DIPLOMACY & CELEBRATION

Hungary reiterates commitment to Africa’s development

By Hakeem Babalola

Hungary has reiterated its commitment to the development of Africa by the continuous sharing of its experience and know-how in different fields for the benefit of African people in a mutual partnership rather than exploitation.  

This was disclosed by the Hungarian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Zsolt Németh, at the celebration of Africa Day held at the historical Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.

Responding, the Dean of African Ambassadors in Hungary, Mr Joao Miguel Vahekeni, said that Africa definitely welcome Hungary’s constructive conversation to improve intensive partnership in the development of Africa as “we unite our forces to overcome our shortcomings and continue to rely on our strength to create the right energy in order to succeed in today’s high competitive world”.

Describing Africa as a continent rich in natural resources, Németh hinted that the world has changed its perspective about Africa from the context of poverty and security risk to abundant wealth and energy resources which “the world needs more than ever before”.

He explained that the negative and recently positive views about the continent are both understandable due to the fact that Africa had faced many troubles in the past, but that the most important thing is the development sweeping the place.

More than that, the deputy Foreign Affairs Minister stated that Africa’s true wealth is apparently in its people, adding that their lives, achievements, products, irreplaceable values, cultural goods and treasures, all hold the path to our global heritage and potential.

Meanwhile Németh commended the Hungarian civil society and NGOs for their services and work done so far, and enjoined them not to relent on their efforts by promoting activities that would further cement economic, business and charity relations between his country and Africa.

Vahekeni described his continent as a place that offers enormous investment opportunity and wonderful tourist attractions, adding that every celebration of Africa Day “reminds us of the African people’s hard work to freedom”.

Consequently, Németh who cracked jokes as he toured each country’s pavilion congratulated South Sudan on the achievement of its independence. In a similar manner, he said the change going on in North Africa is justified, for it is shaping the history of the continent and probably the world at large.

As part of the solidarity with the region, he told the gathering that his colleague, Dr. János Martonyi has travelled several times to the continent as the representative of the Hungarian current presidency of the Council of European Union to listen, mediate and to transfer Hungary’s know-how.   

Another point disclosed at the event is the fact that reaching out to each other can help overcome our differences and thereby contribute in building a new framework and intensive cooperation leading to a more prosperous and visible world for all of us.

Although it was stressed that the Hungarian guiding foreign policy should be “every European human being is responsible for every African human being” both men agreed that the solution rests on Africans themselves.

Entertainment was performed by Onix Jamsreel Band, El Saidi Dance, the legends, and the Odyssey Africana who parody Africans’ journey to another land by boat.