Hungary’s Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus, Erik Haupt, referred to the excellent relations between Cyprus and Hungary, as well as the systematic strengthening of bilateral cooperation, while noting his country’s firm support for the efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem. For his part, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides expressed his gratitude for Hungary’s contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
The Foreign Minister and the Ambassador of Hungary were speaking at an event to mark Hungary’s National Day – which is celebrated on 23 October – and the 66th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and the Freedom Fight, which took place on Monday, 24 October in Nicosia. Also present were the Chargé d’Affaires of the Office of the Embassy of Hungary in Cyprus, Dr. Krisztina Lakos, and the Honorary Consul General of Hungary in Cyprus, Costakis Loizou.
According to an announcement by the organisers, the Cypriot government was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, and the Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petrides, while the event was attended by members of the government and the Church of Cyprus, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic and consular corps, as well as distinguished guests from the economic and social life of Cyprus. Also present was Major General and Commander of UNFICYP Ingrid Gjerde, Hungarian soldiers serving with UNFICYP, as well as Hungarian citizens residing in Cyprus.
According to the announcement, the Hungarian Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus spoke about the excellent relations between Cyprus and Hungary, as well as the systematic strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism, economy, trade, investment, culture, higher education and research. He also referred to the meetings earlier in the day between the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjârtô, and his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry, Natasha Pilidou, and the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Prodromos Prodromou.
“We are happy to announce that Mr. Szijjârtô and Mr. Prodromou signed a Memorandum of Understanding for further cooperation between the two countries in the fields of higher education and research. In addition, only last week, another MoU was signed in Budapest by Hungary’s State Secretary for Bilateral Relations Mr. Tamas Menczer and Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for Tourism, Mr. Savvas Perdios. The MoU provides for cooperation in the field of tourism, exchange of knowhow and statistics, promoting the tourist flows between the two countries, placing special emphasis on health and wellness tourism. Furthermore, the two countries undertake to work together to boost air connectivity between them. Over the past years, another four MoUs have been signed between our countries: on cooperation in the fields of diplomatic consultations, energy, agriculture and water management,” he added.
“Both Cyprus and Hungary are committed to ensuring the continuous deep involvement of the EU with Eastern and Southern partners, especially in the light of the security challenges. Hungary has always firmly supported the efforts aimed at resolving the Cyprus issue through peaceful dialogue “, Haupt concluded.
For his part, Kasoulides said that the two countries share many years of common history struggling for freedom and stressed that commemorations such as the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, especially during this time of war and division in Europe, provide the opportunity to remember and honour the pioneers of freedom and democracy in Hungary and the victims.
It is also noted that after thanking the Hungarian delegation serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus since 1995, the Minister thanked the Government and people of Hungary for their consistent principal position and support for the efforts to achieve a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on international law and Security Council resolutions.
Finally, he referred to the visit of his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary earlier that day, stating that this visit was itself a proof of the constant development of the strong bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, which are growing over the years, especially in the fields of tourism, trade, higher education, energy and culture.
Source: Cyprus News Agency