Diplomacy & Trade 2018 September by Diplomacy&Trade

SEPTEMBER 2018 HUF 1710

THE ROLE OF CENTRAL EUROPE SEE ARTICLE on page 19

“There is not enough common knowledge about the neighbors of the different countries and peoples [in East Central Europe]. And that is something that very much plays into the hands of nationalist politicians.” FORMER AUSTRIAN VICE-CHANCELLOR ERHARD BUSEK

Diplomacy-n-Trade.ai 1 2017. 02. 27. 11:22:30

Mexico

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In an extensive interview, Mexican Ambassador David Nájera tells Diplomacy&Trade that his first year here has been a year of discovering how many things Mexico and Hungary have in common. He also talks about the exemplary role of the automotive supplier Nemak in attracting more Mexican investors 18006 to Hungary, support for students learning Spanish, unexploited opportunities in tourism and the importance of the Frida Kahlo 980700 exhibition in Budapest.

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Executive World

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In each issue, Diplomacy&Trade brings a top executive into focus in a personal interview about his or her career and professed values. This time, we present the 18008 Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air Holdings Plc., József Váradi. He explains why he changed from commodities to airline management in the early 2000s, and what he 980700 thinks the key factors of success will be in this industry. see article on pages 8-9

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letter from the publisher History comes to life at Hilton Budapest

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05 ON THE RECORD 06 COMPANY BRIEFS 08-09 EXECUTIVE WORLD

AND DON’T FORGET

monthly in print - daily on the web

www.dteurope.com

page 17

21 WITTYLEAKS by the Ambassador of Malaysia

22 EDUCATION

Unique knowledge hub in Kőszeg

József Váradi, Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air Holdings Plc.

23 TOURISM

Sino-Russian partnership of convenience

24 indian summer easy living 25 CULTURE

10 ANALYSIS

12-15 mexican FOCUS

The evergreen island of the Mediterranean

Eyeful film festival

Interview with Ambassador David Nájera; Tenor Ramón Vargas; Photographer Cristina Kahlo; Tacos Locos

26-27 WHAT’S ON

Plastic-free movement in beer drinking

28-29 HOSPITALITY

World Press Photo 2018

30 WINE

Vietnam: a momentum of growth; The role of Central Europe

31 GASTRONOMY

17 PHOTOGRAPHY

PUBLISHER

World Press Photo 2018 in Budapest

contents 16 SUSTAINABILITY

Peter Freed

page 16

Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions in and out of Budapest Hilton Budapest; Radisson Blu Budapest Wine Festival

18-19 DIPLOMACY 20 SOCIETY

Kistücsök; The art of cake; Sweet Days Budapest

PUBLISHER: Peter Freed EDITOR: Sándor Laczkó COPY EDITOR: Joyce Freed PHOTO EDITOR: Dávid Harangozó SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Tamás Varga DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Tibor Ocsenás ADMINISTRATION: Judit Ludányi ASSISTANT: Ágnes Rapaport

GERMAN FOCUS – COMING SOON

CONTRIBUTORS: Sándor Laczkó, Tamás Magyarics, Réka A. Francisck, Cheong Loon Lai, Dorka Tamás PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS: D&T Illustration (Cover), Depositphotos.com, Fausto Podavini, Márton Neményi, HunGeoContest, BMW Group, Qatar Airways, Dániel

Végel, Visitmexico.com/Mexico Tourism Board, Zsolt Melczer/VeszprémFest, Ramonvargas.com, Embassy of Mexico, Tacos Locos, Quang Praha, Luu Quang Minh/ AA Studio, Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lim Bee-Ling, iASK, Hamu és Gyémánt, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Dionysis Kouris/Aegeanair.com, Daniel Ammann, National Gallop, Mummies of the World Exhibition, Radek Polak, Carnival Cinema, Darcy Grant, Danubius Hotel Helia, Zsolt Szigetváry, Kistücsök, Antonio Fekete/Designfood.hu, Ronaldo Schemidt/Agence France-Presse, Neil Aldridge, Ivor Prickett/for The New York Times, MTI Photos: Tibor Illyés, Márton Mónus

Diplomacy&Trade is preparing a special section on Germany, Europe’s financial powerhouse and Hungary’s most significant investor, in recognition of the upcoming anniversary of German reunification. German Ambassador to Hungary, Volkmar Karl Wenzel has been here for one year. During this period, several new German investments have been announced or have actually been started, among others by firms that are well-established here, such as Mercedes and Bosch. Another development is the rising proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises among German investors in this country. In addition to this financial growth, we will present bilateral relations as seen by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Deutsche Wirtschaftsclub or the Goethe Institut.

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NEWSSTAND PRICE: HUF 1,710 or EUR 6 - Subscriptions are available for an

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We welcome inquires for advertising in this issue. PLEASE CALL TAMÁS VARGA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION +36 209350250 - tvarga@budapestweek.com S E P T E M B E R

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D I P L O M A C Y

T R A D E

photos by

COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT SELECTED RELAY AND INMEDIO OUTLETS IN MAJOR HUNGARIAN CITIES.

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, FAUSTO PODAVINI (WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2018), DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

“The European integration project can only succeed if the Central European states are again perceived as the center of Europe,” says former Austrian Vice-Chancellor, Erhard Busek. In our interview with the Vice-Chancellor, he insists on the peoples of the region interacting more, in order to be less exposed to populist politicians, and to build on their strengths such as diversity and their central location in the heart of Europe. Our political analyst looks at a much bigger region: the ‘out-ofnecessity’ relations between Russia and China. He says the Chinese prefer a partnership instead of an alliance as a partnership offers greater flexibility for them in dealing with, among others, the United States. The Focus country in this September issue is Mexico that is geographically far from Hungary but Ambassador David Nájera sees a lot of opportunities in developing relations between the two countries, especially in tourism and culture. The great example of the latter is a major Frida Kahlo exhibition in Budapest. Diplomacy&Trade talks to Cristina Kahlo, the granddaughter of the artist’s sister as well as to the world renowned Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas, who is a frequent guest in Hungary. The featured CEO in this edition’s ‘Executive World’ section is József Váradi, the creator and top executive of the Hungarian-European low-cost airline Wizz Air. He talks about how he took his ‘window of opportunity’ and shares his vision of the future of the airline industry. The WittyLeaks column is authored by the Malaysian Ambassador Cheong Loon Lai who shares his perception of both Hungarians and Malaysians taking their food very seriously as well as about linguistic similarities he has found. In business, we focus on Heineken’s new sustainability movement, while on the cultural front, we give previews to the World Press Photo exhibition and the Eyeful film festival, both taking place in Budapest this September. Further festivals (those of sweets and wine) are featured in our gastronomy section, we have interviews with hotel managers (Hilton and Radisson Blu) on our hospitality pages and, of course, our program guides and society picture compilations are not missing, either. We hope you had a restful summer break and are back in the swing of things for the fall season.

Drink your beer from plastic-free cup!

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on the record

the same period of 2017. As a result, the natural decrease of the population was by 1,597 (6.3%) – fewer than in the first six months of 2017. In June 2018, the number of live births was 0.1% more and that of deaths was 1.8% less than a year earlier. The natural decrease was 1,878 persons, by 176 fewer than in June a year earlier. Figures available from June 2018 indicate the birth of 7,511 children – seven infants more than in June 2017. The number of those deceased was 9,389, which meant a decrease of 1.8% or numerically 169 fewer deaths than in the same month of the previous year. The number of marriages increased, with 6,572 marriages registered was by 404 (6.5%) more than the figure in June 2017. Between January and June 2018, 43,069 children were born in Hungary, 1,040 (2.4%) less than in the same period of 2017. The largest drop of 7.3% occurred in May. The estimated total fertility rate was 1.43, slightly lower than the one in the same period of the previous year (1.45). In the first half of this year, 66,869 people died in the country, 2,637 (3.8%) less than in the same period of the previous year. Except for the significant increase of more than 15% in March, the number of deaths decreased in the other months. The number of live births decreased less than that of deaths, as a result of which natural decrease fell from 25,397 in January–June 2017 to 23,800 persons, which meant an improvement of 6.3%. The number of marriages was 22,161, 1.7% more than the one registered in the same period last year. There were 8.9 live births and 13.8 deceases per thousand inhabitants in January–June 2017, as a result of which the rate of natural decrease fell by 0.03 points.

AUGUST 20 – HUNGARY’S NATIONAL HOLIDAY

photos by

TIBOR ILLYÉS/MTI, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, MÁRTON NEMÉNYI, HUNGEOCONTEST

On August 20, Hungarians celebrate the foundation of their state by King Stephen over a thousand years ago. In his national day speech, President János Áder noted that “there is not much use in looking for luck in the past of the Hungarians: we have already grown accustomed to the lack of it. However, whatever happened – and there have been better and worse times – the country of Saint Stephen, the country of the Hungarians has endured despite all the hardship. It survived its losses, the infidelity of its sons, its bad kings, the devastation of foreign armies, its changing borders. It survived because it remained strong – adversity did not cast it down totally. There have been smaller whirlwinds, which have made peoples larger than we are disappear. Hungarians persevered. We are still here today.” He stressed that the country must stick to King Stephen’s western culture: “the interdependence of European peoples, the strength of mutual respect. He believed that it is not enough to simply survive history, we also have the power to shape it. He knew that our fate, the fate of the Hungarian homeland is shaped much more by our expectations about a common future than by the common past. He collected friends, while other monarchs were gathering enemies. He sought a peaceful path instead of conquests.” On the occasion, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pointed out in his address that “Hungary is a close friend and ally of the United States. We value our cooperation on many important issues, including defense cooperation, regional European security, and energy diversification. We deeply respect Hungary’s rich history, culture, and traditions, and we are grateful for the many contributions that Hungarian immigrants have made to American society in an array of fields, from the arts to business to technology. Bilateral exchanges and a growing trade relationship help strengthen the robust people-to-people ties that bind our two countries together today.”

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D I P L O M A C Y

Vietnam Brazil Macedonia Mexico Chile Malta Armenia Saudi Arabia Cyprus China Nigeria Germany Iraq Taiwan Cuba Spain Azerbaijan Hungary Zambia Austria Czech Republic Turkey

National day Independence day Independence day Independence day National day National day National day National day National day National day Independence day National day National day National day Independence day National day National day National day Independence day National day National day National day

A community space ‘Empathy Cafe & Bistro’ has been opened in the heart of Budapest at the headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross in Arany János Street. The money customers spend in the café goes toward supporting the organization's charitable work. Empathy is not just a charitable establishment, it is also a community and creative space that places importance on social issues in the spirit of empathy. The organization remodeled and transformed its previously unused ground floor garage and the office next to it. The investment was made possible by Google's foundation support and the result of extensive domestic co-operation. The companies participating in the project offered their own products or services free of charge, or provided significant discounts. The gourmet restaurant awaits guests with many specialties. The dominant drink of the place is the high quality, specialty coffee produced by László Bányai, a Hungarian living in Costa Rica, and roasted by Sándor Tóth, the head of the Kávé Háza (House of Coffee) café in Szekszárd, south-central Hungary. As for their food offerings, there are three types of DOP lángos (fried flat bread dough) to choose from. This dish has been inspired by the fusion of tradition and innovation, it is halfway between the Roman pizza and the Hungarian lángos flame. The toppings are made from fresh, Hungarian ingredients, thanks to the well-known gastronomy expert Dani Bezerics of the Paletta Bistro at Lake Balaton.

RECORD LOW WATER LEVELS ON THE RIVER DANUBE The lowest water levels ever were recorded at several points along the River Danube in the middle of August. A statement by the General Directorate of Water Management pointed out that even the top of ‘Hunger Rock’ was visible. Located at the foot of the Gellért Hill in Budapest, this rock is usually under water and can only be observed if the water level is under 950 millimeters. Due to the permanently warm weather and low rainfall, the water level of rivers in Hungary in early August was close to the lowest values ever measured. In Budapest in the morning of August 13, it was only 930 millimeters, which only exceeded by 420 millimeters the lowest level ever recorded (in 2003). Nine days later, authorities reported that water level in the river in central Hungary was especially low and hit a new record at five measuring stations. For instance, at Ercsi, south of Budapest, it was 310 millimeters lower than the previous record low of 1970. The authorities deployed temporary pumps in several places in order to supply some water into the river. The drought might also endanger the operation of the Paks nuclear power station whose cooling water is taken from the Danube River. According to the plant’s website, the requirement is that “at the distance of 500 meters from the cooling water outlet, the water temperature across the entire cross-section of the Danube shall not increase 30 degrees.” As the plant told the business portal g7.hu, water in the river warmed to such an extent in the second half of August that is already "an administrative limit for the operation of blocks."

According to preliminary data by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), in the first half of 2018, the number of live births was 2.4% and that of deaths was 3.8% less than in

October

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HUNGARIAN RED CROSS OPENS CHARITY CAFÉ IN BUDAPEST

FEWER DEATHS AND BIRTHS, DECLINING NATURAL DECREASE

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UPCOMING NATIONAL DAYS September

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HUNGARIAN SUCCESS AT THE INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHY OLYMPIAD

Hungarian students have won three medals (a gold, a silver and bronze) at this year’s International Geographic Olympiad (iGeo) held in Québec, Canada. The competition is for the best 16-19 year old geography students from all over the world. Each country is represented by four students in a series of geography tests in a (generally) four-five day program. Each national team is accompanied by an adult team leader and an International Board Member. The official language of the iGeo is English. The gold medal was won by Kinga Kaszap from Budapest, the silver by Márton Mészáros from Pápa (W Hungary) and the bronze by Márk Mészárik, also from Budapest. The fourth member of the team, Benjamin Bodansky (from Budapest) finished in the midfield. The Hungarian team participated in this competition of the highest professional prestige in the field of science for the tenth time, and their performance exceeded expectations: Kinga Kaszap took the top prize among 163 participants from 43 countries. In fact, she was the first Hungarian to win a gold medal at the International Geographic Olympiad. Altogether 87 medals – including 16 gold – were distributed in the tournament, and Hungary finished 8th in the medal table.) Members of the Hungarian iGeo were selected at the HunGeoContest qualifying competition, which was organized by the Hungarian Geography Foundation and the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Pécs in southern Hungary.

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company briefs EUR ONE BILLION NEW BMW INVESTMENT IN HUNGARY

personnel in the local area were another key advantage. Besides the team at the plant itself, numerous jobs will be created with suppliers and service providers, both within the grounds of the new facility and across the local region.

The amount of financial support provided by the Hungarian government was not disclosed but Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office stated that it will be in excess of HUF ten billion (over EUR 30 mn).

QATAR AIRWAYS EXPANDS ITS SERVICES TO BUDAPEST Qatar Airways has increased its service to Budapest by adding four additional flights to Hungary’s largest city and capital. As of early August this year, the additional flights take the airline’s service of 14 flights per week to Hungary to 18 in order to meet the increased demands of tourists visiting Budapest. According to a statement by the airlines, the route from Budapest to Doha was also expanded with the introduction, in August, of the wide-bodied Airbus A330. The A330 replaced one of the double-daily flights previously serviced by the smaller A320 and A321 aircraft. The capacity upgrade to the A330 nearly doubled the available seats, from 144 on the A320 to 272 seats on the Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing additional capacity in light of enhanced passenger demand. As Qatar Airways Country Manager Eastern Europe Center, Grisha Jenkov said “we are delighted to offer 4 additional flights to Budapest, one of our most popular

destinations. This frequency increase and an aircraft upgrade to an Airbus A330 provide even greater choice to our business and leisure passengers. While offering an increase in capacity to the route, it also redefines the inflight experience of our passengers travelling to Doha and beyond to more than 150 global destinations.” The additional frequency is served by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class. Passengers travelling in Business Class can create their own personalized dining experience thanks to the airline’s PreSelect Dining service. Passengers can also enjoy the airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, Oryx One, offering up to 4,000 entertainment options. Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft to a network of more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

ERSTE REAL ESTATE FUND ACQUIRES PROMENADE GARDENS

the development progress closely before taking over ownership. Now, I am proud to share that this state-ofthe-art building – that rightfully prides itself in technical excellence, energy and water efficiency, environmentally conscious solutions and top aesthetic choices – belongs to our portfolio.” On behalf of the property’s developer, Attila Kovács MRICS (Managing Partner, Horizon Development; Vice President, Real Estate Developers’ Roundtable Association) also elaborated on the deal. “We believe that our dedicated efforts towards creating a worldclass building on the Váci corridor have been confirmed by the fact that ERSTE Real Estate Fund has chosen our development as a top investment product with high returns and a long-term value. We had a unique approach aiming at creating workspaces that revolve around their users’ wellbeing, comfort and productivity, but we also carefully considered the environment, the larger social context and our responsibility towards the future when designing and building Promenade Gardens,” he said.

Promenade Gardens – the most technically advanced office building on the Váci corridor in Budapest – changed owners in August 2018 when ERSTE Real Estate Fund purchased the 97% leased property from the developer, Budapest-based Horizon Development. The new, sought-after, dual certified 25,000-sqm sustainable asset has already been chosen by a prestigious line of international tenants such as Celanese and Citibank. Balázs Pázmány FRICS, President of the Board at ERSTE Asset Management highly valued the recently closed deal and emphasized that “ERSTE Real Estate Fund is always on the quest for top technical quality buildings in our home market. Promenade Gardens stands out among our recent acquisitions. Our fund placed great trust in Promenade Gardens from the very beginning of the project in 2016, and we continued to follow

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D I P L O M A C Y

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DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, BMW GROUP, QATAR AIRWAYS, DÁNIEL VÉGEL

Polish volumes drove the momentum in real estate deals in the first half of 2018. Slovakia saw a rebound in deals while Hungary and the Czech Republic saw a much slower flow than a year ago. That is according to the 2018 mid-year CEE Investment Scene released by Colliers International, the global industry-leading real estate services company. It says a relative lack of supply of product for sale appears to be a factor in these latter two markets. Investment flow into the CEE-6 region, which comprises Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, rose 4% year-on-year in the first half (H1) of this year, marginally exceeding the pace of 2017’s record year. A combined 26% of the money in H1 came from domestic sources within the CEE-6 countries or CEE cross-border flows. US, UK and Western European funds were all net sellers of CEE commercial real estate in the period, broadly repeating the pattern observed in 2016 and 2017. On the sector front, office (up 51%) nearly caught up with retail (almost flat year-on-year) flow; the expected stimulus from more development completion at this stage of the cycle appears to be occurring. As Bence Vécsey, Director and Head of Investment Services at Colliers Hungary, points out, “the first half of 2018, especially the second quarter, was rather sluggish in Hungary both in terms of the number and volume of commercial real estate transactions. The investment volume was down by 60% year-on-year closing the first semester at EUR 360 mn, whilst the number of deals halved during the same period. The primary reason for the drastic drop in activity was the delay of closing on some significant deals slipping through to third quarter of the year. A number of these deals had been already completed adding EUR 250 mn to the year-to-date activity so far. The secondary reason for the slow first half was relatively low supply of commercial assets, so overall there is no need to be worrisome about structural or local investment issues.”

photos by

REAL ESTATE DEALS ARE DOWN IN HUNGARY DUE TO RELATIVE LACK OF SUPPLY

The BMW Group continues to expand its production network in Europe, with a new facility to be built in Hungary close to the eastern city of Debrecen. It will come at an investment of approximately EUR 1 billion, offer capacity of up to 150,000 units a year and create over a thousand new jobs. “The BMW Group’s decision to build this new plant reaffirms our perspective for global growth. After significant investments in China, Mexico and the USA, we are now strengthening our activities in Europe to maintain a worldwide balance of production between Asia, America and our home continent,” Chairman of the BMW AG Board of Management, Harald Krüger, said. “Europe is the BMW Group’s largest production location. In 2018 alone we are investing more than EUR 1 billion in our German sites to upgrade and prepare them for electric mobility.” Oliver Zipse, BMW AG Board Member for Production, added that “in the future, every BMW Group plant in Europe will be equipped to produce electrified as well as conventional vehicles. Our new plant in Hungary will also be able to manufacture both combustion and electrified BMW models – all on a single production line. It will bring greater capacity to our worldwide production network. When production commences, the plant will set new standards in flexibility, digitalization and productivity.” According to a statement by the BMW Group, Debrecen is the ideal place for the Group to expand its production network. It was chosen primarily for its very good infrastructure, suitable logistics connections and proximity to the established supplier network. The qualified

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Váradi JÓZSEF

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF WIZZ AIR HOLDINGS PLC. AND WIZZ AIR HUNGARY LTD.

József Váradi has been in the airline industry for 17 years. Beforehand, he had a successful ten-year period (1991-2001) at Procter & Gamble where he served as Sales Director for Central and Eastern Europe. He tells Diplomacy&Trade how and why he changed from consumer goods to air traffic and then from a state-run to a private business, explains his business philosophy and shares his vision of the future of the airline industry.

WRITTEN BY SÁNDOR LACZKÓ “When I was working for Procter & Gamble, I was traveling a lot having regional responsibility for 18 countries. I was exposed to the airline industry as a passenger and I was disappointed as to how the industry functioned; I felt it was inefficient and expensive. The time came when I knew that I had reached an end at P&G where I felt like part of a machine and I wanted to fulfil myself in a bigger way. I had more of an entrepreneurial spirit than a company like Procter & Gamble could give me as a platform,” he highlights.

photo by DÁVID

HARANGOZÓ

The Malév years

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According to József Váradi, the combination of these things directed him to the airline industry where he became the Chief Commercial Officer at state-run Malév Hungarian Airlines, which was a shocking experience for him. “Not necessarily from the industrial standpoint, because the industry itself is very fascinating, as a significant consumer franchise, with a lot of technology and a lot of money involved, and a complex operating platform. It gave me everything a manager dreams about from a business perspective. However, Malév was a kind of post-socialist company full of inefficiencies with people in the wrong positions. When I got there, I felt that if I just did the opposite of everything that had been done, I could probably survive as a manager there. Eventually I changed everything. I think that the job really tested me but also created a lot of opportunities for me, as an individual, to grow personally and professionally and it was also a time when the airline itself had a lot of opportunities.” A mere five months after joining Malév, József Váradi was promoted to CEO of the company. “Two months later, 9/11 happened, so those were very interesting times. In 2002, a new government came to power and they changed the people in top positions at most state-controlled companies. That was how I fell. I also think I collided with the new government with regard to my professional concept; I was very much pushing for transitioning Malév from a high-cost, legacy airline into a low-cost focused business.”

A window of opportunity József Váradi had to leave Malév in 2003 just at the time when the European Union confirmed the accession of ten

countries that, in fact, made a significant impact on the industry and how the industry operates from a regulatory perspective. “With the accession, the whole South Eastern European area became an open market, part of the panEuropean, basically EU domestic market – that was a fundamental change. The regulatory regime that used to operate the airline industry basically disappeared overnight in those ten countries, including Hungary. I felt that was a onetime window of opportunity and if one waited too long, the Western European competitors would have jumped on this opportunity to gain ground,” the CEO highlights. He grabbed that chance and co-founded a new airline, Wizz Air, 15 years ago. “I think I have always been clear minded and focussed on what I think Wizz Air, a lowcost carrier, needs to do to be successful. We came up with a business model which we felt was the right one for the right market. The Eastern European region is an area that is underpenetrated by the airline industry so, consumer demand had to be stimulated; it is still being stimulated as we speak. I think the other element is that I have been very keen on making this business European in the sense of bringing European and actually global talents into the company. This business has been managed by a team of great diversity in terms of nationalities. If you compete on a European level, you have to get European talents and European skills into management. I am personally very proud of being Hungarian and having initiated this whole business from Hungary. As a matter of fact, we are a Hungarian airline flying the Hungarian flag but, if we compete in the European Arena, we have to be as good as any other European airline.“

Business values, titles, money “I think I am the kind of guy who is very transparent and predictable; I do not like politics and I do not tolerate political issues within the company. I like to focus on intellectual capacity. I have done a few things just to keep myself up to speed, earned a few degrees at various universities to make sure that I stay relevant. I keep educating myself and this is what I expect from my people, as well. I like smart, intellectually capable people and I prefer smart work over hard work. Having said that, I think this is a business that requires hard work. If that is combined with proper intellectual capacity, I think we can achieve a lot. I am S E P T E M B E R

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convinced that this business should stay simple in order to stay ultra low cost – that would continue to stimulate demand in the market. I believe these are the basic values I have been trying to embrace.” In 2017, József Váradi was named ‘Manager of the Year’ and ‘Businessman of the Year’ in Hungary and he also appears in statistics as the country’s 36th richest person. He says he does not really care about titles. “I think they sound good but I'm not sure they change my life fundamentally. I rather take it as an appreciation and reward for the organization, for the people and for the accomplishment of the whole team rather than my personal achievement.” Describing himself as a manager, József Váradi says he is “a guy with entrepreneurial spirit. I like testing myself; I like taking risks, however, I take risks on a calculated basis. At the same time, I am a fairly well trained executive. Procter & Gamble was a great business school where I gained world class skills in conducting business, negotiations, and personal communications and in other related fields. I still refer to that company as my ‘alma mater’, with regard to business. I keep myself challenged intellectually and try to remain sharp on what is going on in life.”

Consolidation along two lines Asked about his vision of the airline industry, the Wizz Air CEO points out that “if you are in a commodity business, economic philosophy suggests that the lowest cost prevails so you have to be very cost focussed to be able to deliver and sustain the lowest price. This is what I believe in and I think this is the factor that will select the winners and losers in the airline industry, as well. I think the industry will continue to consolidate globally along two lines: point-to-point low-cost services and those of long haul connections crossing continents. I think there will be fewer players and only the best in terms of cost and customer experience will survive. 15 years ago, we were considered crazy for selling tickets only through the internet and allowing payments only by bank cards. Today, this is the standard. In a couple of years’ time, people are likely to conduct their lives with the help of smart devices. Professionals need to make sure that they stay relevant, they understand the changing consumer demand and they adapt their business model accordingly. Being cost efficient as well as adapting to the changing consumer world are the key factors to success in the future.”

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analysis

NOT ALLIES BUT ALLIED THE SINO-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP OF CONVENIENCE

The relations between China and Russia are on ’the best level in history’ in the words of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Ji. Cynics might say: ’as compared to what’; the relations between the most populous state in the world, and the largest country in the world have been traditionally notoriously fraught with geopolitical, geostrategic, and in the Cold War, ideological differences and tensions. And, at least from the early 1970s, the relationship between Beijing and Moscow has been dependent on their relations with the United States, too; to a large extent, this global power triangle has defined the course of events in the past half a century or so.

Overall strategic goals China and Russia are sharing some overall strategic goals which, on the surface, gloss over the suppressed differences. First of all, both are interested in changing the current world order in some respects, though, it is especially China that has benefited a lot from the status quo of the liberal world order. The two leaders, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, are pursuing this goal in multilateral frameworks, such as the BRICS or the Shanghai Security Organization (SCO), as well as on their own. The most visible manifestation of Beijing’s attempt to rearrange current power relations is the rather aggressive economic imperialism, a.k.a. the ’One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) initiative. Despite protests from the Chinese leaders, history teaches us that large-scale economic penetration goes hand in hand with attempts at gaining ground politically

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and strategically, as well (’the flag follows the dollar’). The current wayward economic policies of the Trump administration have opened new opportunities for America’s major competitor, China, in various regions in the world, though Xi Jingping’s claim that China will become the new champion of global free trade should be taken with a grain of salt. The classics are worth remembering this time too: Virgil’s ’Timeo Danaos at done ferentes’ has not lost its relevance. Russia is much more engaged in the traditional balance of power politics by trying to maintain and restore a buffer zone around itself, while making efforts in areas, such as the Middle East, to carve out a place for themselves in the contemporary ’great game’ over there. In other words, China and Russia are pushing back Western (American) influence wherever they can by carefully avoiding crossing each other’s paths. In general, what they are trying to figure out is how to take advantage of the transactional foreign policy of the Trump administration.

U.S. – the common opponent The ’allied’ status between China and Russia is facilitated to a large extent by the policies of the U.S. Beijing and Moscow each would like to strategically balance the U.S. They believe that the U.S. poses increasingly strong economic and security threats to them. The U.S.-China trade war compels the Chinese to look for other, alternative trade partners, and Russia, though it is not strong economically, to replace the U.S. markets for the Chinese exports, is one of the potential substitutes. China is also worried about the new American arms sales to Taiwan, the impact of the Taiwan

Travel Act passed by the U.S. Congress, as well as the American warships’ continuing presence in waters, such as the South China Sea. Both China and Russia are watching carefully the events in the Korean peninsula; it is neither’s interest to end up with a unified Korea anchored to the West in general, and the U.S. in particular. Russian grievances against the U.S. are even more numerous, from the economic sanctions through the non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea and the extension of military aid to Ukraine for two more years to boosting U.S. military presence in East and Central Europe. The list can be continued with the Global Magnitsky Act of 2012 and the different visions regarding the future of Syria, the American opposition to the construction of the Northstream II pipeline between Germany and Russia, and the power constellation in the greater Middle East in general. Given all these facts, it is clear in Beijing and Moscow alike that the U.S. does not pose direct security threats to either of them. Therefore, it is primarily the Chinese who prefer a partnership instead of an alliance with Russia. Moreover, the leaders in Beijing think that a partnership offers greater flexibility for them in dealing with, among others, the United States. One of the historical lessons the current leadership in Beijing seems to draw is that ’leaning to one side’, as was practiced in the early Cold War years, is potentially strategically dangerous: it might leave the country isolated in case the one-sided commitment is gone. Vladimir Putin seems to be more interested in closer security cooperation, among others, with largescale weapons sales to China, and with S E P T E M B E R

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enhanced cooperation within the framework of the SCO. However, the latest summit in Qingdao in June 2018 produced only a declaration short on too many concrete steps and long on pious statements.

Uneven partnership Trade relations constitute an important part in the bilateral links between China and Russia. In fact, they are rather asymmetrical. While China has been Russia’s largest trading partner in the past eight years, Russia does not count among the most important trading partners for China except for energy imports. Though, Russian energy supply makes up the bulk of Russian export to China (52% in 2016), Beijing can resort to a number of alternative energy supply routes, so the Russian oil and gas export is significant but not vital for China. Beijing is busy investing in such fossil energy rich counties as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan; the potentially massive Chinese economic presence in these Central Asian countries may not be good news for the Russians. The total value to the bilateral trade is not outstanding, either; it was around USD 84 billion in 2017 – while Germany alone exported a little more to China the previous year. The deteriorating economic and financial situation in Russia as a result of the sanctions has rendered Moscow even more dependent on Chinese natural resources and investment, and if we add the opposite demographic trends in the Far East (Russian population declining, Chinese population growing), these facts – by implication – indicate that it is China that is the senior partner in the bilateral relations in reality. T R A D E

photo by DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

BY TAMÁS MAGYARICS

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T h i n k o f a n S U V a n d m u l t i p l y i t b y y o u r i m a g i n a t i o n . Design meets The new Audi

permormance – driven Q8. Welcome to the 8

by Audi quattro. dimension.

D I M

WELCOME TO

THE

E T

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NEW

AUDI

N Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6,6–6,8; combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 172–178. Fuel consumption and CO₂ emission figures given in ranges depend on the tyre/wheel sets.

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9/3/18 11:06 AM 2018.07.17. 13:48:31

FOR A MORE SOLID MEXICAN PRESENCE Even before taking up an ambassadorial position here a year ago, David Nájera says he had an interest in Hungary. “It was a kind of curiosity. I have always been interested in history like that of what happened 170 years ago when this Central European country appeared on the international scene with its freedom fight against the Habsburgs, and

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subsequently as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Then, from the professional perspective, it has been interesting to find out what Mexico and Hungary can do together, two countries that are so far away from each other graphically. The parallels between the two countries that I discovered through history is the presence of a strong neighbor, and how much that proximity has affected history – that aspect makes us similar in many senses. In the time I have spent here, I have discovered how many things we have

in common. I have found that there is a lot of commonality because both countries are always looking to create their own space and not just because of the vicinity of a big neighbor. He adds that he also has a great interest in promoting the study of the Spanish language in Hungary. “There are over 2,000 young Hungarians studying Spanish here every year and I am sure that they are going to be some of the main actors in public life or private business in the future. They are preparing themselves very well in S E P T E M B E R

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different cultural aspects and I'm sure that they are going to greatly improve the relations not just with Mexico but with other countries of Latin America, as well. We have very good relations with the different schools in Hungary teaching Spanish.”

Tourism Ambassador Nájera says one of his objectives as Mexican ambassador here is to see growing numbers in bilateral tourism because “that will

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BY SÁNDOR LACZKÓ

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID NÁJERA, MEXICAN AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY

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mexican focus this will change the perception of being too far away from each other and it shows that we are not that far away.”

Cultural ties

also help people accumulate knowledge about the other country and will also open other opportunities. I am glad to see increased numbers of Mexicans and Hungarians crossing the Atlantic and visiting each other's country: you can find everyday more and more Mexican tourists in the streets of Budapest and more and more Hungarians in Cancún and other places in Mexico. Hungarian tourism to my country has grown 32% this year on 2017. We believe that this growth is related to the work we have been doing at the Embassy, and also that of tour operators, to make Mexico more accessible to travelers.” This year, for the first time, Mexico participated in the Budapest travel show ‘Utazás’. “We went there with one of the tour operators. Unfortunately, in logistical terms, this exhibition in Budapest took place two or three days before the worldwide travel expo in Berlin, which is one of the biggest in Europe. This made it very difficult to get support from a Mexican travel agency because most agencies had already allocated their resources to the event in the German capital. Still, we received a lot of visitors at the Budapest travel show and we had the chance to talk with them directly about Mexico. It was a positive experience and we are looking to repeat it next year. I am sure that this and other things we are doing help the development of tourism relations but certainly, it is just the first step. It also shows just how underdeveloped relations are in tourism that by just talking to the people can give this big of a push. So, there are a lot of things to be exploited in terms of tourism between the two countries,” the Ambassador highlights.

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

VISITMEXICO.COM/MEXICO TOURISM BOARD

photo by

photos by

Hungary, an economic destination The third bilateral issue Ambassador Nájera focuses on besides tourism and education is the growth in trade. “This is a bit more complicated issue because it is someone else's money and you need to convince people to put their own money in your country: Mexicans to invest in Hungary and Hungarians in Mexico. It is their money and it is going to be their decision. We are working to promote Mexico not just as a destination for tourists but also as an economy and an interesting market for Hungarian products, Hungarian technology and Hungarian investors. We are also trying to do the same thing in Mexico about Hungary. We are working in close cooperation with the Hungarian Embassy in Mexico City. They have been doing a great job in promoting Hungary and we want to convince Mexicans not just to sell to Hungary but also to try to invest in the country. Again, it is not easy because we need to change the investment mentality. For Mexican firms, it is natural to w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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ECONOMIC RELATIONS

According to the Ambassador, as long as the biggest Mexican investor, Nemak keeps growing, and being a relevant player in the automotive industry here in Hungary, a message will be passed on for many other a Mexican automotive companies that this is a place to do business. In order to strengthen business relations, the Embassy is organizing a business mission for Hungarians to Mexico at the end of October, and to bring some Mexican firms over here to discover Hungary. Data provided by the Mexican Ministry of Economy and the Embassy of Mexico in Hungary suggests that the volume of bilateral trade between Mexico and Hungary amounted to more than USD 1.6 billion in 2017, a significant increase from the pre-crisis year of 2007 when this figure was only USD 382 million. Mexican exports to Hungary include car parts and motor components for the automotive industry, car engines, plastic-metal alloys, light vehicles, modular circuits, memory units as well as fruits and vegetables. Trade items in the other direction include car parts and motor components for the automotive industry, Ion-Lithium generators, plastic construction toy sets, molded plastic components to assemble flat screens, electric components for engines as well as electronic components for automotive industry.

look to Germany, Britain or even Russia as an economic destination, so, the challenge is how we put Hungary into Mexican minds,” he points out.

Sharing common values It has been 44 years since Hungary and Mexico have re-established diplomatic ties. As the Ambassador says, “in general terms, the two countries have always had good political relations. We share a lot of common values like interest for peace and negotiation of disputed issues. In international organizations like UNESCO, we generally have similar positions and we promote each other’s candidates. In both countries, the priorities are usually local agendas. Let's take education, for instance. The Hungarian government is quite enthusiastic about the Stipendium Hungaricum program through which Mexican students have received 40 or more scholarships. The total number of Mexicans studying permanently here is about a hundred, learning medicine, social sciences, music, etc. In addition, there are exchange students in Hungary – so, the total number could be 200, which may be a smaller number than other countries, but I must say it is a growing one as more and more Mexican students are discovering the opportunity to study in Hungary.”

Consultation Mechanism The 9th Meeting of the Mexico-Hungary Political Consultation Mechanism was held in Budapest this July with topics of the bilateral, regional and multilateral agenda discussed. “As I said

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before, bilateral political relations are good. One issue where we have a different view is that of migration. We have expressed it before that we would like to see Hungary participating – in the interests of everyone – in international discussions concerning migration as we sadly noticed that the Hungarian government has stopped such cooperation on the international scene. The main issue discussed was the upcoming free trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union. Negotiations are almost finished and very soon the long process of being approved by the national parliaments of the EU member states may begin. This forum again provided an opportunity for us to explain our position directly to the Hungarian side from whom we have received support for the negotiations of this agreement from the beginning. I believe the next step is to see in which areas we can cooperate more closely with a third country. Let’s say, Hungary would like to create a project in Central America, we will support Hungary and the same thing if we want to achieve something, say, in the Balkans, then, we can rely on Hungary for support – this is something that can be seen more and more of in international relations. All FACTS COMPARED AREA country comparison to the world POPULATION country comparison to the world POPULATION GROWTH RATE country comparison to the world BIRTH RATE country comparison to the world LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH country comparison to the world NET MIGRATION RATE country comparison to the world GDP - PER CAPITA (PPP) country comparison to the world UNEMPLOYMENT RATE country comparison to the world TELEPHONES - MOBILE/CELLULAR country comparison to the world AIRPORTS country comparison to the world

The venue of this interview – the Frida Kahlo exhibition in the National Galley in the Buda Castle – gives a special background to talk about cultural as well as tourism relations. “Culture is the area where the embassy may have been the most active over the past years. It is one of our main policy priorities in international relations. For us, for instance, the Frida Kahlo exhibition here means not just having the biggest exhibition of Mexican art for years in Budapest but we see it in a multilateral perspective. We think it is clearly sending the message out of Budapest that Budapest is a city of international events in terms of exhibition. This exhibition is appealing to a lot of tourists and I am sure some people are coming the Hungarian capital specifically to see this exhibition. People at the Budapest Mayor’s Office understand perfectly that it is a way to make the city more appealing to foreigners. The other thing is that the thousands of people visiting this exhibition will gain a positive perception of Mexico, a country that could ‘produce’ such a passionate artist. Also, this may actually help tourism as people may want to visit the house of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Mexico City.” As for other events, this September, the Béla Bartók Festival in Budapest will be attended by some twenty Mexican artists while at the end of October, during the Day of the Dead commemorations, there will be Mexican-related public activities, some of them at the National Gallery in connection with the Frida Kahlo exhibition. “Also, there is a growing number of Mexican restaurants in Hungary and some of them are quite authentic. This September, we will work with the some of these restaurants to promote real Mexican cuisine, something we plan to make it a regular program. We bring over a Mexican chef who will not only participate in this public activity but will also teach a master class to the chefs of Mexican restaurants here. So, we are doing relatively small things but trying to establish a much more solid Mexican presence here in Hungary,” Ambassador Nájera concludes. HUNGARY

MEXICO

93,028 sq km 111 9,850,845 (July 2017 est.) 92 -0.25% (2017 est.) 214 9 births/1,000 population 205 76.1 years 91 1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population 54 $28,900 (2017 est.) 69 4.4% (2017 est.) 59 11,779,908 78 41 (2013) 104

1,964,375 sq km 15 124,574,795 (July 2017 est.) 11 1.12% (2017 est.) 103 18.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) 94 76.1 years 90 -1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) 156 USD 19,900 (2017 est.) 91 3.6% (2017 est.) 42 111,727,799 15 1,714 (2013) 3

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mexican focus SINGING WITH COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION INTERVIEW WITH MEXICAN TENOR RAMÓN VARGAS

In July this year, the world-renowned Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas performed at the VeszprémFest music festival in Hungary with fellow Latin American José Cura and two well-known Hungarian singers, Erika Miklósa and Andrea Rost. This was the third time since 2005 that he sang in Veszprém but he has been performing in the country frequently. Hungary. “Hungary is a country full of musical and artistic traditions. Budapest is really active and the production of the shows is huge. In order to win the Hungarian public over, quality is needed, because they are not neophytes. It is very thrilling when the Hungarian public gives in, I believe not many audiences around the world can be as warm as they are.”

Fondness for music

From there, my fondness for singing appeared when I was 17 years old, when I happened to meet my childhood teacher, Antonio López. I continued my studies in the Institute of Music and Art Cardinal Miranda, which was founded by Xavier Gonzalez. Then came my competitions, debut in Mexico and then international competitions that made me stay in Europe,” he explains.

that “I believe Vienna has chosen me. Actually, after I won the Enrico Caruso Competition in Milan, I had the opportunity to stay in the La Scala Theater Academy, but on the advice of Placido Domingo, I first went to Vienna, and came back 14 years later to live there. I think it was a great choice.”

Pop music and recognitions

Significant roles

In addition to his operatic career, Ramón Vargas is also an accomplished concert singer with an extensive repertoire of various genres, including Mexican songs, of course. However, he says he has always liked lighter genres. “When I was a child, before entering the Choir of the Basilica, I did not know any music beside pop music, I listened to Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Javier Solís, Pedro Vargas and the music of Agustín Lara, which my father enjoyed so. I never abandoned this genre, which is why I continued to performing and enjoying it.” The Mexican singer received many recognitions in the world of music over his career. Commenting on these appreciations and what it means to be among the top tenors of the world, the Maestro says “first of all, I am grateful for this appreciation of me, I have been doing what I love and through singing, life has given me much more then I could ask for. I feel a great responsibility and almost a duty of continuing singing with commitment and dedication for my and my audience’s pleasure.”

Ramón Vargas has sung many top opera roles during his career. As to his favorite characters among them, the singer points out that it is difficult to pinpoint “but I can say which were the most significant in my life: Edgardo from the opera Lucia di Lamermoor, because he is a loyal honest and moral character. He stands by his decisions despite the consequences. Another that I have also enjoyed is Nemorino from the opera L’elisir d’amore. He is also a good and sincere character, but also naïve and ignorant. Despite this, he eventually wins the heart of Adina, who in the end can appreciate these virtues. And then, there are more complicated characters such as Werther or Rodolfo from Los Masnadieros (Verdi) and many more.” Ramón Vargas has been living in Vienna for over three decades. Explaining his decision to choose Austria back in 1986, the Maestro says

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ZSOLT MELCZER/VESZPRÉMFEST, RAMONVARGAS.COM

When asked how a boy from the boys' choir of the Basilica of Guadalupe got to perform on the major opera stages of the world, how his talent was discovered and then developed, Maestro Vargas says that being in the Choir of the Basilica of Guadalupe was essential in his life, he discovered his fondness for music there. “Our musical director was Father Xavier Gonzalez, who had recently left Santa Cecilia in Rome where he had been majoring in direction and Gregorian chant. I have discovered this type of music there, which is the base of our western music. From there, the polyphony was born and little by little, other musical forms developed into what we know now. Fortunately, I grew up performing Gregorian, polyphony and later Bach and Mozart.

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“My connection to Hungary is very close and I have very dear Hungarian friends,” the singer tells Diplomacy&Trade, adding that he has been coming to this country to sing for 13 years. “Veszprémfest is an organization that has tradition and quality, it is a pleasure to have participated. My colleagues are magnificent singers, and above all, else excellent people. I have known Andrea Rost for 28 years, since when we were young and lost in the world of opera. With the passing of time, we have met many times in different places: at La Scala in Milan as well as in Vienna, Paris, Japan, Chicago and other places – we always sing together with much love and respect. I have known Erika for some years and she has always demonstrated great professionality and class. I have also known José for many years, but had never sung together, as operas needing two tenors are rare. One cannot deny the artistic qualities of José, but above all, he is a real friend. To play music in these conditions with these people is a dream. I am very happy I took part,” he points out. Since Ramón Vargas has been in this country – and not just in Veszprém – so many times, he has his own view about musical life and traditions in

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mexican focus

MEXICO, A COUNTRY OF CREATORS INTERVIEW WITH MEXICAN PHOTOGRAPER CRISTINA KAHLO

work and that of Frida Kahlo lies in the use of symbols to convey ideas and emotions. Also, in the interest for Mexico and its ancestral traditions.

Cristina Kahlo is an artist, herself, a practicing photographer. As she explains to Diplomacy&Trade, “ever since the moment I came into contact with photography, I never had doubts about wanting to be a photographer. My father, Antonio Kahlo had a photo lab in our house in Coyoacán. It was with him that I first approached photography and I was extremely attracted to the magic of printing images from a negative in a lab. Later, I studied photography in Mexico City and then, I attended the Center for Image Studies in Madrid, Spain. In the family, there are a lot of us who became artists: first Guillermo Kahlo, my great grandfather was a renowned photographer in the times of Porfirio

In 2007, during the 100th anniversary of Frida Kahlo’s birth a large number of unpublished documents, books and photos came to light, including a great collection of photos that Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera collected throughout their lives. Among these were photos taken by photographers of Hungarian origin, like Nickolas Muray and Martin Munkácsi. “Ever since Frida Kahlo started painting, her father’s, Guillermo Kahlo’s influence had an important presence in the work of Frida Kahlo as her father used to photograph self-portraits constantly. It reflects in the work of the painter as the majority of her work are self-portraits,” Cristina Kahlo stresses.

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COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF MEXICO, TACOS LOCOS

Opened in early July this year, the Frida Kahlo exhibition has been a great success in Budapest. The great-niece of the world-renowned Mexican artist, Cristina Kahlo was in the Hungarian capital for the opening of the event. Díaz. My father, Antonio Kahlo also was a photographer in his youth, and now my brother, Guillermo Kahlo Alcalá and I dedicate ourselves to photography professionally. My sister Mariana, the youngest of the three of us, works as restorer of works of art.” She adds that coming from a family linked to Mexican culture is definitely a responsibility and a pride at the same time. “However, I believe that the greatest responsibility is with myself. The value of my work is not determined by the family name but by the seriousness and dedication that each one has shown. It is also a responsibility as a Mexican to continue showing that Mexico is a country of creators.“ She believes that the common point in her

TACOS LOCOS

AN EXPERIENCE OF MEXICAN CULTURE AND GASTRONOMY

VII. ERZSÉBERT KÖRÚT 37-39, BUDAPEST tacoslocos.hu • +36 70 4343 457 w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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Tacos Locos was opened in Budapest 11 years ago with the intention of showing Hungarian people the beauty and diversity of true Mexican cuisine. In the restaurant, the fully Mexican kitchen staff prepare traditional dishes,

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The Kahlos and photography

with which you can pair one of the Hungarian wines offered or unique tequilas and mezcal. Tacos Locos is also suitable for business and family events, and its Mexican cuisine can also be catered directly to any event location. It is definitely a place to visit to experience real Mexican culture and gastronomy. Some of the specialties offered by Tacos Locos include: - the famous Tampiqueña: a soft tenderloin cut it in a special way and marinated, served with a green tomato enchilada, cheese quesadilla, guacamole and beans; - mole enchiladas is one of the most traditional dishes, dating back to the 16th century. It is corn tortilla filled with shredded chicken breast, served with MOLE sauce, which is made with more than 40

She is of the opinion that the work of Frida Kahlo is the reflection of an artist who is authentic in all of the aspects of her life, both in her personality and in her work. “As such, through her work we can see her thoughts and observations on her personal and political life. Being the wife of a great painter like Diego Rivera, she always maintained her own artistic personality.” The opening of the Frida Kahlo exhibition was the first time Cristina Kahlo was in Hungary, the country of world-renowned photographers like André Kertész and Robert Capa. “It was a pleasure for me to get to know such a beautiful city as it was one of the cities I had always wanted to visit, and this exposition gave me an opportunity to come here. Although, I knew some pictures from the country, such as through the books of Sándor Márai, it is always better to create our own idea of a place based on personal experience,” she concludes.

spices including chocolate. It is served with refried beans and Mexican rice on the side; - green tomato enchiladas is another traditional and unique dish from Mexico. It is corn tortilla filled with shredded chicken breast and green tomato sauce, topped with sour cream, baked cheese and refried beans as garnish.

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sustainability

FROM GRAIN TO COMPOST HEINEKEN CONTINUES PLASTIC-FREE CUPS CAMPAIGN

consumption, while keeping the new cup in their hands.” Dániel G. Németh stresses that the respondents were everyday beer drinkers and not just selected environmentally conscious people. “Ordinary people were confronted in a simple situation, like having a beer, with this environmental alternative of simply not throwing the plastic cup away – it is an education process that shows how today’s technology allows us not to produce waste. Even if not right away or not to everyone, but the thought is likely to occur to people to care more for the environment.”

International attention

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this ‘green’ notion among consumers and our business partners. That is why the cup was given a very striking design and a playful slogan ‘I fall apart for you’.”

A new approach Urban sustainability expert Dániel G. Német believes that this is the first example that a multinational company with such large-scale production is willing to undertake a different approach like this and is willing to take the risk of a campaign that involves ordering millions of these cups in Hungary only. “Hopefully, it is the start of a new approach in this industry, something that shakes up the beverage industry, including producers, suppliers, the competitors and venues where consumers meet with this campaign in practice. It is a differentiator now but within six months, it may well be a qualifier: you are not trendy if you do not follow suit,” he says. Kata Bors points out that the story is not over with throwing the cup out in the bar or restaurant. “First of all, we do not throw these degradable cups out with the rest of the waste but they are collected in a

Willing to pay a bit more Consumers filled out a questionnaire during the campaign promoting plastic-free drinkware. As to the results of how environmental-conscious those frequenting ruin pubs, festivals, etc. are, she notes that Hungarian consumers like to say they are very environmentally conscious but when it comes to action, e.g. paying more for environmentally friendly packaging material, their enthusiasm declines. According to the experiences of the May campaign and the company's recent research, 93% of Hungarians prefer plastic degradable packaging, and 79% of the respondents said it was important for them to drink beer from an eco-friendly glass and not from a plastic one. “Currently, the degradable cups are much more expensive than the traditional plastic cups, so, it has also been an investment on the part of HEINEKEN with the aim of learning whether this environmental notion has the strength to go through among Hungarian consumers. The conclusion from the answers was that people are willing to pay more for the degradable cup as long as the extra cost is not higher than HUF 50. It was a very positive feedback for us. People filled out the questionnaire on the spot, right after S E P T E M B E R

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Giving hope for the future According to the urban sustainability expert, there are so many ways of polluting the environment but there are also many ways of acting against it to alleviate the problem: how and from what things are produced, etc. “It is a community where the participants do not feel they are competitors but may actually help each other’s activities. If Heineken does something like this, that could affect a whole industry. For instance, I know of two local entrepreneurs who are considering producing PLA cups, which would be great since we would not have to import these from Italy.” As Dániel G. Német concludes, “The biggest impact is not the sheer number of biodegradable cups that were used at these venues and festivals, but that Heineken, was able to produce a case study that creates waves that will have far reaching implications. There may not be PLA cups everywhere but successful campaigns like this are catalysts. If a big international company like Heineken does this, from then on, it will be much easier for anyone to apply these solutions and this in itself gives hope for a plastic free future.”

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DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

The problem of non-degradable plastic waste is a worldwide problem. For over a decade, HEINEKEN has put a focus on this issue in its sustainability program. As the Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager at Heineken Hungária Breweries, Kata Bors stresses to Diplomacy&Trade, there are billions of tons of plastic waste accumulated all over the world and it is very important that we do something, both at the corporate and the individual level, to slow down or even put an end to this process. “At Heineken, we continuously search for innovative solutions and ideas with which we can reduce our carbon footprint and the amount of waste we produce. This year, we decided to launch the season not just with new beers but also testing a brand new packaging format. It means that we have substituted some of our plastic cups with a brand new solution: a PLA cup made of 100% organic material, which is degradable. Our aim has been to contribute to reduce plastic waste as well as propagate

separate container before they are composted. So, we took a step further, from ‘From grain to glass’, to ‘From grain, through glass to garden’ because this only makes sense of you really return the material back to nature.”

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HEINEKEN Hungária launched a plastic-free movement in May this year: to offer the company's beers in biodegradable plant-based (PLA) cups. The campaign was preceded by a representative omnibus research, which was supplemented by a questionnaire survey conducted at catering venues. Favorable feedback convinced the brewery's leadership that this initiative deserves further support.

The Communications Manager points out that as the festival season ends “we can gladly draw the conclusion that the quantity of ‘green’ cups we had originally ordered were eventually tripled and we are working on making it into a more extensive campaign next year, to create opportunities for various catering companies to join this initiative in the future and find a mutually acceptable win-win situation for the industry, the consumers and Mother Earth, as well.” The campaign attracted international attention and HEINEKEN subsidiaries in several countries like the Netherlands, Brazil, Bulgaria or Taiwan have already indicated their interest, asking for more information because they consider this initiative very forward-looking. “HEINEKEN has several sustainability solutions tested at open-air events from reusable cups made from environmental friendly material to the Mexican example of corn cups made from malt. Our aim was to launch and lead a movement and it turned out to be so successful that, by the end of the first month, a group of civilians, academics, people from the catering industry, community waste management and others joined forces and came together to share each other’s’ best practices,” she adds.

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photography

The exhibition this year is hosted by the Hungarian National Museum, where an accompanying exhibition is also on show titled ‘The most beautiful Hungarian nature photos from the past 25 years,’ by NaturArt. In 2011, the World Press Photo Foundation launched its Multimedia Contest to reward the best forms of visual journalism made by digital means. Renamed ‘Digital Storytelling’ in 2016, the contest is open to digital storytellers, visual journalists and producers, whose works can be seen on touchscreens and on a large screen – first time in Budapest, at the World Press Photo Exhibition. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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© Ronaldo Schemidt, Agence France-Presse May 3, 2017 José Víctor Salazar Balza (28) catches fire amid violent clashes with riot police during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Waiting For Freedom © Neil Aldridge

September 21, 2017 A young white rhino, drugged and blindfolded, about to be released in Okavango Delta, Botswana, after its relocation from South Africa for protection from poachers.

Title: Omo Change © Fausto Podavini

July 24, 2011 - November 24, 2017 The Omo Valley region in Ethiopia is an extremely fragile natural environment that is home to approximately 200,000 inhabitants of many diverse ethnic groups. This area is changing rapidly as a result of the construction of the Gibe III Dam, which is having a severe environmental and socio-economic impact on the region.

The Battle for Mosul Lined Up for an Aid Distribution

March 15, 2017 Civilians who had remained in west Mosul after the battle to take the city line up for aid in the Mamun neighbourhood. January 16, 2017 - September 16, 2017 In early July, after months of fighting, the Iraqi government declared the city of Mosul fully liberated from ISIS, although conflict continued in pockets of the city. Thousands of civilians were killed during the battle for Mosul, while large areas of the city were left in ruins.

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WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2018

Venezuela Crisis

The world's most prestigious annual photo exhibition is in town until October 23, showcasing the biggest moments of last year.

THE STORIES THAT MATTER

Hailed as the Oscars of photojournalism, the World Press Photo exhibitions attract up to 4 million people each year worldwide in some 45 different countries. Now, in its 61st year, the World Press Photo exhibition is the most significant travelling exhibition dedicated entirely to photojournalism, profiling the globe's top press photographers and showcasing the world's most provocative and poignant press photos. Every February, an international panel of judges selects the winning photographs from the entries. For the 2018 competition, 4,548 photographers submitted more than 73,000 images. From the 307 shortlisted photographs, 42 photographers were awarded 45 prizes across eight categories. Top honors this year went to Venezuelan photographer Ronaldo Schemidt, for his photo on José Víctor Salazar Balza as he caught fire amid violent clashes with riot police during a protest against President Nicolás Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. Judges praised the emotion captured in the photograph, which has also won Schemidt – a staff photographer for Agence France-Presse – first prize in the Spot News Single category. “President Maduro had announced plans to revise Venezuela’s democratic system by forming a constituent assembly to replace the opposition-led National Assembly, in effect consolidating legislative powers for himself. Opposition leaders called for mass protests to demand early presidential elections. Clashes between protesters and the Venezuelan national guard broke out on May 3, with protesters (many of whom wore hoods, masks or gas masks) lighting fires and hurling stones. Salazar was set alight when the gas tank of a motorbike exploded. He survived the incident with first- and second-degree burns,” Schemidt explains the moment he captured and the story behind the photo. “It has an instantaneous energy. The colors, the movement… and it’s very well composed – it has strength,” said 2018 World Press Photo Contest Jury Chair and Director of Photography at Geo France, Magdalena Herrera. Jury member and National Geographic Deputy Director of Photography Whitney C Johnson labelled the image “symbolic,” continuing: “The man has a mask on his face. He’s come to represent not just himself on fire, but this idea of Venezuela burning.” Tamás Révész, Pulitzer Memorial Award winning Hungarian photographer has been the organizer of World Press Photo Exhibition in Budapest since he won a World Press Award himself in 1991. He says he is very proud to present the global exhibition in Hungary and see an increasing number of visitors visit the month-long show. “Last year’s edition drew the attention of more than 30,000 people who often left speechless, some with a tear in their eye,” he remembers. “This year’s collection also consists moving, sometimes very disturbing images seeing them one after the other is a very powerful experience, even if you have followed the news through the year 2017.” Révész believes that the retrospective photo exhibition is a call for tolerance, empathy and humanity. “I hope it helps us to better understand the world around us.”

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diplomacy

VIETNAM: A MOMENTUM OF GROWTH THE COUNTRY IS REAPING THE REWARDS OF ITS ECONOMIC REFORMS

The momentum for economic growth has been maintained, not based on the monetary expansion but associated with changes in business environment. The gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 7.08% in the first six months of the year, the highest level since 2011. Additionally, the confidence of businesses has been reinforced.

DoiMoi Economic analysts believe Vietnam is reaping the rewards of its economic reforms, the first of which was the ‘DoiMoi’ (Renewal) process launched in 1986. As a result of developments over the past three decades, Vietnam has emerged from a backward country with 90% of its population working in the agricultural sector to one that is well on its way towards industrialization and modernization. The country has built material and technical facilities and socio-economic infrastructure, thus attracting financial and human resources for national development. After generating an annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of just 4.4% in the early years of reform from 1986-1990, Vietnam’s economy experienced an impressive pace in the next nearly two decades, with 8.2% from 1991-1995, 7.6% from 1996-2000, 7.34% from 2001-2005 and 6.32% from 2006-2010.

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Between 2011 and 2015, due to impacts from the global financial downturn in 2008, and the European sovereign debt crisis in 2010, Vietnam’s economic growth rate fell to 5.9%, still much higher than recorded by most other countries in the region and the world. Vietnam’s per capita income rose sharply from USD 471 in 2001 – 16 years after the ‘DoiMoi’ policy was initiated – to USD 2,300 in 2015. The following year, the country’s economic output was around USD 204 billion. The macro economy has remained stable and inflation has been controled. Vietnam’s economic structure has been shifted towards modernization, with the percentage of contributions by agriculture to the overall economy decreasing and those of services and industrial production increasing. Over the past three decades, all economic sectors have made big strides. Industry and construction have maintained their noted growth thanks to the application of scientific and technological advances, and the development of new industries and high technologies. Agriculture has experienced significant changes, transforming Vietnam from a food-hungry country to one of the world’s largest exporters of rice, coffee, rubber, cashew nuts and fisheries products. The service sector has also flourished with a range of products like tourism,

telecommunications, finance, banking and legal consultation. The exploitation of natural resources and environmental protection have been aligned with sustainable development, producing initial good results.

Bright economic prospects Financial institutions and research organizations in Vietnam and abroad have shown their optimism for the country’s economic growth in the second half of 2018 and the whole year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected Vietnam’s economy to grow by 6.6% in 2018 and the inflation rate to be kept under 4% thanks to the country’s economic reform and its government’s commitment to stabilize the macro economy. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also forecast the economy will expand by 7.1% this year, while the World Bank (WB) raised its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth to 6.8%. The Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) was optimistic that Vietnam’s growth can reach 6.71% instead of 6.67% as previously predicted. Macroeconomic indicators are also bright: annual export growth is projected at 12.11%, trade surplus at USD 1.2 billion and the average inflation rate at 3.93%.

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As revealed by data from the Vietnamese government, the country’s economy saw a high growth rate for the first quarter of 2018. Vietnam also enjoyed a high trade surplus and managed to control its inflation rate. Vietnam’s business environment grew tremendously at the start of the year with over 26,000 new enterprises established. In addition, the government highlighted that foreign direct investment disbursement reached over USD 3.8 billion in the first three months of this year, up 7.2% from last year. Overall, the Vietnamese economy grew 7.38%, the fastest first quarter expansion in 10 years. According to a report by The Asian Post, Vietnam’s rapid growth over the past decade is mostly due to the country’s move away from a command economy to more open and liberal economic policies. For the past decade, the country has taken on reforms like deregulation which saw an influx of private enterprises and foreign investment.

Diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Hungary were officially established on February 3, 1950. According to Vietnamese sources, over this past 68 years, the Hungarians have shown a lot affection and valuable support for the Vietnamese people. In recent years, the political relationship between the two countries has been strengthened through mutual trust and understanding, providing a solid basis for promoting economic, trade, investment, cultural, educational and national security relations. Over the last ten years, there have been highprofile visits between the two countries: Hungary was visited by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2009 and by State Secretary Truong Tan Sang in 2013; in January 2014, Hungarian President János Áder paid a state visit to Vietnam; in January 2017, the delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly was led on a visit to Hungary by Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and in September 2017, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán led a delegation to Vietnam. The leading parties of the two countries – Hungary’s Fidesz and the Vietnamese Communist Party – signed a cooperation and friendship agreement in September 2017 in Budapest. In January 2016, the two countries concluded a framework agreement on financial cooperation worth EUR 60 million for the investment project of the Can Tho Cancer Hospital. In January 2017, the two parties signed a framework agreement on credit risk cooperation, amounting to EUR 440 million, for the implementation of projects that support the development of Vietnam in water, pharmaceutical, health, IT, agriculture and national security projects. Economic cooperation between the two countries has also seen significant progress. The two-way trade continues to grow and amounted to USD 354.3 million in 2017 – a 33.19% increase compared to 2016. The volume of trade reached USD 115 million in the first three months of 2018 (51% more than in the same period last year). Vietnam's most important export products to Hungary are textiles, footwear, electronic products and components, transport equipment and spare parts, while Hungarian exports to Vietnam mainly include machinery, components, chemicals and animal feed. (Prepared with support from the Vietnamese Embassy in Budapest)

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QUANG PRAHA, LUU QUANG MINH/AA STUDIO

Close to 70 years of traditional friendship between Vietnam and Hungary

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diplomacy

THE ROLE OF CENTRAL EUROPE CLOSER REGIONAL COOPERATION NEEDED TO EXPLOIT OPPORTUNITIES IN DIVERSITY

This summer, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor Erhard Busek and Austrian diplomat and historian Emil Brix, the Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, presented their new book ‘Mitteleuropa revisited’ (Central Europe revisited). Diplomacy&Trade caught up with Dr. Erhard Busek in Vienna to ask him why the publication of the book was timely in 2018.

Dr. Busek, who is the Coordinator of the South-Eastern Cooperative Initiative (SECI) and Chairman of the Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe explained that “we are witnessing tremendous changes in the world nowadays, changes of the redistribution of powers that causes of lot of problems. In this context, Central Europe is of great importance because a lot of the issues coming up are connected with this region. Obviously, the first one is the migration issue, but also the connection of Europe to other parts of the world, which, itself, is coming out of the migration issue. Central Europe is also becoming interesting for world powers as you can see in the case of the Chinese Silk Road project but Russia also has traditionally great interests and, of course, Central Europe is also influenced by what is happening in the Mediterranean region.”

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DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

In favor of closer regional cooperation In reference to the word ‘revisited’ in the book’s title, the former Vice-Chancellor referred to the issue of nationalism, “which, I believe is a kind of egoism, traditional egoism influenced by international developments. Just think of Donald Trump's words for putting America first and so on. These kinds of things so were happening in the Central European region even before Donald Trump. A lot of politicians are very anxious to protect their countries but that is creating egoism to believe that we can settle the problems through a nation state. I am extremely in favor of closer regional cooperation.” w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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He added that he grew up after the Second World War when European integration started. “I believe that things are worse nowadays and it raises the question of what we did wrong. Obviously, we have done something wrong, not really focusing on the right problems.”

Nationalism as egoism As he pointed out that the book presentation, the issue of nationalism should be dealt with. That is populism or populism disguised as – or mixed with – nationalism that endangers the societies of East Central Europe. “I think I described it as total egoism: ‘I am protecting myself’, ‘I am not talking to the others’, and what is worse we do not know who the others are and what they are like. I believe we did not do enough in the past to accumulate common knowledge about each other. What I can recognize about Central Europe and the European Union itself is that there is not enough common knowledge about the different countries and peoples. And that is something that very much plays into the hands of nationalist politicians who want to be nationalist and populist because the less people know about each other the easier it is to mislead them and put these politicians into the role of protector,” he said.

EU rules and ideas At the presentation of the book, Emil Brix said that the EU’s rules have been written by the EU – something this book was against. In reaction to that, Dr. Busek said “when we are discussing the future of Europe, it always comes up what the

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French are saying, what the Germans are saying and whether an axis exists between Berlin and Paris. I believe that it will never work this way. For instance, President Macron is publicizing his own ideas often but not discussing it with other Europeans. He never came to Central Europe, for instance, to talk about his concept. That, I believe, is very old fashioned. I think they still believe it is a time when Germany and France are superpowers. I believe the time of superpowers is over.” Speaking of superpowers, the former ViceChancellor believes Vladimir Putin has a very clever strategy. “He is very much aware that the Russian economy is actually quite weak and the problems are increasing with an overaged population. I think he also feels the pressure from China in Eastern Siberia, for instance. So far, he has been doing the right thing to keep himself in power: to create tension by involving Russia in regional conflicts like that in Syria and Eastern Ukraine. He is trying to emphasize these issues because he does not have the answers to his country's economic problems.”

Culture and nation states Another thought by Erhard Busek at the book presentation was that it was ‘painful’ to see that education and culture are not considered as (pan-)European issues. However, one might say that if they were declared as such, nationalist/ populist voices might just cry out something like ‘we do not want the EU to meddle with our culture’.

He now believes this issue is the result of the consequences of the Second World War. “World War II destroyed a lot of things and European peoples wanted to recreate their own respective states mainly based on culture and education as identity issues. What the different governments have not done over the years is to overcome this sentiment in the common European sense. We are always speaking about the European narrative but we are not really able to tell what exactly it is.” Another issue raised at the presentation was that of religion. The moderator, Gergely Prőhle noted that secularization is strong in this region but it was debated whether the proper answer to the feared spreading of the Islamic religion would be more strongly supporting non-Islamic religious views or supporting secularization, supporting education so that people would know more about the economic, political, religious, etc. diversity of the world– with lots of history and lots of geography as Mr. Brix noted about the contents of the book, itself. As for the best answer for the future of a Europe that wishes to preserve the values it cherishes, Dr. Busek believes that “Europeans, especially the representatives of the European Union, are always mentioning the European values without properly identifying them. When I ask about these values I always get simple answers like it is the question of human rights, which actually constitute a global issue and not just one here in Europe. I believe we have not really elaborated on European values. So far, we have had difficulties when confronted with a much differentiated landscape of Islamic values and actions and have not been able to provide real answers to the problem. Yes, I agree, secularization plays a very important role. I believe there was a huge influence of religion on education before but that influence is now gone. However, there is again religious influence on education – this time coming from Islam. In Austria or Germany, for instance, there is no balance or dialogue in what is taught to Islamic students on the situation of women, or on European values of humanity like the death penalty.”

The role of Central Europe In the book, the authors vehemently argue that, despite all the difficulties, crises and setbacks, the European integration project can only succeed if the Central European states are again perceived as the center of Europe. However, that raises the issue whether the Central European states are strong enough and/or important economically and/or politically that they can claim a central and/or a leading role. According to Erhard Busek, the states of Central Europe have an outstanding role politically. “Regardless of their economic power, they are here at a strategic location in the heart of Europe. It is also a region that connects. The other thing that gives importance to this region is the diversity that exists here. I think it is a real test case of how to live in and with diversity: to cope with it or have confrontation. Overcoming diversity, living together – I believe these are the key questions of Europe.”

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society Morocco Throne Day On the 19th anniversary of the accession to the throne of King Mohammed VI, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Karima Kabbaj held a reception at the Budapest Marriott Hotel. King Mohammed VI acceded to the throne on July 30, 1999.

Lebanese Patriarch Visit On the occasion of the visit to Hungary by Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï this August, the Ambassador of Lebanon to Hungary, Joanna Azzi held a reception at her residence in Budapest.

Ambassadors at the Sziget Festival Moldova Independence Day

HARANGOZÓ, MÁRTON MÓNUS/MTI, COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

The Sziget Festival is attended regularly by ambassadors accredited to Budapest. This August, some of those present were (pictured from left to right) Yosef Amrani of Israel as well as David B. Cornstein of the United States and Iain Lindsay of the United Kingdom.

On the Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova, the country’s Ambassador to Hungary, Oleg Tulea held a reception in the garden of his Embassy in the Buda hills. The event was also to honor the visit to Budapest of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Tudor Ulianovschi.

Vietnam National Day The Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Hungary, Nguyen Tien Thuc held a reception in the Stefánia Palace in Budapest on his country’s National Day to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of President Ho Chí Minh reading the Declarations of Independence of Vietnam at Ba Đình Square in Hanoi on September 2, 1945.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed A. Almatrafi hosted a farewell luncheon for the Ambassador of the State of Palestine and Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors, Marie Antoinette Sedin and the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mahmoud A. M. Elmaghraby. The new Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors, Dr. Hamad Mohammad H. M. Burhamah, the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait, handed over a memorable gift both to Marie Antoinette Sedin, thanking her for all her work on the Council, and to Mahmoud A. M. Elmaghraby, wishing both ambassadors great success in their future.

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Swiss National Day The Ambassador of Switzerland to Hungary, Dr. Peter Burkhard welcomed guests to his residence in Budapest for a reception to celebrate the 727th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. It was on August 1, 1291, that the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden united and formed the nucleus of the Old Swiss Confederacy.

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Farewell Luncheon

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witty leaks WITTY

IN THIS SERIES, DIPLOMATS SHARE PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF THEIR EXPERIENCES ON “EXCURSIONS” into Hungarian culture, art, gastronomy & scenery.

LE A K S

FISH SOUP AND PAK CIK

DISCOVERING AND CONNECTING HUNGARY TO MALAYSIA BY CHEONG LOON LAI, AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA

It has been slightly over a year now since my family and I arrived in the beautiful city of Budapest, and each day has been filled with interesting discoveries. With its efficient facilities and conveniences, Budapest is undoubtedly a great city to live and work in. It is such a lively and vibrant city that one will never get enough of what it has to offer. On weekends, beginning springtime and throughout summer, there seems to be a continuous chain of festivals and happenings around the city and all across the country. Despite the noticeable contrast of culture and way of life between Hungary and Malaysia, Budapest is, indeed, one posting where I’ve hardly had time or reason to miss home. Geographically, Hungary, which sits right in the heart of Europe is about 9,100 km from Malaysia.

By airplane, it takes an average of 15 hours (inclusive of a three-hour transit) to travel from Budapest to Kuala Lumpur. In terms of size, Malaysia is about four times bigger than Hungary, meanwhile, the population of Malaysia is three times more than Hungary’s 10 million people.

Just like grandma’s From observations and interactions with the locals in the past year, I have noticed some compelling peculiarities that Hungary and Malaysia have in common. Despite the physical distance and cultural contrast, the first thing I found was that both Hungarians and Malaysians share the characteristic of taking their food very seriously. The act of eating is treated as an important ritual that must be fulfilled dutifully. When speaking about food, both Hungarians

and Malaysians tend to be highly critical, as well as, passionate towards how a dish should taste and how it should be prepared. Most often than not, each traditional dish has to be just like grandma’s. I have also noticed that lunch or dinner is never considered a proper meal if it doesn’t have the full complement of at least the three courses of soup, main course and sweet desserts. Therefore, a meal lesser than the three main courses would sometimes be referred to as just a ‘snack’. I guess such a devotion towards food would easily explain how the first greetings for the day, particularly in Malaysia, and in many parts of Asia, would often be the polite question “Have you eaten?” instead of the expected “How are you?”

Sour and spicy

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LIM BEE-LING

The red paprika is the quintessential spice and ingredient in many Hungarian dishes. In this regard, being served a bowl of the Hungarian Fish Soup (Halászlé) would always make me feel like getting my fix of a personal favorite – the Malaysian Asam Pedas – a popular Malaysian Fish Stew that looks extremely similar to the Hungarian Halászlé. In the case of the Malaysian Asam Pedas, which literally means ‘Sour and Spicy’, the dish is cooked with seafood or fish in sour tamarind juice and flavored with loads of spicy hot red chili and local spices. Therefore, the Asam Pedas has a tangy flavor that can be extremely hot and fiery to the uninitiated. Influenced by the way my Hungarian friends raved about their traditional Fish Soup, I recently dragged along my family to Baja, near the country’s southern border, during its Annual Fish Soup Festival. We arrived at Baja a couple of hours before the real cooking started but right then itself, we saw the scale and seriousness of this event from the massive preparation that had been laid out and the crowd that was already there. Reportedly, over 1,500 cauldrons of the bright red paprika-based fish soups on open fires would fill the Main Square (Szentháromság tér) and spill over along the tributaries of the Danube River. The festival, which was first held in 1996 when the Baja Township celebrated its 300th Anniversary, even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most pots boiling at the same time. Not only it is a gathering for fish soup-lovers, it appears a much-looked forward annual gettogether for families, relatives and friends from w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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the nearby regions and neighboring countries, as well. We met a family of three generations that has been taking part in this festival for 22 years. Inspired by that trip to Baja, I have suggested to my office colleagues that we should consider joining next year's event and cook the Malaysian Asam Pedas in our own bogrács (cauldron).

People make the place It is, indeed a very true adage that ‘the people make the place’. From personal observations made so far, the claims that the Hungarian people have roots from Asia may ‘hold water’ from traces of some Asian-like traits and characteristics. One ‘giveaway’ is how Hungarians introduce themselves by their family name first which is a common practice in China and countries in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia; especially among the Chinese descents. Next is the use of a respectful address by children to an older male person who is unrelated by blood and usually a family friend. In Hungary, the deferential word is “bácsi” whereas in Malaysia, it is the Malay word, “Pak Cik”. The two sound strikingly similar and literally mean, “Uncle”. I am also impressed with the strong emphasis towards the family institution in the social structure of the Hungarian people and they certainly have very close semblance to Asian family values. This is evident from the designs of most Hungarian homes which often accommodate an extended family of at least three different generations. It is different here, indeed, to the western European family values that celebrate independence, as 18-year-olds are expected to move out of home and get their own flat. Speaking of visiting a Hungarian home, I was pleasantly surprised when asked to remove my shoes before entering the house because I had never expected this typical Asian practice to happen in this part of the world. Later, I was told that the act of taking off our shoes before stepping into a home is a common practice in Hungary.

Smile As it is, Malaysians generally are well-known to be friendly and tend to smile a lot. Slightly before I took up my post in Budapest, I was told by a Hungarian friend that it would be quite the opposite with the Hungarians. Hence, I was warned that Hungarians rarely smile and can also be rather unfriendly. So after a year, the verdict finds that the Hungarians stern exterior is merely a front, especially to strangers. In reality, however, they can be an easy-going lot and they do smile generously after the ice has been broken. Finally, a unique characteristic which is common among Hungarian men is their sense of humor which is often peppered with refined cynicism. Also, when it comes to driving home a point during a conversation, I am often amused by the Hungarians use of interesting historical anecdotes. They really know their history!

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education

UNIQUE KNOWLEDGE HUB IN KŐSZEG HUNGARY’S INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES IS HOME FOR THE MINDS OF THE FUTURE TO GROW

HANKISS CENTER

WHY KŐSZEG?

Kőszeg is often referred to as ‘The Pearl of Pannonia’, located at the crossroads of many cultures: the region of the beautiful medieval town borders five countries (Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary). This provides rich cultural and regional added value, and the opportunity for strong cross-border cooperation on many levels.

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I also believe that we must not act as elites sitting in ivory towers and, through less talk and more action, we need to be open towards the society. We serve societal needs with open dialogue and socially responsible research, publications and policy recommendations for a wide range of stakeholders,” he notes, highlighting pre-iASK projects in which academics worked together with IBM researching the Hungarian work culture in a global context, and with Siemens on their Green City and Smart City concept. Prof. Miszlivetz continues, “We respond rapidly to changing social and economic conditions, and contribute at a high level to international political, social, economic and cultural life. The Polányi Center at iASK (named after Karl and Michael Polányi), for example, addresses the complex and interdependent aspects of local, regional and global transformation.

Creative City, Sustainable Region One of the flagship iASK projects is called KRAFT (the Hungarian acronym for Creative City and Sustainable Region). Prof. Miszlivetz notes: “This began years ago as a proposal to achieve the Danube macro-regional strategy of the EU via the example of Western Pannonia. The pilot project we developed proved so successful that today it is often applied to Hungarian sustainability and innovative regional development.” He adds that KRAFT concentrates on the practical applicability of its programs while it is rooted in the conviction that the key to successful development is the effective cooperation between social, economic, cultural and political stakeholders. The KRAFT Index was developed as an integrated framework to evaluate and interpret the interests of these stakeholders. This provides the basis for “win-win” scenarios, such as in the town of Kőszeg – which is

home to iASK and became the first example of the implementation of the KRAFT methodology. “Infrastructure improvements, renovation of the related historic buildings such as the famous Sgraffito House, expansion of local services and establishment of bonds of cooperation are all part of the renewal of Kőszeg. The town’s geographical location - at the Hungarian-Austrian border, and unique built heritage, and historical and civic traditions as a school town enhance its potential to become a novel knowledge center that can facilitate Hungary’s further integration into the global and European scientific and cultural communities.” One example of the regional development aspect of the work at iASK and the KRAFT project involves the city of Veszprém and its bid to become Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2023, by including the municipality with its surrounding Balaton region. Accordingly, the tender’s title is ‘Town on the Lake’. Prof. Miszlivetz emphasizes that besides fostering creative forms of cooperation in Hungary, “Researchers are developing an integrated methodology to measure the creative, innovative, network and S E P T E M B E R

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The Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK) is a new research and development institute, which brings together scholars and experts who think creatively and responsibly about sustainable solutions in a time of profound global transformation and uncertainty. iASK is home to a new generation of intellectually open, courageous and knowledge-sharing researchers and practitioners who explore creative, collaborative and innovative solutions to complex and interrelated local and global challenges. iASK scholars focus on well-being and social cohesion, particularly in societies in transition with special regard to the CEE region and the Balkans. Professor Ferenc Miszlivetz, the founder and director of iASK, elaborates: “Our aim is to provide creative space for innovation and integrative development initiatives in the arts and sciences that transcend disciplinary boundaries.” He explains that iASK is the result of over two decades of intellectual and practical application of ‘out of the box’ thinking involving students, professors and partners. In this way, iASK, as a center of excellence, strives to be a new version of advanced studies institute, distinguished from ivory-tower-types of institutions such as the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, which is known as the academic home of Albert Einstein and John von Neumann. “I firmly believe that this kind of institute was missing from the Hungarian academic scene.

sustainability potential of cities, chains of cities and their surrounding regions. The methodology is developed particularly for small and middlesized cities and their rural agglomerations in Central Europe in order to foster their revival and viability for current and future residents.” In this regard, iASK fosters collaborations with as many global and European scientific, academic and cultural networks and institutions as possible in its role as an international ‘think tank’. Its Advisory Board includes Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN and former director of the Hungarian Cultural Center in London, Erhard Busek, former ViceChancellor of Austria, Imre Asztrik Várszegi, who served as the Archabbot of Pannonhalma between 1991 and 2018, Sean Cleary, Chairman of Strategic Concepts Ltd., and Executive Vice Chair of the FutureWorld Foundation, and György Schöpflin, Hungarian MEP and professor at the University College of London, as well as leading figures in the Hungarian and international scientific communities. The current deputy director is Iván Bába, former Hungarian State Secretary of Foreign Affairs. “iASK promotes excellence in research, training and strategic thinking in cross-border cooperation through involvement in transnational research projects and individual scholarship programs. Since the end of the ‘90’s, we have organized summer universities: this year the focus was ‘Europe in the Vortex of Change – Central European Scenarios,’ where we discussed topics such as ‘European security and security policy in a changing global landscape’, ‘Remembering and forgetting communism’,‘At the intersection of migration and populist politics’, ‘Interreligious dialogue’ and ‘From global to local sustainability: microregional aspects and the circular economy’. Reflecting on global transformations and increasing global crisis, there is a need to develop new ways of thinking, and cooperation. We would like to serve, not only to know. New answers will not be found unless new questions are asked. iASK is the institute of new questions,” Prof. Miszlivetz concludes.

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, IASK, HAMU ÉS GYÉMÁNT

In memory of his late friend, Hungarian sociologist Elemér Hankiss (President of Hungarian Television between 1990-93, a professor at Stanford University, the Bruges and Florence European University Institutes as well as the Central European University, and the director of the Institute of Sociology at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences,) who often provided guidance for iASK, Professor Miszlivetz opened the Hankiss Center and Research Archive within iASK to cultivate his legacy. This includes the cataloging of his manuscripts, the presentation of his most inspirational works to the international public. Researchers work in the archive to identify his key intellectual investigations like civilization crisis, life and death, and reflection on the symbols of everyday human experience, taking the Hankiss legacy into the future. This includes re-starting the Hankiss-Miszlivetz initiative of ‘Reinventing Central Europe!’ the purpose of which was to deepen relationships between different ethnic groups in the region, promoting recovery from historic grievances in order to strengthen unity.

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tourism

THE EVERGREEN ISLAND OF THE MEDITERRANEAN CYPRUS HAS A LOT TO OFFER TO LEISURE AND BUSINESS TOURISTS

Trendy, traditional, classical venues Attending a conference, seminar or professional training in the sun is one of the most motivating incentives for many delegates. Cyprus is naturally conducive to a positive business outcome with short and mild winters and abundant sunshine for more than 300 days annually. From delicious cuisine and traditional tavernas to elegant wine bars, and a world of options for relaxation and entertainment, business can be seamlessly combined with pleasure. Hotel establishments across the island are equipped to hold business events with stateof-the-art conference facilities, and delegates can also opt for the luxury of staying at the same location as your event. Further venues for small conferences, gala dinners, themed nights or opening ceremonies can also be utilized, from purpose-built halls to more unusual cultural settings such as medieval castles and ancient amphitheaters. When it comes to added incentives, it is difficult to pick from the many wine routes, cruises, sporting activities, teambuilding pursuits, spa and wellness options and traditional, hands-on experiences available. Further still, a large portfolio of organized tours and designated routes around the island take in wineries, nature trails, art, ancient legends, themed activities, traditional hands-on pastimes and a wealth of other stimulating, invigorating and motivating adventures.

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CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION, DIONYSIS KOURIS/AEGEANAIR.COM

Nature, sun & sea, culture, food & drink – these are some of the things that come up when people talk about Cyprus, known by many as the ‘Island of Love’ in the eastern Mediterranean. And that is not all! Cyprus is also a great culinary and gastronomy destination. Organizers of MICE events, like team-building programs and conferences, will not be disappointed with all Cyprus has to offer, either. Boasting over 9,000 years of history, the island has managed to retain its Greek identity, which was gained when the island’s Prehistoric Age inhabitants were joined 3,500 years ago by the Mycenaean Greeks who introduced and established their civilization and permanently instilled the island’s Greek roots. Many other cultures followed thereafter which created a mosaic of different cultures and architectural periods. The relics of those ages, including Roman theaters and villas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, medieval castles (including those of the Crusaders) and Ottoman mosques have been – and are waiting to be – discovered by tourists.

Nature Blessed with the beauty of nature’s best palette, the scenery of Cyprus unfolds across glittering coasts, rolling mountains, fragrant forests and rugged headlands. From the warm shores of the mainland to the unspoiled and cool oasis of the Troodos mountain range, nature lovers, artists, photographers and w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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explorers will all delight in meeting shy creatures and discovering rare plants that peep out amidst waterfalls, coves, woodland, winding trails and secluded sands. Deep in the forests, the national animal – the Mouflon – roams freely. Catching a glimpse of this timid, wild sheep a real treat for locals and visitors alike. Not many people know that in the winter months, you can find ski slopes with ski lifts in Cyprus, so, weather permitting, one can even go skiing in the mountains and then relax on the coast of Mediterranean climate.

Sand and water Enjoying the sun with the warm sand kissing your skin on the beaches before splashing into glittering blue waters – this idyllic scene is one that can be enjoyed most of the year on the island of Cyprus, and one that offers a myriad of experiences, from the total relaxation of sunbathing with drink in hand to the thrill and challenge of trying a new water sport. And the water is there for the visitor to take a fishing trip, or discover the coves and caves of the

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different coastal areas on a boat trip. For the more daring, the island’s ideal wind and water conditions open up endless possibilities for exhilarating sports such as windsurfing, sailing and kitesurfing, while beneath the foam, a whole new underwater world invites you into to discover a diver’s paradise of world-ranking wrecks and diverse marine life.

Gastronomy From hearty meat dishes and specialty cheeses to unique desserts of carob and grape, the Cypriot cuisine is an exotic blend of Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, sprinkled with remnants of ancient civilizations such as indigenous Roman root vegetables or old Phoenician delicacies. And it is no secret that the ‘Mediterranean diet’ is considered to be one of the healthiest, thanks to its abundance of heart-healthy olive oil, pulses, lean meat, local herbs and freshly grown fruits and vegetables. Add to this the favorable climate – that gives the fresh produce its intense flavor – and a celebration around every corner, complete with special treats, and you will find a big gastronomic adventure on this tiny island!

AEGEAN AIRLINES – GREAT CONNECTION THROUGH ATHENS

Greece’s Aegean Airlines has four flights a week from Budapest to Cyprus with great connection through Athens and high-level on-board services greatly appreciated by passengers. This July, Aegean Airlines claimed the Best Regional Airline in Europe title, for the 9th time, at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, and it was also awarded Best Cabin Crew in Southern Europe. The professionals’ opinion is clearly shared by the public, since Aegean was named “Europe’s Leading Regional Airline” for the 3rd time, through a public vote organized as part of the World Travel Awards last year. In order to ensure the continuous provision of quality services to its passengers, Aegean Airlines signed an agreement with Airbus this June for the purchase of up to 42 new generation aircraft of the A320neo family.

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indian summer easy living

OUTDOOR DINING RECOMMENDATIONS

LA PERLE NOIRE

1063 Budapest, Andrássy út 111. • +36 1 462 2189 info@laperlenoire.hu • www.laperlenoire.hu

LARUS RESTAURANT

THE MOST ELEGANT PART OF THE CITY, the diplomatic district and Heroes’ Square, i.e. Andrássy út that is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage, was always a place where beauty met culture. This elegant French-style restaurant fused with facets of modern gastronomy, with the only leafy terrace in the city center open from spring to late autumn, simply could not be in a better location. The wrought-iron tables and chairs shaded by huge trees are surrounded by flower beds and pots, adding color to the romantic space and perfect service, and rounded off with the unmissable live music in the evening performed by pianist József Csikós.

LOCATED IN BUDAPEST’S DISTRICT 12, embedded in the entirely renewed public square surrounded by MOM Cultural Center and the peacefully beautiful Gesztenyéskert (Chestnut Grove), Larus is a vivid place, offering a comfortable terrace during the summer, and Chef Péter Várvizi’s gourmet creations that draw upon French and Hungarian traditions at Larus, luxurious hospitality is always guaranteed.

1124 Budapest, Csörsz utca 18/b • +36 1 799 2480 info@larusevent.hu • www.larusetterem.hu

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culture On September 27 – October 7, the Szemrevaló (Eyeful/ Sehenswert) Festival is back in Budapest for the seventh time. Organized jointly by the Embassy of Switzerland, the Austrian Cultural Forum and the Goethe Institut, Eyeful brings, to Budapest’s Művész Cinema, the best new films from German-speaking countries, including several prize-winners. The films will be shown in original language, with Hungarian – and in some cases English – subtitles. Guests can watch 18 films during this year’s Eyeful, which focuses on social and psychological issues, but comedy, romantic road movie, gangster films and documentaries are also included in the repertoire. This year, for the first time, a short film selection will enrich the program, in which the 71-yearold Jane Birkin will appear. On the Swiss movies’ list, ‘The Divine Order’ introduces the life of Nora, a young housewife and mother, who lives quietly in a quaint little village with her husband and their two sons, until she starts fighting for women’s suffrage. Another great hit of the festival is 'Light'- an award-winning historical drama that presents the life of Maria Theresia von Paradis, a gifted and blind Austrian composer and pianist whose talents were often compared to those of Mozart.

SZEMREVALÓ IS BACK!

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DANIEL AMMANN

FESTIVAL OF NEW FILMS FROM GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND

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what's on NATIONAL GALLOP

WARSAW VILLAGE BAND

SEPTEMBER 21 MÜPA 'Remember your past, but keep living in the future!' was the Burning Spear quote that appeared on the Warsaw Village Band album Uprooting. This is by no means just a catchy slogan, since the Warsaw Village Band has always strived to find in its performances the common voice of city and village culture,the past and the future, archaic and modern tools, east and west. These buzzwords might sound hackneyed in world music today, but the Warsaw Village Band is truly fluent in its use as required by its main musical direction, trance. Since the band's formation in 1998, it has consistently cultivated 'the tradition of the next generation', using archaic folk instruments - the cimbalom, hurdy-gurdy, hand drum, and the 'suka' fiddle dating back to the 17th century - all effortlessly paired with dub electronica and hip hop. In tandem with the unique instrumentation, their magic lies in the powerful female vocals. On their album Nord, they turn to the north in collaboration with the Swedish cult favorite Hedningarna, while on their newest disc, Sun Celebration, they follow the path of the Sun, injecting the spiritualism of Sufi music into Warsaw trance in the company of Mercedes Peón from Galicia, Kayhan Kalhor from Iran, Ustad Liaquat Ali Khan from India and the DHOAD Gypsies of Rajasthan. Irresistibly and more persistently than the Sun. www.mupa.hu

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CARNIVAL CINEMA, DARCY GRANT, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

UNTIL DECEMBER KOMPLEX Mystical ceremonies and rituals, history and artifacts of mummification. Mummies of the World highlights real advances in the scientific methods used to study mummies, including Computed Tomography (CT), ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, all of which allow researchers to learn about the lives, history, and cultures of the mummies. Who were they? Where did they come from? And what can they teach us? The exhibition features a group of fascinating mummies and artifacts including the Vac Mummies, a mummified family from Hungary believed to have died from tuberculosis, the Baron Von Holz, a German nobleman found tucked away in the family crypt of a 14th century castle wearing his best leather boots, the Burns Collection, a group of medical mummies used to teach anatomy in the early 19th century, an Egyptian priest named Nes-Hor determined to have had arthritis and a broken left hip, Egyptian animal mummies including a falcon, a fish, a dog and a baby crocodile, many of which were deliberately preserved to accompany royals for eternity, and much more. Experience this compelling collection of naturally and intentionally preserved mummies, and find out all the secrets they may reveal through state-of-the-art multimedia, hands-on interactive stations and cutting-edge 3-D animation. www.avilagmumiai.hu

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MUMMIES OF THE WORLD

NATIONAL GALLOP, MUMMIES OF THE WORLD EXHIBITION, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, RADEK POLAK

HUNGARICUM EXHIBITION

OPEN YEAR ROUND HUNGARICUM HOUSE This exhibition offers a special look at ’Hungaricums’, those inimitable, unique and distinct features that make up the pure essence of Hungary. (According to Act XXX of 2012 on Hungarian national values and Hungaricums, there are 70 items on the list, currently.) Visitors are invited to discover Hungary’s rich history of inventions, including the computer, the Rubic Cube and the hydrogen bomb, to name only a few. Unique souvenirs are on offer (not available anywhere else). www.hungaricumhouse.com

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SEPTEMBER 14-16 HEROES’ SQUARE Since its inception, the annual Nemzeti Vágta (National Horse Racing) has drawn huge crowds to Budapest’s Heroes’ Square. The grand event, which this year celebrates its 11th anniversary, offers visitors many events: hussar and horse shows, archer shows, folklore programs and handcraft exhibitions, in addition to the races. The ‘Racing Prom’ will host a colorful cavalcade of even Hungary’s smallest villages’ most typical cultural, art and touristic characteristics. It is a representative ‘mini Hungary’. Do not miss the ‘Kitchen of Hungary’, extending from the Art Hall to the 1956 monument, where show jumping, polo, special coach-driving races and free horse riding will be available. www.vagta.hu

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what's on GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS: BACKBONE

WEBBER 70

NATIONAL GALLOP, MUMMIES OF THE WORLD EXHIBITION, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, RADEK POLAK

CARNIVAL CINEMA, DARCY GRANT, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

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SEPTEMBER 27-29 TRAFÓ ‘Backbone’ is the third work of the Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths, whose previous show titled ‘A Simple Space’ has achieved huge international success and has been performed more than 350 times at 68 festivals and theaters across 18 countries. This latest show (literally) tosses around the perception of what strength is, where it comes from and how it is measured, testing the limits of physical, emotional, individual and collective strength. As Limelight Magazine says, Backbone is a “magnetic world premiere, a perfect combination of fluidity, mettle and danger... The sheer strength of body and character needed to round out this frenzied performance demonstrates a discipline and camaraderie, rarely seen on stage. Simply a joy to watch.” www.trafo.hu

OCTOBER 12 PAPP LÁSZLÓ BUDAPEST SPORT ARÉNA To celebrate the 70th birthday of one of Britain’s most successful composers, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Budapest’s Madách Theater organizes a concert show where audiences can expect to hear songs from a variety of musicals in Webber’s world-famous repertoire, including Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita – those that were staged in Madách Theater. As a highlight, pieces from the Starlight Express, Love Never Dies and Sunset Boulevard - three musicals that have never been staged in Hungarian language – will also be performed. www.jegy.hu

IL DIVO: TIMELESS TOUR

SEPTEMBER 10 THE PAPP LÁSZLÓ BUDAPEST SPORT ARÉNA Il Divo standsout for its mixture of opera in songs of different genres, thus becoming an icon of the crossover groups of classical music. Since its debut in 2004, the group (the Spanish Carlos Marin, the Swiss tenor Urs Buhler, the Frenchman Sebastien Izambard and the American tenor David Miller), has triumphed on the most important stages around the world and sold millions of records. ‘Timeless’ is their seventh album, launched this year, and as they noted, “celebrates eternal love and romance.” Il Divo’s 8-month Timeless Tour kicked off in April in Mexico City and will stop in Budapest, to present an elegant, romantic, dramatic and sensual show for the Hungarian audience. www.koncertpromo.hu

CULTURAL HERITAGE DAYS 2018

SEPTEMBER 15-16 MULTIPLE LOCATIONS COUNTRYWIDE European Heritage Days have been organized since 1999 as a joint action of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The participant countries to the European Cultural Convention take part in the European Heritage Days by putting new cultural assets on view and opening historical buildings normally closed to the public. In Budapest, buildings and listed monuments open their gates to the public. Cultural events highlight local skills and traditions, architecture and works of art. Organized tours are being held, to promote mutual understanding among EU citizens. This year’s event pays tribute to Gyula Forster, late President of the National Heritage Preservation Committee, born 170 years ago. Many programs will be dedicated to ‘Heritage and community,’ this year’s main theme. www.oroksegnapok.hu

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RESEARCHERS' NIGHT

SEPTEMBER 28 MULTIPLE VENUES ‘Research is cool!’ is the motto of this year’s Researchers' Night, an annual series of events that celebrates its 13th anniversary in 2018. The special jubilee program will include a great number of programs in Budapest and in 10 additional cities countrywide, all free to visit. The main objective of the organizers is to overcome the prevailing stereotypes about researchers and contribute to the enhancement of their public recognition through aspects of innovation, gender, mobility, international research and lifelong learning. Therefore, the programs intend to show the attractiveness of the research career, and are designed to “edutain” the public, especially the new generation – so do not forget to bring your kids! Scientific presentations will be mixed with entertaining elements, including the worldfamous Ericson labs and at Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd. for Applied Research, a leading Hungarian applied research institute. Visit the latter for interactive workshops, hands-on experiments and LEGOrobot building and programming, and visit the Zipernowsky House of Science and Arts to meet with the grantees of the Women in Science Excellence Award Hungary. For a fully detailed program and a list of all venues, visit www.researchersnight.hu/ programmes-for-hungary

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PERFECT HARMONY BETWEEN PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE HILTON BUDAPEST IS WHERE HISTORY COMES TO LIFE

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cloister, in addition to a baroque façade of a 16th century Jesuit College. “Here, history is touchable,” General Manager Zoltán Árvai says. “In fact, history is happening right now,” he continues, referring to the hotel’s top-to-bottom renovations, which started in November 2014, and continued until this spring, remodeling and refurbishing all of the 322 rooms and suites as well as the public areas and meeting rooms. The interior was designed by luxury interior design specialist Goddard Littlefair, who used a wide range of bespoke furniture and soft colored fabrics as well as a number of stunning art installations, commissioned from local

One would say that following such large-scale renovations, which brought a healthy mix of cutting-edge technology and breathtakingly beautiful interior design to every corner of the hotel, the GM may want to lay back a little, but Árvai thinks differently. “A new era has just begun. Hilton Budapest is reinventing itself,” he says, adding that this sort of dynamics and attitude isn’t new to Hilton Hotels & Resorts which is one of the most recognized names in the industry. “Built on its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of tomorrow's savvy global travelers, the brand remains synonymous with ‘hotel,’ and stands as the stylish, forward thinking global leader in hospitality,” Árvai notes. “We receive plenty of support from the global brand whose loyalty program generates a lot of traffic, especially from the U.S. and the U.K.” The GM notes that Hilton Budapest is also a popular conference destination, offering 24 event venues on its premises, located on separate floors, so they can serve as precious privacy zones. “This is a great time and place to be a part of the hospitality industry,” the GM states. “An increasing percentage of young travelers and leisure guests are moving around the world, and we’d like to see them choosing the Buda side when they arrive in the Hungarian capitol. To appeal to them, we need to work harder than ever, sometimes shoulder-to-shoulder with the Municipality – maybe bringing down a few walls, and this time, I don’t mean it literally. So, we must not rest – but, of course, we can stop, for a minute, and cherish moments such as when, this summer, we were recognized as Hungary’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards Europe 2018. I believe this award is also a testament to the genuine passion and dedication our hotel and my amazing colleagues put into going the extra mile for our guests. We also pride ourselves on maintaining our position in the top 10 (based on customer satisfaction) out of Hilton’s total of 150 hotels in the region, regardless of the renovations.”

2012

2015

TripAdvisor Top 10 Hotel in the World

London Design Awards

SPECTACULAR VIEWS FROM BED

GOLD AWARD IN HOSPITALITY CATEGORY

2016

2017

2018

Gastro Design 2016

19th Hungarian Real Estate Awards

World Travel Awards

GOLD AWARD IN GASTRO EQUIPMENT AND INTERIOR DESIGN’ CATEGORY

HUNGARIAN HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION’S SPECIAL AWARD

HUNGARY’S LEADING HOTEL 2018

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TI MELI N E OF R ECOG N I TI ON S

photos by DÁVID

Everyone has their dream travel destinations, and visiting certain hotels is often part of that dream. The palette of unique hotels is vast these days, from ice hotels to underwater resorts and glass igloos offering a high level of luxury, in the most different parts of the world. On the other hand, the chance of finding a really extraordinary fivestar hotel in the middle of a European capital city is relatively low. However, in Budapest, where tourism has been booming in the past few years, there are nearly 20 five-star hotels offering their services to international travelers. There is one among them that is more special than any other in the Hungarian capitol, due to its pristine and unique location within the UNESCO World Heritage Castle District. The Hilton Budapest, part of the Danubius Hotels Group, opened in 1977 as the first Hilton hotel behind the Iron Curtain. It was built literally to reflect the fascinating history and ambiance of the surrounding area through its mirrored windows. The property incorporates the Gothic ruins of a 13th century Dominican abbey and

Repositioning

Hungarian artists, for a contemporary and elegant finish. In the final stage, the hotel’s restaurant will be completely redesigned and open with a brand new concept this fall. “Prior the construction, a very strict permitting process kick-started the planning,” the GM notes, revealing that the biggest challenge was the creation of an entirely new entryway. “The Castle District is basically built on an underground cave system. Bus traffic is therefore limited, in order to protect this natural system underground. But then how could we handle and further enhance our ability to receive guests who arrive by coaches? To solve this problem, we finally made the building accessible not only through the main entrance via Hess András square, but also through a new entrance, from outside the castle wall, which can be reached via the road beside Fisherman’s Bastion. This project required the help of several experts and resulted in an entrance that looks as a mouth of a natural cave, beautifully integrated into a glass pavilion, from where guests arrive to the new check-in area in state-of-the-art glass elevators which enable them to admire the panorama of the Parliament. Our goal was to create a memorable first impression for our guests. Because, as Andrew Grant smartly put it, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. I’m really happy to see that these renovations are beneficial to local residents, too, in addition to our own guests. It is important for us, to serve the local community, and any tourists, who arrive to the Castle Hill. Anyone can now freely access the Dominican Cloister and we encourage everyone to pop in to our Lobby Café and Bar, have a brunch with us on Sundays and enjoy the stunning view from our restaurant’s windows.” According to the GM, his further plans targeting tourists and Budapest residents alike is the revival of the traditional open-air concerts in the court of the Dominican church.

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DOUBLE THE TROUBLE? TWICE THE FUN!

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DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, DANUBIUS HOTEL HELIA

RADISSON BLU BÉKE HOTEL AND DANUBIUS HOTEL HELIA HAVE BEEN RENOVATED

The hotel industry, undoubtedly, is defined by its movers and shakers: those who dare to start something brand new and change things for the better. In the past few years, the Danubius Hotels Group has been notably active in starting and completing thorough renovations in its properties. The most recent hotel upgrades in the Hungarian capitol have made Hilton Budapest (see opposite page), the Radisson Blu Béke Hotel and the Danubius Hotel Helia more attractive and appealing to future guests.

on our two hotels alone, so far, modernizing the conference center and the community areas at both venues. At Radisson Blu Béke Hotel, rooms have also been reconstructed. There, we had to strip the walls back to brick. It was like a ‘Format C:’ on a hard drive,” the GM notes, revealing that when it came to planning their future rooms, they asked returning guests to test the mock-up rooms. “We found their feedback extremely useful, and many of their ideas are literally built into the rooms which are now totally sound-proof, and easily manageable in terms of temperature and lighting. To meet the Radisson Blu standards, all rooms feature the socalled ‘BluPrint design’ with ergonomic furniture, wood flooring and multi-technology such as Smart TV and AirPlay Mirroring - projection of photos and presentations to the TV. We have also upgraded to anti-allergenic mattresses and king-size beds. After all, comfortable hotel beds which ensure a good night’s sleep, are the very essence of a hotel’s business.”

Csaba Varga, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Béke Hotel and the Danubius Hotel Helia, says that the Danubius Hotels Group refers to the construction as a ‘regeneration project,’ which aims to improve guest experience from arrival to departure, for business and leisure travelers alike. “It is every hotel manager’s dream, to see his hotel beautified,” he adds. “I can say that my dream has come true. Twice.” The GM reveals that such volume of renovation has never been seen in the company's life. “It is a real milestone. HUF 2 billion was spent w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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Experience Center According to Varga, the conference and meeting rooms at Radisson Blu Béke Hotel were updated in line with the Radisson Blu brand’s ‘Experience Meetings Concept’. “Conferences and special occasions benefit from modern AV and full event technology, along with custom catering menus such as ‘Brain Food 2.0’. Due to the mobile walls, 13 meeting rooms are available in the facility, referred to as the Experience Center, which now offers over 973 square meters of event space, where the largest venue can host up to 300 delegates. Groups can make the most of our Radisson One-Touch App, which is much more than some fancy gag, due to its highly practical attributes: for instance, conference organizers can create closed group accounts and communicate to the group members easily, without any printed materials.” At Danubius Hotel Helia, a multi-story conference center is now available, capable of accommodating a total of 800 guests at a time, offering state-of-the-art audio, visual and lighting technology.

Hello Yellow! “To accommodate changes in consumer trends, the renovation process gave particular weight to considerations of gastronomy,” Varga says. “At Danubius Hotel Helia, the common areas and the former coffee shop have been transformed into an inviting, spacious, bright and open place, with comfortable armchairs and sofas. Here, the new Yellow Bistro & Bar

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and the Piano Lounge await guests offering refreshments, healthy fares as well as specialty coffee, and an a la carte menu which takes on a modern bistro feel, to win over the tastes and expectations of all the regular customers at the swimming pool as well as curious diners, and those seeking exciting new flavors.” The new layout of the lobby at Radisson Blu Béke Hotel also follows the ‘Agora concept,’: guests entering the 105-year old building arrive to a lobby-café-reception, immediately facing a bar under the emblematic Haranghy Dome (commonly known as the Béke Kupola). “Our Zsolnay Café, is a meeting point where tradition meets renewal, and where coffee and tea is served on the world-famous Zsolnay porcelain,” the GM adds. “The bistro menu includes all-time favorites such as Caesar salad and beef consommé, and, for the delight of the jetlagged, breakfast is available anytime during the day, this is called ‘brinner’. We are very proud of our sweets selection, especially the lactose and wheat flour free desserts with no added sugar, which are the signature creations of our Pastry Chef, György Bechmann.” According to the GM, György is a jury member at Hungary's ‘Sugar-free Cake Competition,’ organized by the Egy Csepp Foundation, an organization that Radisson Blu Béke Hotel supports. We help them fight for the prevention and early recognition of diabetes by organizing campaigns, events and free public blood sugar measurements, sometimes at our premises.”

Timeless design “The new image for both the Radisson Blu Béke Hotel and the Danubius Hotel Helia was dreamed up by a Spanish interior design company led by Natalie Rottenburg, who we asked to stick to a timeless design instead of something trendy, because trends change fast,” the GM notes. “In the case of Radisson Blu Béke Hotel, of course we asked her to respect the building’s original character and artistic heritage marked by the beautiful stained-glass windows and frescoes created by Hungarian artist Jenő Haranghy. I believe she has done a tremendously beautiful job allowing guests and staff to experience history without sacrificing modern amenities, every time they enter the hotel.

SINERGY

The two hotels Varga manages are similar in many ways, including size (Helia has 262 rooms while the other has 247), the number of employees (110 to 120 people per hotel) and even their business and guest mix. The profile, in terms of strength in MICE, is also similar. According to the GM, the two hotels make up a symmetric cluster. “On the other hand, Danubius Hotel Helia is a wellness hotel, while Radisson Blu Béke Hotel is a city hotel that should further build on its superb central location at Teréz Boulevard, targeting locals, too, with its culinary offers,” highlights Varga, who manages to spend an equal amount of time at both venues. “I prefer being present, and available, at any time, for any issues,” he says, reassuring that he, indeed, has a well-built HR manager background and that he finds it important to organize cross-trainings and everything that helps maintain loyalty among his colleagues. “For discovering and developing talents, we have introduced a mentor program named ‘Shadow’. Our hotels have just become more attractive – naturally, the level of service, which hangs on our people, has to be equally high.

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wine

TIME FOR WINE B U D A P E S T W I N E F E S T I VA L AT T H E B U D A C A S T L E ’ S T E R R A C E S

Often referred to as one of the most prestigious, most popular wine and combined art fests in the CEE region, the Budapest’s International Wine and Champagne Festival is organized for the 27th times this year, on September 6-9, in the beautiful historic setting of the UNESCO World Heritage site Buda Castle. Even for guests who are not wine experts, the ambience and the programs of this festival guarantee an unforgettable time spent in Budapest. “The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the Buda Castle from all over the world; it is unique even by European

standards,” organizers say. They believe that the combination of the world heritage setting and the assortment of premium local wines greatly contributes to the acknowledgment of Hungarian wines in the world market and to a more pronounced image of the country as a popular travel destination. Every September, while presenting thousands of different wines of over 150 wineries from Hungary and abroad, the fest offers live music, gourmet food and countless programs. The aim of this festival is nothing less than to introduce the best wines of Hungary and the world, to invite winemakers to a personal meeting with wine-lovers

FIGULA W I N E RY

and provide an unforgettable experience to everyone. Event attendees will, as in the past, be able to taste wines and network with independent growers to learn about the differences between styles, regions and country production methods. This festival takes mundane wine tasting to new levels. Instead of inviting guest countries, organizers decided to highlight Lake Balaton this year, to draw more attention to the characteristics of the region’s grape varieties and wine styles, and promote the region as a wonderful tourist destination in the fall season. Often called the ‘Hungarian Sea’, the Balaton will also be the focus of the Wine University, to be organized at the MOM Cultural Center on September 3, three days before the festival kicks off in the castle.

Zoordo and the Fanfare Complexat, to name only a few. Arts and crafts programs will be available for children at the Oroszlános Courtyard: they can learn how to use corks to create different types of toys, presents and decorations.

Gastronomy The Wine Festival offers a cornucopia of culinary delights, ranging from traditional festival cuisine and street food to gourmet specialties. Gastronomy exhibitors this year include PizzaMe, Terra Tuffola, the Litvanian Dziugas and Szega Market (both offering cheese), Szittya Pita Kenyérlángosozó, The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest hotel’s restaurant Deák St. Kitchen, SPAR Grillmobil, Fresh Corner, Julius Meinl and Pellini Caffè, along with Gerbeaud and Bolka Bonbon. Those wanting to consume their lunch or dinner at a laid table in the midst of the Festival can do so under the Baroque gate at the exclusive Budapest Terrace, by choosing the Laid Table service which includes a three-course lunch or dinner with wines, in addition to the daily ticket for the festival.

Twice the fun Trying the so-called ‘A couple of wine couples’ program is a must at the festival: winemakers will offer their wine in a "two drinks for one" system, to encourage experts and non-experts alike to make comparisons, to recognize certain types of grapes or vintages. In 2018, an application named Vinometer is introduced to provide guidance to foreign guests and those Hungarians who are newcomers to the world of wine tasting. It offers thematic tasting tours and several games (free WiFi is available at the festival’s venue). On Sunday, starting at 12.30 PM, a parade will be held: representatives of Hungarian wine regions, members of wine orders and wine-lovers' associations will march through the streets in the castle, in a colorful, spectacular procession, to evoke the atmosphere of harvest parades. Another tradition is the Charity Wine Auction that benefits the Hungarian Maltese Fund. During the four days of the festival, the most popular Hungarian bands of world music, folk music, folk dance and jazz genres will step on stage, such as the Kéknyúl, the Kiscsillag, Antonia Vai, the Kodachrome, the Saverne and the Rafael Márió Trio, in addition to the Gereben Zita Quintet, the Studio11, Mörk, Boban Markovic’s son Marco Markovic, the Canarrot,

The 25-year-old Figula Winery is looking forward to welcoming you!

• Figula Köves 2016: Decanter World Wine Awards 2018 - Platinum Award • Figula Öreghegy Olaszrizling 2015: Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 - Medaille d’Argent • Figula Lőcze Olaszrizling 2015: Challenge du Vin 2017 - Medaille d’Argent Figula Winery | figula.hu | figulapinceszet@figula.hu | +36306624332 | 8230, Balatonfüred, end of Csárda street

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Book a room in our guesthouse and enjoy our international price winning wines:

SZIGETVÁRY

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gastronomy Cakes for takeaway

THE ART OF CAKE BY THE RITZ-CARLTON, BUDAPEST The ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest understand what it means to cherish the moment and it is their highest mission to reflect this appreciation through carefully crafted and beautifully designed cakes. Combining classical culinary styles with new, innovative ways and using the finest ingredients, Pastry Chef István Mázás and his team invite guests to indulge in an extraordinary style of cake for every special celebration.

8636 Balatonszemes, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 25. +36 84 360 133 • kistucsoketterem@t-online.hu www.kistucsok.hu

KISTÜCSÖK When visiting Lake Balaton, popping into Kistücsök is a must. Even if you weren’t planning to travel to the Hungarian Sea, this restaurant and wine cellar in Balatonszemes is worth the trip for its innovative regional kitchen and outstanding wine selection of 500 labels. Take time to admire the interior, to linger over the menu, and to appreciate the attentiveness of the owner and his professional staff. Their unparalleled commitment towards regional cuisine and the use of fresh, seasonal, local ingredients is only surpassed by their eagerness to please their guests.

8TH SWEET DAYS BUDAPEST KISTÜCSÖK, ANTONIO FEKETE/DESIGNFOOD.HU, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

AN EVENT FULLY DEDICATED TO DESSERT LOVERS AND CHOCOHOLICS

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This is, for sure, the sweetest festival of the Hungarian festival scene! At the same time, it is one of the largest sweet-themed attractions in Europe – the 4th in size, in fact, following those festivals in Perugia, Tübingen and Obidos. Organized on September 14-16, this year's Sweet Days Budapest will present the industry’s best, from the smallest Hungarian manufactures to the largest international producers. The venue is St. Stephen's Square (in front of the Basilica) and Zrínyi Street nearby, where classical and jazz concerts will also take place during the evenings. Entrance is free. For the full list of exhibitors and further infos, visit the festival's website at www.edesnapok.hu w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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