visit

Only Eastern autocrats and fallen Western politicians? Orbán met with several former and incumbent leaders

WAC Budapest

Hungarian press slammed PM Viktor Orbán that he would only meet with Eastern autocrats like Central Asian country heads, the President of Türkiye and Serbia, and fallen Western politicians like the former Slovenian prime minister, Janez Jansa, or Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s former chancellor. And it seems no EU or NATO heavyweight leaders will come to Hungary during the third greatest international sports event, the World Athletics Championships.

Orbán holds talks with Azeri president

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at a working visit in his office in Budapest on Sunday, Orbán’s press chief said. The talks focused on subjects linked to the security of Hungary and Europe, Bertalan Havasi said. The sides discussed issues linked to energy supplies, physical security, including the war in Ukraine, and steps required to combat economic difficulties, he added.

Similarly to earlier talks with the Turkmen president, energy supplies were a highlighted topic, he said. Hungary is receiving 100 million cubic metres of natural gas from Azerbaijan this year and an agreement has been signed on the storage of 50 million cubic metres of gas in Hungary, also, with physical gas transport links having been established between the two countries, he added. Aliyev is scheduled to attend events of the August 20 national holiday and the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Havasi said.

Orbán meets Kyrgyzstan leader at working visit

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held bilateral talks with President of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov in his office in Budapest on Sunday, Orbán’s press chief said. The sides at the meeting were in agreement that the dynamic political dialogue between their respsective countries offered a good foundation and helped further strengthen cooperation, Bertalan Havasid said. Hungary remains dedicated to continuing these efforts, he added.

They also established that the opening of a Kyrgyz embassy in Budapest and the start of visa issuance at the Hungarian embassy in Bishkek fulfilled expectations, he said. These steps significantly contribute to the development of friendly relations between the people of Hungary and Kyrgyzstan, he added.

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Orbán meets Serbian President Vucic

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is on a working visit in Hungary, Orbán’s press chief said. The sides reviewed political and economic relations between Hungary and Serbia, the situation concerning Western Balkans integration in the European Union, action against illegal migration and joint projects in energy and infrastructure, Bertalan Havasi said. Vucic is scheduled to attend the August 20 national holiday celebrations and visit the World Athletics Championships under way in Budapest, he added.

Orban discusses energy security with Turkmen president

Prime Minister Viktor Orban held talks on Sunday with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow who is on a working visit in Budapest, Orban’s press chief said. The meeting had special importance for Hungary’s energy security because consultations are under way with Turkmenistan about a comprehensive energy cooperation agreement, Bertalan Havasi said. An important element of the agreement is that Hungary could be one of the target countries of Turkmen gas exports in the future, he added.

The sides were in agreement that there are untapped opportunities in Hungary-Turkmenistan cooperation in the areas of health care, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food industry, water management, education, and culture, Havasi said. Berdimuhamedow congratulated to the Hungarian people on the occasion of the Aug. 20 national holiday.

Orbán holds talks with Bosnian leaders

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska, in his office on Sunday, Orbán’s press chief said. Orbán said at the meeting that relations between Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as between Hungary and the Republika Srpska were excellent adding that “we make every effort to increase cooperation, as reflected by projects already started,” Bertalan Havasi said. The three leaders discussed the enhanced measures taken against illegal migration, the strategic importance of the Western Balkans, and its role in securing the stability of Europe, he added.

Erdogan to meet, celebrate and may agree on Sweden’s NATO accession with Orbán

Orbán Erdogan Türkiye

Two NATO leaders opposed Sweden’s NATO accession after Stockholm submitted their plea: Orbán and Erdogan. Sweden’s main adversary was Türkiye, but Orbán helps out his friend so it is not alone in the diplomatic duel. The Orbán-Erdogan meeting today might put an end to that conflict.

The details of Erdogan’s fourth visit to Budapest (after 2013, 2018 and 2019) have been kept secret. The prime minister’s press chief, Bertalan Havasi, kept the press in the dark, saying that the two leaders would discuss economic and political affairs but did not say anything precise about the schedule.

444.hu wrote that the two leaders would probably talk about a possible Ankara-Stockholm agreement over Sweden’s NATO accession. If Türkiye gives the green light, Budapest will not oppose the deal like it happened in the case of Finland earlier.

Read also:

Strongmen of Europe forging new alliance

Among others, the two strongmen of Europe will probably talk about economic questions (investments in the energy and real estate sectors) and migration issues. Turkish press wrote that Erdogan would only spend one day in Budapest, and his visit is the first step in a global tour during which he would like to meet with the US President and the leaders of Russia and India to discuss global matters.

Based on Turkish press information, he will meet with Putin later this month and that may help solve the food supply crisis following the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Considering that, Erdogan’s Budapest visit is more than symbolic and can be regarded as an acknowledgement of Orbán’s unconditional support towards Erdogan during this year’s presidential election, Világgazdaság wrote.

Read also:

  • Orbán: Erdogan opponent a ‘Soros man’, would have been a tragedy if he had won, read more HERE

Of course, some Hungarian political players condemned the Turkish president’s visit. Among others, Momentum Movement hung a banner saying we fought against Ottoman rule for 150 years, so inviting dictator Erdogan on our biggest national day is shameful. Here is a photo:

Párbeszéd: Turkish president’s 20 August visit ‘harmful message’ to international public, Hungarians

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Hungary on 20 August “sends a very serious and harmful message to the international public and Hungarians”, a spokesman of the opposition Párbeszéd party said on Saturday. Turkiye is a key ally of Hungary, and it is important that the two countries are in regular contact, Richárd Barabás said in a video posted on Facebook. At the same time, the Turkish president “has veered very far from the values of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and civil rights, which we Europeans, we Hungarians and we Greens firmly believe in”, he added.

Barabás said the Turkish state was engaging in “severe propaganda similarly to [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orbán’s regime”, creating divisions between rural and urban residents. He said the authorities in Turkiye also imprisoned journalists, cracked down on protests and that members of the LGBTQ community were also often victims of attacks. He said that by inviting the Turkish president to Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was sending the message that his views on the state “are very similar to what Turkish President Erdogan envisions and implements in Turkiye”.

Párbeszéd condemns the Turkish president’s visit as well as the fact that it will take place on the anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian state, Barabás said. The party assumes, he added, that the visit “has something to do with delaying Sweden’s accession to NATO”. Párbeszéd calls on the prime minister to demonstrate that Hungary is a sovereign country capable of making its own decisions when it comes to international political matters, Barabás said. It also urges the prime minister not to serve the needs of the Turkish president or delay approval for Sweden’s NATO accession, he added.

PHOTOS: The Pope is in Hungary!

Coptic Pope visit Budapest

Coptic Pope Tawadros II has arrived in Hungary for a four-day visit at the invitation of Hungary’s government.

űThe leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Airport. Archbishop of Veszprem Gyorgy Udvardy, Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Austria Anba Gabriel, Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Central Europe Ava Giovanni and Mohamed Ibrahim Abdelkhalek Elshinawy, Egyptian ambassador to Hungary, were also present to welcome Pope Tawadros II. Tawadros II will attend the celebratory mass on Sunday in the square in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica at the invitation of Cardinal Péter Erdő.

Tawadros II has been at the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church since 2012, as its 118th leader. The Coptic Orthodox Church is Egypt’s biggest Christian church, the oldest organisation of Christianity. According to tradition, it was founded by St. Mark the Evangelist in Alexandria at the beginning of the 1st century; he was the first bishop of the city. Copts are estimated to make up about 10 percent of the 93 million, mostly Muslim, population of Egypt.

Read also:

Surprise guest to attend August 20 celebrations in Budapest

Chain Bridge at night

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accepted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s invitation to pay a working visit to Budapest on August 20, the prime minister’s press chief said on Friday.

The Hungarian-Turkish summit will be held at Orbán’s office, and issues on the agenda include security, the defence industry and economic affairs. The sides will also prepare groundwork for the next meeting of the Hungarian-Turkish high-level strategic cooperation council to be held at the end of this year.

Minister shared when Hungary might approve Sweden’s NATO accession

Sweden NATO accession minister

The partnership between the European Union and Türkiye must be “closer than ever” to boost the continent’s physical and energy security, and improve its ailing competitiveness, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday, after meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. The newly appointed minister’s first official visit lead to Hungary, proving the country’s crucial place in the Turkish foreign policy.

Szijjártó told a joint press conference after the talks that it was a “great honour and friendly gesture… and proof of strategic relations” that Hungary was the first country Hadan visited after he was appointed foreign minister. Türkiye’s weight in the world is larger than ever in the “new geopolitical and world economic era”, and the country is key to the physical and energy security of Hungary and the whole of Europe, Szijjártó said. “As with its politics Brussels is constantly increasing migration pressure on our southern border, it is highly important that Türkiye should mitigate it,” he said, according to a statement by the foreign ministry, MTI wrote.

“Should Türkiye not take border protection seriously, should it not keep the some million migrants there, the pressure on the external borders of the EU, and so on Hungary, would become unbearable,” he said. Szijjártó praised Ankara’s migrant policy, noting the financial burden posed by related border protection measures. “We can understand this problem because we have also spent several hundreds of billions of forints on border protection, and got only 1 percent of it reimbursed by the EU,” the foreign minister said.

Türkye-Hungary energy cooperation

Türkiye is also of paramount importance in terms of Hungary’s energy security, as most of Russian natural gas imported by the country arrives via the TurkStream pipeline, he said. Without that, meeting Hungary’s energy demands would become impossible, he said. Hungary has received some 2 billion cubic metres of gas via TurkStream this year already, a great boost to winter reserves, said Szijjártó. Hungary’s gas reserves are 48 percent full, compared with the EU’s average of 25 percent, he said. Talks are under way on Hungary’s direct purchases from Türkiye, which would make Türkiye inevitable when diversifying Hungarian energy resources, the foreign minister said.

An agreement was also reached on a close cooperate in the nuclear energy sector, he said, highlighting the importance of experience exchange especially because the two countries are simultaneously constructing nuclear power plants that are using the same technology, he said. Europe, with its waning competitiveness, needs cooperation with Türkiye, which could soon become one of the ten largest economies in the world, he said. Letting such a relationship wither would be a “huge luxury”, he added.

When can Sweden join the NATO?

“That is why we call for returning to mutual respect and honesty in EU-Türkiye cooperation, and to forge a partnership stronger than ever…”, Szijjártó said. Szijjártó also called for updating the EU-Türkiye customs union and to grant Turkish citizens a visa waiver as soon as possible. The minister also touched on the war in Ukraine, saying that the conflict had “no solution on the battlefield” and thanking Türkiye for “the only successful mediation in last year’s grain exports deal”.

Regarding protests in Denmark and Sweden where demonstrators burnt copies of the Q’ran, Szijjártó said Hungary’s government saw the desecration of books and symbols of any religion as “unacceptable”. “Citing freedom of expression when holy books of any religion are being burnt is not only unacceptable but outrageously cynical. I think it is a reasonable expectation towards every government here in Europe that they prevent the desecration of religious symbols,” he said.

Sweden’s NATO accession has been pending for a year because of Hungary’s and Türkiye’s delay. Concerning that issue, he said the two countries regularly informed each other. However, the decision is in the hands of the Hungarian parliament. The government submitted their bill, so it depends on the MPs of Fidesz when there will be a law about Stockholm’s NATO membership, 444.hu wrote.

VIDEO: Rwandan students singing Hungarian folk song in Hungarian

Hungarian President with Rwandan students 1

President Katalin Novák met Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in Kigali on Sunday to discuss bilateral cooperation in education and water management, among other areas, and she declared after the talks that just as Hungary was the “gateway to the European Union”, Rwanda played the same role on the African continent.

Novák hailed Kagame’s announcement that Rwanda will open a diplomatic mission in Hungary. Her visit, the first by a Hungarian head of state to Rwanda, represented “a milestone” in bilateral ties, she said, adding that Hungary and Rwanda “set an example in cooperation based on mutual respect”. At the meeting, the presidents talked about the importance of peace, and they also signed agreements serving as the foundation of future cooperation.

The Stipendium Hungaricum grant programme related to Rwanda was extended and an agreement on cooperation in nuclear training signed, as was a financing agreement within a 52 million dollar aid loan programme for water management projects. Novák also expressed thanks for her invitation to the Women Deliver 2023 conference, and invited President Kagame to the Budapest Demographic Summit in September. Later on Sunday Novák is scheduled to lay a wreath at the memorial of the 1994 Rwanda genocide before meeting the Archbishop of Kigali, Antoine Kambanda.

Rwandan students singing Hungarian folk song in a school built with the help of Hungary:

PHOTOS: Hungarian President in Rwanda

Hungarian President visit Rwanda

President Katalin Novák visited a hospital and a school and handed over donations at the beginning of her official visit to Rwanda.

The president visited the neonatal ward of a hospital in Rwamagana and handed over two incubators with the cooperation of the Hungarian Ecumenical Charity on Friday. On Saturday, she attended a European history class at Nyanza Ecole Secondaire, then viewed and tested a hand-washing station set up through the Hungary Helps project.

Azbej Tristan, state secretary for helping persecuted Christians and implementing the Hungary Helps programme, told public media that the Hungarian government undertook the construction of the sanitary facilities at the school through the Hungary Helps Programme and with the cooperation of the Close to Africa Foundation. President Novák will meet Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda on Sunday. On Monday, she will address the Women Deliver 2023 Conference, along with other heads of state.

Hospital visit:

Commemorating Hungarian conservationist Krisztián Gyöngyi:

Arrival:

Check out these lakes where you can bathe in Hungary outside Balaton – PHOTOS

Lake Vadása

If you find Lake Balaton too crowded, we have good news for you. There are some other lakes in Hungary where you can bathe. Check out these alternatives and take a swim in these lovely lakes. 

Lake Deseda

The longest artificial lake in Hungary, Lake Deseda, is located north of Kaposvár. The lake and its surroundings dotted with forests and fields provide both hikers and water sports lovers with a pleasant pastime. Deseda’s boat house stores large kayaks. What is more, a few years ago, a wakeboard course was opened at the southern end of the lake. Moreover, both Lake Deseda and Toponári Free Beach can be visited for free.

Lake Deseda
Lake Deseda. Photo: FB/Desiparti Apartman

Lake Orfű

The artificial Lake Orfű is the perfect place if you would like to go for a swim in the summer heat. It is located a few kilometers from Pécs. In addition to swimming, you can boat on the lake and also fish. The lake is fed by clean springs, the water quality is excellent, and there is a sandy beach on the shore.

Lake Orfű
Lake Orfű. Photo: FB/Orfű

Hévíz lake bath

Lake Hévíz is the largest biologocally active, natural thermal lake in the world. The 4.6-hectare, precisely 46,350-m2 lake with a spring depth of 38.5 meters is fed by a spring containing sulphur, radium and minerals. In the summer months, the water temperature of the lake ranges between 33-35°C. Take a bath in this unique lake this summer! A whole-day ticket for the lake costs HUF 7,500 (EUR 20,02).

Hévíz-spa-summer
Hévíz thermal bath. Photo: Facebook: Hévízi Tófürdő

Lake Bánk

The nearly 100-meter grassy shoreline of Bánki-tó Beach attracts many visitors in the summer season. It is easily accessible, you can reach it from Budapest in just over an hour. The shore of the beach with clear water deepens relatively quickly, so children should bring swimming rubber. Over the years, the lake has received excellent water quality. Its average depth is 4 meters, and its deepest point is 6 meters. There is a washroom, changing room and a playground for children on the beach.

Lake Bánk
Lake Bánk. Photo: FB/Bánkitó Fesztivál

Lake Vadása

Lake Vadása is a landmark of Őrség and Hegyhátszentjakab. Today, it is famous not only in the county, but throughout the region, and is visited by hikers, tourists, bathers and fishermen. The construction and development of the lake was created by the cooperation of the people living there and the workers of the cooperative. Lake Vadása consists of two lakes. The newer lake with a smaller water surface lies in the middle of a wild, dense forest, with stumps sticking out of its water.

Lake Vadása
Lake Vadása. Photo: FB/Vadása Strand

PM Orbán in Bosnia: he took off his suit, jumped into a “safari car”, slammed Ukraine support

PM Viktor Orbán in Bosnia

PM Viktor Orbán went on an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet with his friend, Milorad Dodik, the president of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia. Since he was there, he started his “holiday” by going on a tour with Dodik in a “safari car”. But after the talks, he slammed the EU support policy towards Ukraine.

According to index.hu, PM Orbán arrived in Sarajevo on an official visit where he met with the country’s leaders. He said that the Balkans is the reserve of resources for the EU. Therefore, it cannot continue to send all the financial resources to Ukraine. Furthermore, he slammed Bosnia’s slow EU accession process.

Later, he went on a tour with Serbian President Milorad Dodik in blue jeans and a shirt. He jumped into a “safari car”, but the Hungarian press has no information about where they were heading. Afterwards, Orbán and Dodik walked around the downtown of Banja Luka, the capital of the Bosnian Serbs. Here are some photos and a video:

Orbán to attend the Visegrád Group summit in Bratislava (Pozsony) on Monday

Prime Minister Viktor Orban will attend the summit of the Visegrad Group in Bratislava on Monday, the PM’s press chief said on Friday. The host, Slovakia, is holding the group’s rotating presidency until June 30th, Bertalan Havasi noted. Czechia will take over the post on July 1 for one year, he said according to the MTI.

PHOTOS: President travelled to Berlin with the Hungarian Special Olympics team

President Katalin Novák

President Katalin Novák has traveled to Berlin to participate in the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games.

Novák will lead Hungary’s 77 Special Olympians into the stadium in Saturday evening’s ceremony. She is the first president to accompany a Hungarian Special Olympics team. The president on Saturday opened a new exhibition of the Hungarian embassy presenting the history of Hungary’s Special Olympics movement through the works of Hungarian painter Gyorgy Soós and Chinese painter Wei Xiang, who lives in Hungary and is a major supporter of the Special Olympics association.

Lajos Lengyel, president of Special Olympics Hungary, said at the exhibition’s opening that the president’s attendance would give “great motivation” to the Hungarian athletes, which they would repay with “a slew of medals”. He said Novák’s backing of the Special Olympics movement showed that she stayed true to her promise to support those in need and those with disabilities.

Hungary’s Special Olympics movement comprises over 1,000 licenced athletes. The 16th Special Olympics World Games in Berlin will feature some 7,000 athletes from 200 countries competing in 26 disciplines. The Hungarian athletes are set to compete in 15 disciplines.

Here are some photos:

She also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

 

Orbán’s spokesperson visited Hungarian communities in Transcaspathia, Ukraine – PHOTOS

Government spokesperson in Transcarpathia

Hungarians living in Transcarpathia can count on Hungary “through thick and thin”, just as a child depends on its mother, government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkirályi said in Choma (Tiszacsoma), in western Ukraine on Saturday.

Celebrating a children’s day organised by the Transcarpathian Hungarian Large Families Association, Szentkirályi said the value of community, of “belonging somewhere” and “counting on each other” appreciates in times of crisis.

She said local Hungarians could count on the support of Hungary “in rain or shine”, just as in recent years and months. Winding up a two-day visit to Transcarpathia, Szentkirályi visited a charity centre and home for the elderly run by the Transcarpathian Reformed Church in Berehove (Beregszász).

Here are some more photos:

This is how King Charles spent his visit to Hungarian village in Transylvania

king charles iii in transylvania

The ruler of the United Kingdom, King Charles III has recently visited the village of Zalánpatak, which is an ethnic Hungarian village in the region of Transylvania, Romania. The king’s visitation was once again a huge success.

As we previously reported, Charles was captured on camera wearing a short-sleeved shirt and sunglasses, carrying a walking stick as he stepped out of his house in Zalánpatak on Saturday. The locals greeted the ruler with flowers and applause. He shook hands with people and engaged in conversations with those present, writes Transtelex.

Transylvanian excursion

Zalánpatak has become a real pilgrimage site, attracting curious onlookers and fans from all over Romania. The locals organised a picnic for the British monarch. Besides traditional Szekler dishes, there was also music with Hungarian folk songs to entertain His Highness.

Charles also went on a hiking trip. He and his companions covered a distance of 18 kilometres on foot, taking about six hours, through the hills from Miklósvár to Zalánpatak. They allegedly even stopped at a shepherd’s hut where they were offered cheese. His friend, Count Kálnoky Tibor emphasised in previous interviews that Charles didn’t need any convincing; the place captivated him immediately.

Charles III going on a hike. Source: MTI/Kátai Edit

On Kálnoky’s suggestion, Charles previously purchased an estate in Zalánpatak

“He felt so good that they sealed the purchase with the then-owner, an old lady, on the spot, with the condition that she could stay there until the end of her life.”

-recalled Mátyás Kálnoky, son of Tibor.

King and devoted conservationist

Charles’ annual visits generally follow the same script as this one. After a quick stop at Bucharest, where he shakes hands with officials such as the President, he travels to the Transylvanian region of Romania to spend his annual vacation there. This place holds a special place in Prince Charles’ heart. He has developed a deep connection with its natural beauty, culture and heritage over the years.

Charles III meeting the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis. Source: MTI/EPA/Robert Ghement

During his vacation, Prince Charles immerses himself in the local community and enjoys the tranquillity and simplicity of life in the countryside. In addition, he also takes part in various cultural events and engages with the local community. He has been known to attend traditional festivals, visit local artisans and even participate in traditional dances and music performances. His genuine appreciation for the local traditions and his efforts to promote them have earned him admiration and respect among the people of Transylvania.

Charles III meeting civilians. Source: MTI/Kátai Edit

Furthermore, Prince Charles uses his influence and platform to raise awareness about important issues affecting the region. These include, for example, biodiversity loss, rural development and sustainable agriculture. He often advocates for the preservation of Transylvania’s unique landscapes and the importance of maintaining a balance between conservation and economic progress.

Overall, Prince Charles’ annual visits to Transylvania allow him to actively contribute to the well-being and preservation of the region. His genuine love for Transylvania and its people has made him a beloved figure in the area. All in all, his dedication to sustainable practices serves as an inspiration for environmentalists and conservationists worldwide.

 

Hungary was a committed supporter of Georgia’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration, says minister in Tbilisi

Georgia is a strategic partner of Hungary, the defence minister said in Tbilisi on Monday, adding that the two countries would continue to work on deepening their relations.

Georgia plays an important role in the South Caucasus, a key region for Hungary, Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said after talks with Juansher Burchuladze, his Georgian counterpart, according to a ministry statement.

The minister praised bilateral defence relations as “excellent”, saying he and Burchuladze had discussed strengthening it even further.

Hungary is involved in the preparation of Georgian officers bound for NATO missions, including the training of helicopter pilots, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, adding that he and his Georgian counterpart had also discussed opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry.

He noted that Hungary was a committed supporter of Georgia‘s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration.

Hungary is convinced that Georgia is ready to be granted candidate member status and to take its rightful place in the international alliance system, the minister said. He noted Hungary’s role in the NATO-Georgia cooperation aimed at boosting the Georgian military’s capabilities and effectiveness and its presence in the European Union’s monitoring mission in Georgia.

According to the statement, Szalay-Bobrovniczky inaugurated a monument to the Hungarian soldiers who fell on Georgia’s territory during the second world war. The minister thanked Georgia’s government for supporting the monument.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky also met Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili during his visit.

As we wrote a few days ago, Batumi, the four-season Georgian tourist destination, presented in Budapest, details HERE.

After stormy landing in Ankara, Orbán praised Erdogan as champion of peace

Viktor Orbán stormy landing Erdogan

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.

EMBARRASSING VIDEO: PM Orbán wanted to kiss, but was rejected

PM Viktor Orbán and Maia Sandu

Maia Sandu, the President of the Republic of Moldova, took part in the European Political Community Summit as the host since the event was organised in the village of Bulboaca. There, she met with PM Orbán, but things did not go as the Hungarian prime minister intended.

Some say PM Orbán is a real gentleman since he regularly greets ladies with a kiss on their hands. Other believe such acts are anachronistic and even sexist. In the Mimi castle in Bulboaca, Moldova, things did not go smoothly on the red carpet. When he wanted to greet the President of the Eastern European country with a hand kiss, Mrs Sandu took away her hand. The seemingly confused Orbán did not know what to do. Moments later, they agreed in a handshake. Here is the video of the awkward event:

 

PHOTOS: King Charles III arrived to his favourite Hungarian village!

King Charles Hungarian village

King Charles III is already in Romania, where he met with President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest yesterday morning. But after the official programs ended, he went to Zalánpatak, a small Hungarian village in Transylvania, Romania, where he has a mansion and regularly spent time during the summers when he was the Prince of Wales. As king, he returns because, as he says, he loves Transylvania and Romania.

Formalities in Bucharest

According to Yahoo News, King Charles III arrived in Romania for his first foreign visit after his coronation on 6 May. He was welcomed with military honours yesterday by Romania’s German-born president, Klaus Iohannis, in Bucharest. Their meeting was followed by a reception with 300 partakers in the Romanian Presidential Cotroceni Palace.

“The King has begun his first overseas visit since his coronation, travelling to Romania for a private solo stay in the country’s Transylvanian region,” Buckingham Palace wrote. “It is not known how long Charles will spend in Romania,” they added.

“I’ve come to love Romania: your culture and art, your heritage and history, your sweeping landscapes and priceless biodiversity,” the king said at the reception.

The return of the king

Charles did not remain in the Romanian capital for long. After the official programs ended, he headed to Transylvania, to Zalánpatak (Valea Zălanului), a small Hungarian village (96 percent of the locals are Hungarians). There, the king owns a mansion. He regularly spent time there when he was the Prince of Wales. And it seems he plans to spend some time there even as king. Here are two photos of his arrival and how happily locals welcomed him. He was accompanied by his “local” Hungarian friend, Count Tibor Kálnoky.

We wrote HERE how Charles “fell in love” with the tiny Hungarian settlement and its astonishing environment 25 years ago. To sum up, 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 tranquillity. His local Hungarian cook, Aunt Eve, even shared some secrets about him: we also wrote about it in our article.

The British monarch owns several properties in Transylvania, where he is good friends with Count Tibor Kálnoky. He sent THIS message to Charles when Elizabeth II died last year. Interestingly, King Charles did not go to Transylvania by chance. He is 1/32 Hungarian since his great-great-great-granny was Hungarian. Klaudia Rhédey was born near Marosvásárhely in Transylvania and married Prince Louis Paul Alexander (1804-1885) of Württemberg. Klaudia Rhédey was the grandmother of George V’s wife, Mary of Teck (1867-1953).

PHOTOS: Unique Hungarian castle garden opened

Fertőd castle Hungary

There are a lot of unique and astonishing castles and castle parks in Hungary. But the Esterházy Castle of Fertőd offers something special for each visitor. Below, you may find more details and photos.

The Rose Garden of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd, Western Hungary, close to the Austrian border, opened its gates on 26 May. You can walk along hundreds of meters of arbours and check out various fragrant domestic, English, and German-bred rose varieties. Like in fairy tales, roses bloom in the castle garden, travelo.hu writes. The popular rose types of the garden are already in full bloom by mid-May. There are even the so-called Mami roses with huge blossoms, having a colour gradient from butter to pink. Other roses dazzle visitors with colours from red (Futótűz) and deep burgundy (Crimson Glory) to orange (Rozália).

Prince Miklós Esterházy, 4th of his name, and his wife, Countess Margit Cziráky, established the rose garden. Built between 1902 and 1908, the garden was partly desgined with the help of Anton Umlauf, one of the most famous gardeners of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The rose garden was named after the late countess. However, after WWII, it was almost destroyed. The roses died, the support systems collapsed, everything went wild, only the pavilion remained as a “memento of the good old time”, the castle’s official website cleared.

A beautiful Hungarian castle

Thankfully, in 2015, the garden was restored following scientific documentation of the previous one. Ever since, visitors can enjoy the splendor of nearly 8,000 different roses. The cross-shaped arbour lined with roses has been renewed, with the pagoda-like pavilion in the middle. The garden walkways have also been renewed. As a result, the new road surfaces highlight the beauty of the blooming roses even more.

The garden houses a collection of Hungarian rose varieties. To provide a stronger fragrance, the castle supplemented the domestic types with continuously blooming ones bred by German and English experts. The Cziráky Margit Rose Garden in Fertőd is open every day except Mondays from 10 AM to 6 PM. The full-price entrance fee is HUF 1,000 (EUR 3), and HUF 500 per capita when purchasing a family ticket. Below, you may find the announcement of the opening on the official Facebook page of the castle with all information needed for a visit:

Finally, HERE you can check out the most beautiful Hungarian castles with photos.

The Fertőd Esterházy Castle from a bird’s-eye view:

Castle interior:

Hungarian minister welcomed as superstar at rally in Belgrade: Serbians-Hungarians brothers – PHOTOS, VIDEO

Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó in Belgrade

A once historic enmity between Hungary and Serbia has turned into a historic friendship between the two countries, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said at a rally in Belgrade on Friday.

Addressing a gathering of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Szijjártó said in Serbian that “the Hungarian nation today considers the Serbian nation their brother”, according to a foreign ministry statement. Szijjártó said the friendship that had developed between the two nations was to thank to Aleksandar Vucic, “your president”. “Under the leadership of your president, Serbia is treating the Hungarian community in Vojvodina in such a way that it serves as a model for the whole world. We, Hungarians are grateful for that,” Szijjártó said.

200 thousand people listened to the Hungarian foreign minister in Belgrade despite the heavy rain:

He noted that both countries were facing similar challenges which included “unrestrained attacks by the international liberal mainstream” over their perseverance in standing up for their national interests. “They are attacking us because we want peace in Ukraine and reject to participate in increasing the risk of the war’s escalation. And they are attacking us also because we hold on to our national family values and reject any dictates from abroad over our affairs,” Szijjártó said.

Here is the speech (the applauses is not too enthusiastic though):

He said the attacks would not stop in the future, because the liberals “cannot digest that we, Hungarians and Serbs will follow our own national path and we are successful”. “But we are not going to yield to them, but will endure, we will carry on building a strong Serbia, a strong Hungary, and a strong Hungarian-Serbian friendship,” the foreign minister said.