Dear Readers,

Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa. As the new Ambassador of Hungary to Canada appointed in 2011 by the Orbán Government, I am trusted to represent the policies and intensions of the new Hungarian government that came to office as a result of an overwhelming victory at the polls last year.

As far as our bilateral relations are concerned, they are determined by the excellent friendship and durable alliance based essentially on the same principles and shared values. Without any doubt it does facilitate the further development of our relations in the economic, trade, social, political, cultural, scientific, and many other fields.

Our relations should certainly be given new momentum by the fact that in July of 2010 the Canadian Government declared the refugees of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution a national historic event. The almost 40 thousand Hungarian refugees of 56’ - the ratio of the number of the Hungarian refugees received by Canada that time is the highest among all the receiving countries in the world compared to their population – found a new home here and later have greatly contributed to the further development of Canada, in its economy, science, culture and politics.

Our Embassy’s main duty continues to be naturally of diplomatic, and last but not least, of economic character. Hungary is one of the secure target-countries of the Canadian capital flow. It is one of our goals to strengthen this investment movement. We will be also looking for setting up new possibilities in our bilateral trade relations.

In addition new policies are forthcoming as a result of the efforts being made by the new Hungarian Government to reinforce the national cohesion: the possibility to more easily obtain Hungarian citizenship as part of this policy lays an honorable duty upon us. We are doing our best to implement the legislation to the complete satisfaction of each of the applying fellow-countrymen although it would undoubtedly have facilitated our work if our Consulate General in Toronto had not been closed just before the elections and the inauguration of the new government. The new Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making great efforts to have the mission reopened in accordance with Prime Minister Orbán’s previous statement. I hope very much that this will not only facilitate the work of our Embassy, but first and most importantly will be beneficial to the Hungarians living in large numbers in and around Toronto.

We consider as highly important our activities in Ottawa related to the Presidency of the European Union held by Hungary. During the first half of 2011 we organize further events similar to our successful opening concert held in Ottawa at February 1, 2011.

To renew our relations with Hungarian-Canadians, we organized the commemoration of the 1848-49 Revolution and War for Independence for the first time together with the Hungarian community on the premises of the Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre. Wherever possible, we propose to work closely together with Hungarian communities in other Canadian cities as well.

On behalf of my colleagues and myself I am looking forward to a fruitful cooperation in the future with all of you.

Ottawa, April 11, 2011

Laszlo Pordany

Ambassador of Hungary