: King Charles III greeted Hungarians partly in Hungarian

King Charles regularly organises parties inviting local musicians. Aunt Veronka, another local, said his father was one of the king’s favourites. They shook hands many times, and Charles adored how he played the violin. Sometimes he brought Veronka with him to sing some folk songs for Charles. She was surprised that Charles tasted every dish he was offered. He liked even the poppy seed polenta.

Charles bought another house in Szászfehéregyháza, another village close to Zalánpatak but populated by Romanians. He also supported the settlement to renew its buildings through his foundation. His house is like a museum in the village since he does not sleep there. Charles always visits his friend, Count Tibor Kálnoky’s mansion in Miklósvár.

A firm handshake

Zsolt Ambarus, the mansion’s manager, said the king had a firm handshake, worthy of a king. He was nice and direct. He also tried their apple pie and elderflower syrup. He has a room in the mansion, too. It is like the others, but its bathroom is a bit bigger and has a sauna and an ice machine inside.

Charles will not get rich from his Transylvanian estates. His room in his estate in Zalánpatak can be booked for 100 EUR per night. The entrance ticket to his other house in Szászfehéregyháza, operating as a museum, is 2.83 EUR. His suite in Miklósvár is more expensive. But it is also better equipped compared to his room in Zalánpatak. You can book it for 263 EUR per night.

October 9, 2022

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hold talks in Hungary

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the president of Uzbekistan, in Budapest on Tuesday.

At the talks held at the Castle District premises of the Prime Minister’s Office, Orbán said Hungary considers Uzbekistan a crucially important partner in the central Asian region. Cooperation between the two countries is of strategic importance from a political, security, economic and energy standpoint.

The two leaders were in agreement that economic cooperation between Hungary and Uzbekistan was more intense than at any other time in the past, highlighting the role of the Hungarian-Uzbek Business Council. The talks also touched on Hungary offering one year of training to ten Uzbek university students in the field of nuclear energy as part of the Stipendium Hungaricum scheme with a view to promoting nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

Orbán accepted the Uzbek president’s invitation to the Organization of Turkic States summit to be held in Samarkand next month.

Hungary and Uzbekistan signed 14 agreements during Tuesday’s talks, including one on the advancement of their strategic partnership, as well as agreements on cooperation in the areas of health care, environmental protection, sports and agriculture.

President Novák holds talks with Uzbek counterpart in Budapest

President Katalin Novák held talks with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, her Uzbek counterpart, at the presidential Sandor Palace in Budapest on Tuesday.

The two heads of state agreed on the importance of peace and security, to boost bilateral economic relations as well as to do everything in their power to support parents raising children, Novák said on Facebook.

She noted that there has not been peace in Uzbekistan’s neighbouring country, Afghanistan, for years, and now there is a war going on in Hungary’s neighbour, Ukraine.

Novák said Hungary was “the centre for economic cooperation between the West and the East”. She said Hungary and Uzbekistan will strengthen their economic ties, particularly in the areas of energy, finance and the health industry.

She also highlighted the importance of family when it came to the future of both nations, saying that the two countries were doing their utmost to support parents raising children.

Novák welcomed that President Mirziyoyev intended to open an embassy in Budapest, and said she had accepted his invitation to Tashkent.

October 4, 2022

5 things you should know about Hungarian people before you travel to Hungary

Hungarian Gombos folk clothing foreigners hungarians

It is very much recommended to visit Hungary and explore its beautiful capital, the stunning countryside and its colourful culture and traditions. However, before you travel to Hungary, there might be some things you should know about the Hungarian people.

Hungarians are rather introverted and pessimistic

Although there are some exceptions, most Hungarians are usually described as introverted and pessimistic. It also does not help that Hungarians are very straightforward and will seldom hide their discontent, writes travelnotesandbeyond.com. In addition, people in Hungary do not open up easily, it takes time for them to accept foreigners. So do not worry if you feel like you are not welcome in Hungary at first! If you get to know Hungarians better, you will realise that they just need their time to warm up to you.

Hungarian people are smart

According to CNN, Hungary has one of the highest rankings, per capita, for Nobel laureates. The first Hungarian Nobel prize dates back to 1905 (for physics). Fülöp Lénárd’s results led to the discovery of electrons and X-rays. Furthermore, Hungarians are famous for their numerous inventions. For example, they invented the light bulb or safety matches. Read more about Hungarian inventions here!

You should avoid talking about politics!

If there is one thing that divides even families, it is politics. Although things can get pretty intense when the topic comes up, Hungarians often engage in serious debates. It is probably safer to avoid politics altogether.

Read also: Expat mums share their experiences living in Hungary

“Strange” name order

You will probably notice that Hungarian people say their last names first. For example, they will introduce themselves as “Kiss Péter”, with “Kiss” being their last name. It is useful to know this so that you do not confuse their first and last names.

Read also: What do foreigners really think of Hungary?

Tragic Hungarian history

The history of Hungary might explain why Hungarians tend to be pessimistic. Hungarians had to fight for their freedom several times and had to face many hardships. Among others, Mongols and Tatars invaded the country, and the 47-year-long Soviet occupation also took a toll on the nation. If you are interested in the history of Hungary, you can read more about it here.

Read alsoThe history of the Hungarian language

October 3, 2022

PHOTOS: Hungarian president’s official visit in Slovakia

Types of EU economic sanctions are needed that would cause serious economic strife for the Russian aggressor, not the European economy, President Katalin Novák said on Friday in Bratislava after meeting Slovak counterpart Zuzana Caputova.

Hungary’s position, Novák told a joint press conference, was clear from the very beginning. “We condemn Russian aggression and its attack on Ukraine and support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” she said. Referring to exemptions from the oil embargo, the president said both Slovakia and Hungary had benefitted from “good compromises” in respect of sanctions against Russia. But an assessment of the impact of current and planned sanctions is needed, Novák added.

The president said she would propose at their meeting later on Friday that Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger also support sanctions packages that cause serious economic difficulties for the Russian aggressor rather than the European economy.

As regards the issue of military support to Ukraine, Novák noted a difference in the positions of Slovakia and Hungary, adding however that both countries had taken in a large number of Ukrainian refugees. “Creating peace is in the interest and a primary aim of both of our countries, whereas the prospect of achieving that is not that positive,” Novák said.

Read alsoOrganiser of Orbán’s peace march would start an EU-USA war

Concerning illegal migration, the Hungarian president called it a mutual interest to avoid the reinstatement of national border controls among countries of the Schengen zone as well as to strengthen Schengen’s external borders.

Novák also addressed the issue of minorities, noting that Slovakia’s recent census shows around half a million Hungarians living there. The possibility of exercising their rights is of primary importance for Hungary, she said, adding that she had asked her Slovak counterpart to do all she could to ensure that the Hungarian community could nurture their national identity. Novák said Hungary’s 35,000-member Slovak minority has a parliamentary representative, adding that the number of Slovak schools had increased threefold and several Slovak cultural institutions had been established.

Here are some photos of her meeting representatives and leaders of the Hungarian community living in Slovakia:

Novák highlighted the importance of cooperation in the Visegrád Group comprising Slovakia, Hungary, Czechia and Poland. The V4 “has no alternative, it is a platform for us to represent our common interests most effectively within the EU”, she said, and asked for her Slovak counterpart’s support in connection with the EU’s allocation of the funds to Hungary which the country is entitled to.

Read alsoDomestic food is more expensive in Hungary than foreign food: why?

Concerning economic ties, Novák noted that Slovakia is Hungary’s second biggest economic partner. She noted in addition that the number of border crossing stations between the two countries continues to grow with 41 operating by the end of 2023.

Speaking about culture, Novák noted that Slovakia is the guest of honour at this year’s International Book Festival that opened in Budapest on Thursday. Asked about Slovakia’s upcoming municipal elections, Novák welcomed the cooperation among ethnic Hungarian parties and encouraged Hungarians to cast their votes.

October 1, 2022

PHOTOS: Hungarian President met Biden, Mel Gibson, Hungarian scientists in the USA

Hungarian-President-Katalin-Novák-Mel-Gibson-USA

President Katalin Novák met with Hungarian research scientists and Silicon Valley experts in California on Saturday, during the fifth day of her official visit to the United States. Besides, she shared a photo with US President Joe Biden and renowned film producer and Hollywood icon Mel Gibson. Check out all of them in our article below.

Novák discussed ties with the Hungarian diaspora and the threat of brain drain with the Hungarians working on the West Coast at the meeting in Los Angeles.

Miklós Czaun, who founded and heads the West Coast Club of Hungarian Scientists, said fostering talent and related cooperation were topics that were brought up at the meeting. The chemical engineer added that his club runs a scholarship programme that offers young Hungarian doctors the chance to gain experience at the University of Southern California, then apply what they’ve learnt back home in Hungary.

Gergely Böszörményi-Nagy, a member of the Hungarian delegation at the talks who founded Brain Bar and Design Terminal, told MTI that the visit sends the message to Hungarian scientists in the US that Hungary is counting on them and watching out for them. Their recommendations and knowledge, in the areas of science or related to the diaspora, can find “listening ears”, he added.

Read alsoPHOTOS: Hungary’s president at the US-Mexico border wall

Novák will visit Kansas City on Monday to hold a presentation on Hungary’s family policies for university students. On Tuesday, she will visit Cleveland, a centre of the Hungarian diaspora in the US.

Here is her photo with Mel Gibson

Joe Biden and Jill Biden:

katalin novák president new york united nations

Read alsoHungarian President: women are experts in crisis management

September 25, 2022

PHOTOS: Hungary’s president at the US-Mexico border wall

President Katalin Novák visited the wall on the US-Mexico border, and handed a state honour to Hungarian-born psychologist Edith Eger on Thursday, the third day of her official visit to the United States.

Novák visited Eger, a 95-year-old author-psychologist and Holocaust survivor specialising in post-traumatic stress disorder, in her home in San Diego. Novák awarded Eger the Hungarian Order of Merit, Commander’s Cross.

Read alsoPresident: Hungary is a friend of Israel and Jewish communities

The president also visited the wall erected on the border between the US and Mexico as a measure against illegal migration, where a local customs and border protection agent briefed her on growing migration pressure in the area. The agent said the authority’s main objective was to preserve national security, and they lamented the shortage of resources and workforce at the border.

Novák is scheduled to travel to Los Angeles over the weekend, where she will give speeches on Hungarian family protection measures at various universities and meet Hungarian-born scientists, as well as the leaders of the local Jewish community. Next week, she will give speeches in the Midwest and meet the representatives of Hungarian communities living there.

September 24, 2022

Hungarian President leaves for London to attend Queen’s funeral

Hungarian President Katalin Novák left for London on Sunday to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

“I am leaving for London with my husband, István, to pay my last respects at the queen’s bier on behalf of the Hungarian nation, and attend her funeral service along with world leaders tomorrow,” the president wrote on Facebook.

Novák said that although she had never got the opportunity to meet Elizabeth II in person, she respected her for her attitude, wisdom and service of her nation. The Queen died on September 8 at the age of 96 at her summer residence of Balmoral Castle in Scotland after 70 years on the throne.

Read alsoPHOTOS: Hungary’s President plays with kids, runs with soldiers, plays foosball

September 18, 2022

PHOTOS, VIDEO: check out a Hungarian prison from the inside

You may find an interesting video on the official website of the Hungarian Prison Service showing what a Hungarian jail looks like. The guide is a female guard.

According to her, the yellow line shows which side the convicts should move inside the building. The striped part of the corridor is where they have to wait until they can get out to the yard, where inmates can spend some time in the fresh air.

Officers have keys only for those doors they need to use. Increasing rank means your key may open more doors inside. However, the so-called “king key” can open all doors.

In each prison building, there are recreation rooms for the convicts where they can play darts, football, read or talk with each other.

Here are some additional photos and a video:

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International Ombudsman Institute chief visits Hungarian prison in Veszprém

Chris Field, president of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), has paid visits to Hungary’s prison service directorate BVOP and the prison of Veszprém in the company of Ákos Kozma, commissioner for fundamental rights.

Major General János Schmehl, BVOP’s deputy chief in charge of security and detention, briefed Field on the basic tasks of the prison service and major development projects of the past few years, BVOP said in a statement.

In Veszprém, a city in western Hungary, the IOI president was briefed on prison conditions, security measures, and efforts to reintegrate the inmates. Both sides qualified the meeting as useful. BVOP said the IOI delegation praised the professional work of the prison staff, the excellent accommodation of inmates, the security system, and the treatment of prisoners.

Featured image: illustration

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September 17, 2022