Keresés: kristof
Keresés: kristof
The Ambassador met Michael Gove MP
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky met Michael Gove, Conservative Member of the Parliament for Surrey Heath on 20 February 2017.
In light of a recent interview by Mr Gove with the new US President Donald Trump, the Ambassador and the MP discussed different expectations regarding the new US administration, prospects of Brexit and recent topics of mutual interest about Hungary and the UK.
The Ambassador visited Scotland
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky visited Scotland between 22-24 February 2017, as a first stage of a series of visits to the devolved territories, with the aim to receive first-hand information about the Brexit related thoughts of representatives of the region’s business, political and university circles and further improve our mutual cooperation in the field of business, culture and education.
In the Scottish Parliament, the Ambassador was received by the Presiding Officer, Ken Macintosh. From the Scottish government, he met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and had a discussion with Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop, whilst from the opposition, he had an exchange of views with Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives. The Ambassador also met with Sadie Doherty, Lord Provost of Glasgow and Donald Wilson, Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh.
Among the business related discussions, Ambassador Szalay-Bobrovniczky met with representatives of MOL UK Ltd., Skysanner, Scotch Whisky Association, Scottish Financial Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Invest Glasgow.
In the field of education, meetings took place with senior officials of Glasgow University, Queen Margaret University and University of Edinburgh. At the Business School of The University of Edinburgh, the Ambassador delivered a lecture titled ’The Future of Europe after Brexit – Hungarian / Central European Perspective’.
Event commemorating the constitutional moment of 1848 at the University College London
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky opened the talk of Professor Ferenc Hörcher, director of the Institute of Philosophy of the Research Centre for the Humanities at the Hungarian Academy of Science titled „The Hungarian Constitutional Moment of 1848, and its meaning today” on 15 March 2017 at the University College London School of Slavonic and East European Studies. Jan Kubik, director of the UCL SSEAS greeted the audience formed by students and academicians.
National day reception commemorating the 1848 revolution
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in his opening speech reminded the guests of the national day reception that the first sizeable Hungarian community was formed in the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the failed 1848 revolution. The Ambassador underlined that 2017 brought upon us historical times once again and amongst these challenges the Hungarian government feels responsible to enable the Hungarian community living in the United Kingdom to safeguard their national culture and to feel secure about their future in their chosen country.
The responsibility of the representatives of the Hungarian community to keep the Hungarian culture alive in their new home was emphasized through the poem of János Arany: The Heritage, recited by Attila Farkas, a former actor of the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, which served as a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of our national poet.
Unveiling the Lajos Kossuth Plaque and presenting the Gold Cross of Merit in Liverpool
As part of the commemoration of the 1848 revolution and freedom fight, Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky together with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roz Gladden unveiled the Lajos Kossuth Plaque on 20 March 2017. Lajos Kossuth, the great Hungarian statesman on his journey across Great Britain in 1851 was greeted by members of the town council and cheered by the public in Liverpool as well. Upon the initiative of Dr Andrew Zsigmond de Lemhény, the Honorary Consul of Hungary the plaque remembers now the generosity of the city and will serve as a precious memorial for the Hungarians living in the area. The Plaque is at 17 Lord Nelson Street, where Lajos Kossuth held a public speech in front of great crowd.
Later that day on behalf of János Áder, President of Hungary, Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky presented the Gold Cross of Merit to Ms Éva Szakály, who fled to the UK after the Second World War. Ms Éva Szakály worked selflessly in the past 70 years to spread the Hungarian culture in England, to keep the cultural heritage alive of the Hungarian community living in the UK and to organize support for those in need during the 1956 and 1898 in Hungary and in Transylvania.
Meeting with the Director of the Chatham House
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky met Robin Niblett, Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House on 22 March 2017, at the think tank’s London headquarters.
The parties exchanged views about recent developments in Hungary and the United Kingdom, including the Brexit process. Regarding this latter, the Ambassador underlined the importance of guaranteeing the acquired rights of Hungarian nationals residing in the UK. The Director gave an overview about the work of the prominent think tank, inter alia outlining the fact that recent developments in world politics, such as Brexit and the new US administration, have a significant impact on the focus of Chatham House publications and events.
Meeting with the Director General of RUSI
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky met Karin von Hippel, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, commonly known as RUSI, the oldest security and defence think tank in the world, and also Jonathan Eyal, International Director of RUSI on 28 March 2017, at the think tank’s prominent Whitehall building.
The parties exchanged views about recent developments in the field of security and defence policy, including possible impacts of the Brexit process. The Director General gave an overview about the work of RUSI, inter alia underlining the fact that recent changes in world politics make the work of thinks tanks ever more important.
Meeting with prominent Conservative MPs
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky hosted a discussion with Bob Neill, Chairman Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group, Hungary and other prominent Conservative Members of the Parliament on 28 March 2017.
Bob Neill MP, Dominic Grieve MP, Lord Hunt of Wirral, Lord Cormack and Lord Inglewood explained the reasons for their support for the continuation of the close cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union and exchanged views about the future of Great Britain and Europe. The Ambassador gave an overview about the official positon of the Hungarian government on the Brexit process and underlined the increased importance of the Visegrad 4 countries.
The Ambassador’s visit to Wales
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky paid his first official visit to Cardiff, Wales on 30-31 March 2017. During his stay, the Hungarian Ambassador met Mr Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and held a discussion with Ms Ann Jones AM, Deputy Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales. The government officials informed the Ambassador about the most recent economic and political developments of Wales, while the Ambassador briefed them on Hungary’s economic success stories and its new, export and FDI-driven foreign action strategy. The parties identified several areas of possible cooperation for the future.
After the visit at Ty Hywel, Mr Szalay-Bobrovniczky met a number of politicians and businessmen from the region, and discussed the opportunities for Hungarian SMEs in Wales with the South and Mid Wales Chambers of Commerce. HE Szalay-Bobrovniczky also intended to explore business opportunities in the region by visiting some Welsh high-growth, flagship businesses.
In order to nurture good relations with Hungarians living in Wales, the Ambassador met the leaders of the Hungarian community as well as Hungarian students studying at prestigious Welsh universities. Finally, owing to the kind hospitality and extensive knowledge of Honorary Consul Alun Davies, the Hungarian delegation could gain a valuable insight into the military history of Wales meanwhile visiting the Firing Line Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier.
V4 Presidency opening lunch of ambassadors
Ambassador Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed Ambassador Sečka of the Czech Republic, Ambassador Rzegocki of Poland and Ambassador Rehák of Slovakia for a lunch to discuss the priorities and activities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád 4 countries, running from 1st July 2017 to 30th June 2018.
Meeting with Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP
Ambassador Szalay-Bobrovniczky met Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP Co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Trade and Investment, and Chairman of APPG on Shooting and Conservation on 7 September 2017.
They exchanged views on the future of trade as well as on the traditions of shooting in the United Kingdom and Hungary. The Ambassador also introduced the concept of the World Hunting Exhibition to be hosted in Budapest in 2021.
Találkozó a westminsteri polgármesterrel
Ambassador Szalay-Bobrovniczky met Councillor Ian Adams, Lord Mayor of Westminster on 7 september 2017.
They discussed future cooperation opportunities in the fields of arts and culture
V4 breakfast with Baroness Anelay (DExEU)
In the frame of the Hungarian Presidency of the V4 in London, Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky invited Baroness Anelay, Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union for a discussion.
The Ambassador with his partners from the Checz Republic, Poland and Slowakia aimed to receive an insight on the UK priorities for the upcoming months regarding Brexit, including the new parliamentary season and legislation and to channel in the views of the V4.
Event with representatives of British Jews
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky participated at the annual President's dinner of the Board of Deputies of british Jews on 11 September 2017.
The guest of honour of the event was Ruth Davidson MSP, leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
V4 meeting with Gavin Barwell, Chief of staff
As part of the Hungarian Presidency of the V4 in London, Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky invited Gavin Barwell, Chief of staff of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a discussion with the Ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
Meeting with Nigel Dodds MP
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky had on 9 october 2017 an insightful meeting with the Westminster leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Nigel Dodds MP in preparation of the Ambassador’s upcoming visit to Northern Ireland.
The meeting focused on the political situation in Belfast, the legislative work at Westminster, and the implications of Brexit.
The Ambassador's visit to Northern Ireland
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky started his first official visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland on 12 October 2017 accompanied by Ken Belshaw, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Belfast.
On the first day he met political leaders in the Northers Ireland Assembly (Stormont), among others Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and former Minister of Education, John O’Dowd of Sinn Féin; and Nuala McAllister, Lord Mayor of Belfast. He also attended, among several other members of the diplomatic corps, the official dinner organised by the Consular Association of Northern Ireland.
On the second day the Ambassador visited the Hungarian community in Omagh and payed his respect to the victims of the Omagh bombing. He chatted with Hungarian employees at the Telestack Factory and at the Mullaghmore Bakery; and also met Hungarian and local students at the Dumreagh Integrated College. The ambassador then gave a speech at the reception organised by the Omagh Ethnic Community Support Group and the local Hungarians.
At the last day , the Ambassador took a tour of the Derry/Londonderry city walls with a local councillor, and met Jim Roddy of the City Centre Initiative before visiting one of the „invisible” border crossing point.
V4 meeting with Keir Starmer shadow minister
As part of the Hungarian Presidency of the V4 in London, Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky invited Keir Starmer, Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU for a discussion with the Ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
Masterclass of the Confrerie de Tokaj
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed the guests of the masterclass of the Confrerie de Tokaj at 67 Pall Mall on 28 November 2017.
The tasting included excellent Hungarian wines from Tokaj by Erzsébet Pince, Samuel Tinon, Patrícius, Royal Tokaji, Disznókő, Szepsy and Grand Tokaj.
Meeting with Jacob Rees-Mogg MP
Ambassador Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Deputy Head of Mission Beáta Margitay-Becht met Jacob Rees-Mogg Conservative Member of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster on 12th December 2017 and had an excellent exchange of views on British current affairs.