Diplomat
12th August 2011
It’s Sziget Festival time again. The Maccabees are playing on the Main Stage and I start at the European Meeting Point, greeting the Mayor of Budapest and the main Festival organiser en route. Consular assistance is available here and at the police HQ for any British fans in trouble. But hopefully there won’t be many […]
5th August 2011
This morning I was at the Budapest Holocaust Museum to meet the new Director and then attend a ceremony and exhibition. The Museum covers a grim topic but is one of the “must-see” venues in our city – a British Parliamentarian (of Jewish origin) visiting last year called it “magnificent”. Not only is it an […]
27th July 2011
A year to go to the London Olympics! And all is on track for a great Olympics and Paralympics Games in 2012 – 90% of venues (and all the major ones) are complete and the Olympic Park will be delivered on time and within budget. These are sustainable and cutting-edge designs too, that will ensure […]
21st July 2011
I spent Tuesday in Kecskemet, also known as the “Famous City”, the “City of Tolerance” (on account of the large number of churches in the centre) and, informally, the “Capital of Art Nouveau” – and there are certainly some splendid examples of secessionist architecture there. In addition to meeting the Vice Mayor (photo above), the […]
20th July 2011
If she had lived, we would be celebrating her 90th birthday today. But sadly Hannah Senesh (born Aniko Szenes) was murdered in 1944. Disturbed by the Hungarian education system’s increasing discrimination on religious grounds, Hannah Senesh decided to emigrate from Budapest to the British Mandate of Palestine at the outset of World War II. She […]
30th June 2011
At the end of the Hungarian EU Presidency, and since I started this blog specifically to cover this period, I should say something about Hungary’s performance in this role. When I focus in on the business agenda, and ignore some of the media coverage that has happened, the Hungarian Presidency has gone well. It hasn’t […]
22nd June 2011
The “Bards of Wales” project came to fruition last night with a performance of the world premier of Karl Jenkins’ cantata at the Palace of Arts. Almost all 1800 seats were full and the audience (including President Schmitt) gave the work a rapturous reception. British Minister David Jones of the Welsh Office visited Hungary for […]
20th June 2011
Some weeks ago I blogged about the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This week (11-19 June) the Budapest Pride Festival is taking place, with the annual March due tomorrow. The police have pledged that the March will be secure and safe (though there has been an announcement about a possible far right counter-demonstration in […]
9th June 2011
…is the slogan of the Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) now taking place in Godolo Royal Palace. Minister of State Jeremy Browne is representing the UK and has spoken about live foreign policy issues (the Arab Spring, Iran, Afghanistan, Burma and North Korea) and global economic developments (the rising significance of Asian economies to global prosperity, reform […]
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8th June 2011
Yesterday Ferenc Madl was buried in a moving ceremony with military honours in the Fiume Street Public Cemetery and a mass was held in the Basilica in his honour. President of Hungary between 2000 and 2005, he was respected for his propriety, knowledge and personal humility. As a judicial and non-partisan expert, he sent legislation […]