Epiphany- 19 Jan Ethiopia, Georgia
HUNGARY
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the feast is known as Timkat and is celebrated on the day that the Gregorian calendar calls January 19, but on January 20 in years when Enkutatash in the Ethiopian calendar falls on Gregorian September 12 (i.e. when the following February in the Gregorian calendar will have 29 days). The celebration of this feast features blessing of water and solemn processions with the sacred Tabot.
Army Day Laos - J a n 2 0
Foundation stone laid for new wing of the Institute for Blind Children
Viktor Orbán meets Vladimir Putin in Moscow
This celebrates the founding of the Lao People's Army in 1949 by Kaysone Phomvihane in the former revolutionary stronghold of Huaphan province.
Day of the Martyrs Azerbaijan - J a n 2 0
January 20 in Azerbaijan commemorates Black January in 1990, when Soviet troops entered the city of Baku and killed more than 180 civilians. It is celebrated as the rebirth of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is also a remembrance of the victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1988. This day in Azerbaijan is also known as Qara Yanvar (Day of National Mourning), Day of Shehids, or Remembrance Day.
History Black January was a retaliation of the Soviet Army in the city of
Baku against demands of independence from Armenians. A seven day pogrom—a riot against a particular race, religion or nationality—started in Baku, Azerbaijan on January 13, 1990. Up to 66 Armenians were killed by beating or knife wound in focused individual attacks. Most of them were part of the Azerbaijani Popular Front that demanded independence from the Soviet Union. Their houses were set on fire, and the local Soviet authorities did nothing to stop the attacking forces. Late at night, on January 19, over 26,000 Soviet troops entered Baku with the objective of crushing the Popular Front. They attacked protesters and shot at the crowds for three days. In the end, 93 Azerbaijanis and 29 Russian soldiers were killed. On January 22, the population of Baku came to the streets to bury the dead, and for 40 days they did not work in a protest of mourning. Citizens also remember the events of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994 in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. The parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh wanted to unite with Azerbaijan, and the majority of Armenians was in favor of independence. Inter-ethnic fighting ensued for years as both sides tried to eliminate each other from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding mountains. Even today, the situation isn’t completely settled since the cease fire in 1994. Inflammatory accusations from both sides seem to still be triggering small conflicts in the zone.
Celebrations
On Martyrs Day in the Azerbaijan Republic the entire government, from the president and prime minister to members of the cabinet and leaders of the parliament, are joined by church officials to gather at the Azerbaijani Genocide Memorial in Baku. In a solemn procession they place flower wreaths at the memorial to commemorate those who died in 1990 during Black January. All over the world in Azerbaijani embassies and private communities, the events of Black January and the NagornoKarabakh War are recognized. Azerbaijanis regard this day as a day to rekindle their patriotism and celebrate their national history and identity as the country struggles to gain peace and economic stability.
Inauguration Day U.S. - J a n 2 0
The inauguration of the president of the United States takes place during the commencement of a new term of a president of the United States, which is every four years on January 20. Prior to the Twentieth Amendment, the date was March 4, the day of the year on which the Constitution of the United States first took effect in 1789; the last inauguration to take place on the older date was Franklin D. Roosevelt's first one on March 4, 1933. The day a presidential inauguration occurs is known as "Inauguration Day". The only inauguration element mandated by the United States Constitution is that the president make an oath or affirmation before that person can "enter on the Execution" of the office of the presidency. However, over the years, various traditions have arisen that have expanded the inauguration from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a day-long event, including parades, speeches, and balls. From the presidency of Andrew Jackson through that of Jimmy Carter, the primary Inauguration Day ceremony took place on the Capitol's East Portico. Since the 1981 inauguration of Ronald Reagan, the ceremony has been held at the Capitol's West Front. The inaugurations of William Howard Taft in 1909 and Reagan in 1985 were moved indoors at the Capitol due to cold weather. The War of 1812 and World War II caused two inaugurations to be held at other locations in Washington, D.C. Since Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth swore in President John Adams, no chief justice has missed an Inauguration Day. When Inauguration Day has fallen on a Sunday, the chief justice has administered the oath to the president either on inauguration day itself or on the Sunday privately and the following Monday publicly. The next scheduled public presidential inauguration ceremony, swearing-in Barack Obama to begin his second four-year term in office, will take place on Monday, January 21, 2013. The President will make a private oath of office on Sunday, January 20.
National Heroes Day - Jan 20 Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde Islands
Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral (12 September 1924 – 20 January 1973) was a Guinea-Bissauan and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, writer, and a nationalist thinker and politician. Also known by his nom de guerre Abel Djassi, Cabral led the nationalist movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and the ensuing war of independence in Guinea-Bissau. He was assassinated on 20 January 1973, about 8 months before Guinea-Bissau's unilateral declaration of independence. While he was influenced by Marxism, he was not a Marxist.
Cape Verdean father, Juvenal Lopes da Costa Cabral and Bissau-Guinean mother Iva Pinhel Évora. Cabral was educated at Liceu (Secondary School) Gil Eanes in the town of Mindelo, Cape Verde, and later at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, in Lisbon (the capital of Portugal, which was then the colonial power ruling overGuinea-Bissau and Cape Verde). While an Agronomy student in Lisbon, he founded student movements dedicated to opposing the ruling dictatorship of Portugal and promoting the cause of liberation of the Portuguese colonies in Africa. He returned to Africa in the 1950s, and was instrumental in promoting the independence causes of the then Portuguese colonies. He was the founder (in 1956) of the PAIGC or Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (Portuguese for African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) and one of the founders of Movimento Popular Libertação de Angola (MPLA) (later in the same year), together with Agostinho Neto, whom he met in Portugal, and other Angolan nationalists.
for independence War From 1963 to his assassination in 1973, Cabral led the PAIGC's
guerrilla movement (in Portuguese Guinea) against the Portuguese regime, which evolved into one of the most successful wars of independence in African history. The goal of the conflict was to attain independence for both Portuguese Guinea and Cape Verde. Over the course of the conflict, as the movement captured territory from the Portuguese, Cabral became the de facto leader of a large portion of what became Guinea-Bissau. In preparation for the liberation war, Cabral set up training camps in neighboring Ghana with the permission of Kwame Nkrumah. Cabral trained his lieutenants through various techniques, including mock conversations to provide them with effective communication skills that would aid their efforts to mobilize Guinean tribal chiefs to support the PAIGC. Amílcar Cabral soon realized that the war effort could be sustained only if his troops could be fed and taught to live off the land alongside the larger populace. Being an agronomist, he taught his troops to teach local crop growers better farming techniques, so that they could increase productivity and be able to feed their own family and tribe, as well as the soldiers enlisted in the PAIGC's military wing. When not fighting, PAIGC soldiers would till and plow the fields alongside the local population. Cabral and the PAIGC also set up a trade-and-barter bazaar system that moved around the country and made staple goods available to the countryside at prices lower than that of colonial store owners. During the war, Cabral also set up a roving hospital and triage station to give medical care to wounded PAIGC's soldiers and quality-of-life care to the larger populace, relying on medical supplies garnered from the USSR and Sweden. The bazaars and triage stations were at first stationary until they came under frequent attack from Portuguese regime forces. In 1972, Cabral began to form a People's Assembly in preparation for the birth of an independent African nation, but disgruntled former PAIGC rival Inocêncio Kani, with the help of Portuguese agents operating within the PAIGC, shot and killed him before he could complete his project. The Portuguese regime's plan, which eventually went awry, was to enjoin the help of this former rival to arrest Amílcar Cabral and place him under the custody of Portuguese authorities. The assassination took place on 20 January 1973 inConakry, Guinea. His half-brother, Luís Cabral, became the leader of the GuineaBissau branch of the party and would eventually become President of Guinea-Bissau. More than a guerrilla leader, Cabral was highly regarded internationally as one of the most prominent African thinkers of the 20th century and for his intellectual contributions aimed at formulating a coherent cultural, philosophical and historical theoretical framework to justify and explain independence movements. This is reflected in his various writings and public interventions.
Tributes
...one of the most lucid and brilliant leaders in Africa, Comrade Amílcar Cabral, who instilled in us tremendous confidence in the future and the success of his struggle for liberation. ” — Fidel Castro, 1966 Tricontinental Conference in Havana, Cuba Cabral is considered a "revolutionary theoretician as significant as Frantz Fanon and Che Guevara", whose influence reverberated far beyond the African continent. Amílcar Cabral International Airport, Cape Verde's principal international airport at Sal, is named in his honor. There is also a football competition, the Amílcar Cabral Cup, in zone 2, named as a tribute to him. In addition, the only privately owned university in Guinea-Bissau is named after him— Amílcar Cabral University—and is in Bissau. Jorge Peixinho composed an elegyto Cabral in 1973.
Errol Barrow Day Barbados - J a n 2 1
Errol Barrow Day is a Barbadian public holiday celebrated on 21 January, to commemorate the former Prime Minister of Barbados, who helped lead his country to independence from the United Kingdom. The date is the second public holiday of the calendar year and is the date of birth for the former leader. Errol Barrow died suddenly in 1987, and in 1989 his birthday was declared as the first public holiday to honour him. On that date, his portrait was placed on the new Barbadian $50 dollar note and the middle section of the Airport-West Coast Highway was officially named after him. Subsequently, he was further declared as one of Barbados' original National Heroes in 1998.
Feast of our Lady of Altagracia Dominican Republic - J a n 2 1
Día de la Altagracia, or Altagracia Day, is a day commemorating "Our Lady of Altagracia", patronal image (there is debate on this) and protector of the people of theDominican Republic. It is a feast day and annual public holiday on January 21. "Our Lady of Altagracia" is a portrait of the Virgin Mary painted in the 16th century. The portrait is kept in The Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia in the city of Salvaleón in Higuey. The festival was originally held on August 15, but was moved to January 21 to celebrate victory over the French in 1690.
Commemoration Birthday of G.F. Croes Aruba - J a n 2 5
Gilberto François "Betico" Croes (January 25, 1938 - November 26, 1986) was anAruban political activist who was a proponent of Aruba's separation from the rest of theNetherlands Antilles. This eventually occurred, but Croes lapsed into a coma after an accident on 31 December 1985 (the night of status aparte) and was never conscious to see his accomplishment. He is called the father of the Aruban nation. The accident he suffered was questioned by many for years since a car was seen leaving the area after the accident. This conspiracy theory was never proven. He was the leader of the political party People's Electoral Movement (Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo) and in 1976 was the person responsible for the Seal, Flag and Hymn of the island of Aruba. The hymn was co-written by renowned Padu Del Caribe (Padu Lampe), and Rufo Wever, who also composed the anthem. He was also responsible for the referendum held March 1977, for Aruba's independence, which obtained 83% of the votes in favor of independence. Betico Croes also was responsible for formally setting Aruba’s Independence Date for 1991, at the Round Table Conference in February 1981, But at the Round Table Conference in March 1983 the date for Aruba’s Independence was changed from 1991, and set in two stages/steps: the first stage/step: Aruba’s Independence from the Netherlands Antilles was set for 1986, and for ten years later, the second stage/step: Aruba’s Independence from the Netherlands, for 1996! At Betico’s arrival in Aruba, after the RTC, he was received with total approval and joy by the people. He is also responsible for the fact that in August 1985: Aruba’s Constitution and its Independence first from the Netherlands Antilles, and then from the Netherlands, as agreed in March 1983, in Aruba’s Decolonization and Independence Agreement, is unanimously approved by all political parties in Aruba. In the 1980s he also said that Aruba should target tourism in order to diversify the economy since it depended mainly on the refinery. He also was responsible for major projects for the people of Aruba like F.C.C.A., Arubus, Sasaki Plan (he envisioned the area destined for hotels) and many more. Aruba's official Holiday to remember him has been marked on January 25, his birth date. Caya G. F. Betico Croes is named after him and is the main shopping street of Oranjestad, Aruba. Has 2 sons, Glenbert and Junior Croes and 2 daughters Lalo Saladin-Croes and Guisette Croes.
St. Tatiana Day Russia - J a n 2 5
Tatiana Day (Russian: Татьянин день, Tatyanin den' ) is a Russian religious holiday observed on January 25 according to the Gregorian calendar, January 12 according to the Julian. It is named after Saint Tatiana, a Christian martyr in 3rd century Rome during thereign of Emperor Alexander Severus. In 1755 on the name day of Ivan Shuvalov's mother Tatiana Rodionovna, his mistress Empress Elizabeth of Russia endorsed his petition to establish a university in Moscow. The church of Saint Tatiana was later built in the university campus, the Russian Orthodox Church declared Saint Tatiana the patron saint of students, and Tatiana Day has become celebrated as Russian Students Day.
Burns Night Scotland - J a n 2 5
A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day or Burns Night, although they may in principle be held at any time of the year. Burns' suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland but occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or aficionados of Burns' poetry. There is a particularly strong tradition of them in southern New Zealand's main city Dunedin, of which Burns' nephew Thomas Burns was a founding father. The first suppers were held in Ayrshire at the end of the 18th century by Robert Burns' friends on the anniversary of his death, 21 July, In Memoriam and they have been a regular occurrence ever since. The first Burns club, known as The Mother Club, was founded in Greenock in 1801 by merchants born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. They held the first Burns supper on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759, and since then suppers have been held on 25 January, Burns' birthday. Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish celebrated by Burns in Address to a Haggis), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns' poetry. Formal dinners are hosted by organisations such as Burns clubs, the Freemasons or St Andrews Societies and occasionally end with dancing when ladies are present.
Two-Bin Household Waste Collection to begin in 2015
Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy manner can apply for compensation and development funding out of the contributions paid. With regard to the recycling of plastic bottles, Mr. Illés pointed out that several billion PET bottles are manufactured in Hungary every year. These bottles are produced from oil derivatives and take over 400 years to degrade, he added. The Minister of State said that the activities of the Mezőfalva company were important because instead of allowing waste to accu-
said at the ceremony. From now on, the development of HungarianAzerbaijani relations will be motivated not only by mutual interests, but solidarity, friendship and compassion, he added. Currently the institute has 60 children under its care. The new, fivestorey wing will provide accommodation and a workplace for 30 young adults who grew up in the institute. The project will cost 500 million
forints (EUR 1.67m), of which 240 million will be covered by the Azerbaijani foundation. On behalf of the foundation, Ilgar Mustafayev said that the foundation had been set up in 2004 to promote health, cultural and welfare projects abroad. He added that supporting children, especially those with disabilities, is one of their priorities.
For um on s uppor t ing t he c a r e e r of wom e n in s c ie nc e (Online 16 Jan) Issues such as supporting the career of women in the fields of science and stimulating the researcher career of girls were discussed at a round table conference organized by the Ministry for National Economy, the National Innovation Office and the Association of Hungarian Women in Science. Minister of State for Economic Strategy Zoltán Cséfalvay, the host of the event, said that the European Union’s objective is to increase the number of researchers
within the EU by 1 million until 2020, which they believe is achievable through, among others, programmes aiming to facilitate the employment of women in this field. At the round table conference, a partnership agreement between the Association of Hungarian Women in Science and the National Innovation Office was signed in which the two parties agree that in the period 2014-2020 they will cooperate on launching and facilitating social innovation processes which promote the equal
opportunity of women with regard to research and development as well as innovation. Participants of the event expressed their common standpoint that establishing and supporting the career of woman researchers is a multi-layered task. Zoltán Cséfalvay stressed that it is important to present positive examples, as they may serve as role model for young people and show how along with having a family a successful researcher career is viable.
recycled. In reply to a question from Hungarian news agency MTI, he said that the company currently employs 22 people, but that this number would increase to sixty once the new production hall is completed. According to press information handed out at the press conference, Budafilter 94 Ltd has received a total of HUF 100 million in funding within the framework of the Central Transdanubia Operative Programme towards its activities involving the
(Online 16 Jan) Ministry of Rural Development's Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Zoltán Illés is calling on the Government to establish a HUF 350 million fund to finance the total elimination of the Hortobágy dangerous waste storage facility. Mr. Illés made the announcement on Wednesday in Balmazújváros-Lászlóháza, after viewing the facility used to store two thousand tons of dangerous waste, and at which the situation has become difficult in recent weeks after metal thieves gained entrance to the facility. The Minister of State also announced that during the next term he would initiate the establishment of a 3-4 billion forint (EUR 10-13 million) waste pollution eradication fund for the localisation of the country's 150-300 known polluted areas and the beginning of remediation work. Mr. Illés expressed his acknowledgement for the efforts of the Trans-Tisza
Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Inspectorate for the work it has performed over the past few days at the dangerous waste storage facility located on the outskirts of Balmazújváros-Lászlóháza. In accordance with his expert advice, the Inspectorate has repaired the facility's damaged fence, organised 24-hour security for the site and has put the displaced waste into barrels; everything is once again in order at the site, he explained. Director of the TransTisza Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Inspectorate Béla Kelemen confirmed that, based on the testing of samples taken from monitoring wells surrounding the site and other locations, the level of pollution does not require emergency damage remediation. In reply to a question from Hungarian news agency MTI, both Zoltán Illés and Béla Kelemen expressly stated that there is no danger to the
soil, water stocks, air or the neighbouring Hortobágy National Park. Mr. Illés thanked Fidesz Mayor of Balmazújváros István Tiba for his help in providing 24-hour security for the site. Mr. Tiba said that his local authority had provided three security guards, shelter and a mobile toilet in the interests of securing the site. The Mayor of Balmazújváros welcomed the Minister of State's announcement according to which a proposal for the total elimination of the facility would be prepared in time for a cabinet meeting on 22 February. "It will be a comfort to all if the site disappears from the Hortobágy plain", Mr. Tiba added. An MTI reporter present at the site on Wednesday said that not only had the site's fence been repaired, but the main storage unit had also been covered in a coat of strong plastic sheeting to prevent the wind from blowing away the powdered waste.
H unga r y a im s t o br ok e r the be s t f ina nc ia l de a l pos s ible : M ihá ly Va r ga (Online 16 Jan) Government aspires to conclude a financial agreement which is the most favourable for the country: negotiations on financial issues regarding the construction of the two new nuclear blocks for the Paks power plant are still ongoing, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said on Magyarország élőben (Hungary live) programme of HírTV. He added that the Russian partner provides EUR 10bn for the project and Hungary will begin repaying the loan over a period of 21 years after the project has been completed and the plant has been put in operation. In the opinion of Mihály Varga, such credit facilities are exceptional, as 10-year or 15-year loans are usual in international finance. “That is why we needed the Russian partner to finance the project,” he said. The Minister for National economy believes that a good deal will be concluded. Russia is to pay 80 percent of construction costs, while Hungary will foot 20 percent of the bill. The Minister emphasised that 40 percent of the entire funding, some EUR 3-4bn, will go to Hungarian enterprises and at
least EUR 1bn will be channelled to the state budget as tax and contribution payments. Mihály Varga stressed that the two new blocks at Paks will produce cheap electricity in a safe and profitable way. Responding to a question concerning the interest payable for the 30-year loan of HUF 3000bn provided by Russia the Minister said that no final agreement is reached yet and they are pushing hard to achieve the lowest possible interest rate. Mihály Varga said that as soon as the investment project is started it will boost economic performance – in light of current calculations -- by some tens of a percentage point of GDP. Several thousands of people are expected to work on the construction of the two blocks and thus the project will also have a positive impact on employment. And the entire economy wins as the price of electricity decreases after the two new blocks are launched, he added. He pointed out that it would not have been possible to get a better deal even through a public procurement process. When asked whether the lack of public procurement might or might not “provoke a response”
from the EU commissioner for competitiveness the Minister said that negotiations had been conducted with Brussels and no objections were raised. In case the project was financed by Brussels or through the market, some competitiveness issues could arise, but this deal is between two sovereigns. Hungary has the right to secure financing without a tender for the construction of the blocks of the nuclear power plant in case it is through a bilateral agreement. The Minister called the commissioning of the Russia-based Rosatom a logical step also in light of the fact that the four existing Russian-built blocks of the Paks nuclear plant have been working in a reliable and low-cost way. Mihály Varga also pointed out that along with renewable energies in the long term Hungary plans to meet energy demand through fossil fuels and atomic energy. However, he denied media allegations that negotiations on concluding the current agreement may hinge on the long-term gas transport contract which expires in 2015.
Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy mulate and pollute the atmosphere it turns PET bottles into various plastic components, fittings and parts. He expressed his appreciation of the fact that the new production hall would include machinery for turning plastic granulate into new PET bottles again. Fidesz-KDNP MP László L. Simon stressed that the Government is providing funding for the development project because it is innovative, will create jobs and will boost the rural economy. The activities of Budafilter are built on Hungarian inventiveness, Hungarian developments and Hungarian knowledge, he added. Mr. L. Simon indicated that the company has submitted a tender to the National Waste Management Agency for the establishment of a plastic bottle collection system that will be capable of collecting quantities far in excess of the capacity of the plant, thus providing raw materials for other enterprises with a similar profile. Managing Director of Budafilter Lajos Simon said that the laying of the foundation stone of the new production plant also meant the launching of the new collection system based on household bottle crushers, adding that the company has been involved in developing the bottle crushing machine for 12 years and used PET bottles are fully
a result of earlier agreements, Hungarian-Russian trade has developed at an unprecedented rate. Today, a cooperation agreement was concluded between the two countries on the peaceful use of nuclear power. The document was signed by Minister for National Development Zsuzsa Németh and Sergey Kiriyenko, President of the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom. According to the agreement, Russia will be involved in maintaining the current capacity of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant by providing a loan to Hungary for the construction of two new
blocks to replace the plant's outdated ones. The agreement, as stated earlier by Government Spokesperson András Giró-Szász, will now go before the National Assembly. Meanwhile in Budapest, Minister of State heading the Prime Minister's Office János Lázár said that the Russian loan for the EUR 1012 billion investment would be provided for a 30-year term, and the first new block would be put into commission in 2023. He also stressed that the power plant will remain Hungarian property.
H unga r y s igns joint a ir c ont r ol a gr e e m e nt with Slov e nia
collection and recycling of PET bottles and the development of its bottle crushing machine, which is based solely on Hungarian innovation. The new, HUF 205 million development project concerning the expansion of the company's production hall and the installation of a 2500 ton capacity bottle washing line, has already begun. Budafilter 94 limited began the development of the system in 2002, the basis of which is the patented electric household crushing machine, which the company has already spent HUF 300 million of its own funds developing. Collected PET bottles are 100% recycled to manufacture strapping tape and injection-moulded products. The company pays 2 forints per bottle to people who send them crushed bottles by post at the expense of the enterprise. The company's existing 1200 ton capacity recycling plant was inaugurated on 6 December 2012 with an investment of HUF 315 million. As a result of the investment project, the plant, which is heated (and cooled in summer) using thermal energy was fitted with a 600 ton capacity granulating line, a 600 ton capacity strapping tape production line and two injection moulding machines.
Photo: MTI, Sándor Ujvári (Online 17 Jan) gary's Gripen fighters will join air control operations in Slovenia in line with an agreement signed by Hungarian Defence Minister Csaba Hende and his Slovenian counterpart, Roman Jakic, at the air base of Kecskemét, on Friday. Italy has been fulfilling this task alone, and once the agreement is ratified, Hungary's air force will join in controlling airspace for Slovenia, which does not have the necessary capacities, Minister Hende stated after the signing. Within NATO's alliance system, Hungary has fourth-generation fighter jets, which is an increasingly important capability today, he em-
phasised, adding that these planes are suitable for combatting international terrorism and averting the threat of hijacked civilian aircrafts used as weapons. Mr Hende said that if all goes according to plan, Hungary will also get involved in protecting the airspace of the Baltic states. When Slovenia joined NATO in 2004, it opted to guarantee the security of its airspace in cooperation with its allies rather than purchasing fighter aircraft, Slovenian Minister Jakic noted. After Kecskemét airport was notified of the take-off of Jakic's propeller-driven plane from Ljubljana airport, Hungary alerted its
air defence as an exercise. Two Gripens "intercepted" the Slovenian aircraft above western Hungary and escorted it to Kecskemet so as to demonstrate their capability for the mission specified in the agreement. Hungary and Slovenia originally struck an agreement on cooperation in airspace control in 1996. Accordingly, unarmed military aircraft have been allowed to enter each other's airspace if a permit is requested a week in advance and a notification about the actual flight is sent 24 hours in advance. These restrictions will be lifted once the ratification of the new agreement is completed.
Hungarian-German agricultural turnover expanding dynamically (Online 17 Jan) Hungarian-German agricultural turnover is expanding dynamically; last year, exports exceeded one billion euros, according to preliminary figures, Minister of State for Food Chain Supervision and Agricultural Economy Endre Kardeván told Hungarian news agency MTI on Friday in Berlin at International Green Week, the world's largest agricultural expo. 1650 exhibitors, the highest number in 15 years, arrived at this year's expo, which opened on Friday; 70 countries are being represented, which is a record for the 88year history of the event. 400 thousand people are expected to visit the exhibition, which closes on 26 January. This is the 44th time that Hungary has taken part at International Green Week (Internationale Grüne Woche); 14 exhibitors are showcasing the products of a total of 22 Hungarian enterprises through the Agricultural Marketing Centre. Hungary is being represented by premium quality products such as artisan wines, spices, marzipan desserts, wild game and mangalitsa pork products. It is the turnover in these high added value products that are produced from
natural ingredients, which we must primarily increases, Endre Kardeván said. The Minister of State stressed that Germany is also Hungary's most important economic partner with regard to agricultural trade. Exports have increased markedly over the past three years, while imports have remained relatively stable, leading to a ten-year record high positive agrarian importexport balance with Germany according to estimates, Mr. Kardeván said. The Berlin expo is also an important forum for agricultural diplomacy. Minister of State Kardeván met with the new German government's Minister for Food and Agriculture Hans-Peter Friedrich. The CSU politician was Minister of Interior in the previous government, has experience of Hungary, and the representative of the Hungarian Government was one of the first guest he received at the expo. Endre Kardeván, who also held bilateral talks with ministers of agriculture from Holland, Poland, Russia and Georgia, said he views this as an excellent sign. The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), a summit for the world's agriculture minis-
ters, is being organised for the sixth time along the sidelines of International Green Week this year. The main topic of this year's Forum is food security, which is a huge challenge for every country in view of the fact that food production must be increased by some 60 percent of the next fifty years to prevent food scarcity, Mr. Kardeván said. According to Hungary's standpoint, the primary answers to the challenge are the development of family farms and promoting the distributing and consumption of local products, which makes food more affordable by reducing transport costs. This perspective is shared by both Hungary and Germany, the Minister of State said, emphasising that the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had made 2014 the Year of Family Farming, within the framework of which one of the largest events, the Global Forum and Exhibition on Family Farming, will be held in Budapest from March 4-7 with the involvement of the Government. All participants of this year's Berlin agriculture ministers' summit have been invited to attend the high-level conference, Minister of State Kardeván said.
Paks project not a business venture but an inter-governmental agreement
N e w EU e nv ir onm e nt a c tion pr ogr a m m e la unc he d (Online 15 Jan) At the end of last year, the European Council and the European Parliament signed the European Union's new, 7th Environment Action Programme, which will come into effect in January; the Programme determines the EUs main environment and climate objectives until 2020. The adoption of the programme was preceded by a long process of negotiations between member states, the Council and the European Parliament. The European Union's 7th Environment Action Programme, which is entitled "Living well, within the limits of our planet", is built around nine priority objectives. The first three objectives set out thematic priorities: the protection, preservation and development of the EUs natural assets, the establishment of a resource-efficient, green and competitive EU
economy, and the protection of EU citizens from environment-related burdens and risks that endanger their health and welfare. The next four objectives describe a framework system to support the realisation of the abovementioned priorities. These are: the fullest possible exploitation of the advantages of EU environmental regulations and the improvement of implementations, increasing the knowledge and scientific base of EU environmental policy, providing the conditions required for investment projects relating to environmental and climate policy and the management of environmental externals, and the integration of environmental protection into sectoral policy. The final two objectives assure the meeting of local, regional and global challenges. These are improving the sustain-
ability of cities within the European Union and the more efficient EU handling of challenges related to the international environment and climate. In addition to describing the current state of affairs, the objective also determines tasks and instruments for the each area. The new Programme relies on the EU forty years of past experience in environmental policy and on the currently valid strategic initiatives such as the Resource Efficiency Roadmap, the EU Biodiversity Strategy until 2020 and the schedule for achieving a low carbon dioxide emission, competitive economy by 2050. The new Programme provides a common ground for EU institutions, member states, region and local public administration and social and private sector operators with relation to environmental protection tasks until 2020.
Photo: Gergely Botár (Online 16 Jan) According to the Minister of State heading the Prime Minister’s Office, the Government will discuss the Russian-Hungarian
Government that it held no objections. Nevertheless, a working group will be set up to facilitate cooperation with the EU's energy directorate, the
of the loan would not be built into Hungarian electricity prices, he added. The share of Hungarian firms in the project will be at least 40 percent, gen-
H unga r ia n he a lt hc a r e a nd s oc ia l wor k e r s ’ unions m e e t Gov e r nm e nt (Online 15 Jan) Hungarian Government officials held talks with representatives of the Healthcare and Social Workers’ Union (MSZ EDDSZ) on Wednesday and reviewed Government measures versus the union’s demands. Attila Fülöp, Deputy Minister of State for Families and Equal Opportunities said the conclusion was that the sides’ objectives are not very different, but union representatives also listed their demands which will be discussed at later meetings among the same participants. He said that at future meetings they will also take into account the recommendations of the working group that has been tasked with creating blueprints for a social workers’ career model, which group will hold its
first meeting on Friday, 17 January. Fülöp said the Government wants to negotiate a package which would significantly improve social workers’ conditions. MSZ EDDSZ President Ágnes Cser said after Wednesday’s meeting that after a period during which four Socialist-Liberal governments had remained deaf to their demands, they now welcomed the current government’s initiatives, which also had a beneficial effect on the status of social workers. Among these, she mentioned stopping privatisation and a slow tendency of renationalisation, both of which have begun to show their positive effects. Cser said the Union currently saw no reason for industrial action, but they
did want to see the situation of the worst-paid public sector employees – some 92,000 social workers – finally moving towards a solution. She said they mentioned their most important grievances at today’s meeting and mentioned that the union offered to take part in the aforementioned working group’s meetings so they can formulate their proposal there also. He said low wages were the most critical aspect for social workers, many of whom are heavily in debt. She also said that social workers employed by non-state institutions did not have public employee status, meaning there is a significant disparity in wages within their ranks.
Photo: Gergely Botár agreement on maintaining the capacity of the Paks nuclear power plant next week. The intention is to keep it the cheapest source of electricity in the coming decades and
Minister of State said. It was underlined that Rosatom, while undertaking the project worth EUR 10-12 billion, must also conform to Hungarian and EU regulations,
erating at least EUR 3 billion in commissions for the domestic business sector and 1 billion in tax revenue, he said. He emphasised at the briefing that the project is
M inis t e r M a r t ony i’s m e e ting with For e ign Se c r e t a r y H a gue (Online 15 Jan) The use of nuclear energy and the rights of EU citizens were the main topics of talks in London between Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and his British counterpart on 14 January 2014. Minister János Martonyi told Hungarian News Agency MTI after the negotiations that he agreed with Foreign Secretary William Hague that both countries have a need for nuclear energy and an independent and secure energy supply. Both countries also share the goal of improving competitiveness. As to the question of whether the tightening of regulations regarding the labour-related free movement of European Union citizens intro-
duced by the UK government had been a subject of discussion, Minister Martonyi said that during his talks with Hague he had underlined the principle that without the complete realisation of EU freedoms there would be no single internal market. Martonyi said it was Britain who sought to strengthen the internal market, so it is “difficult to understand” why the UK “is singling out one of the four fundamental freedoms and is striving, separately, to restrict it”. Minister Martonyi noted that the number of immigrants from Central Europe to the UK has decreased significantly in recent years. These job-seekers do not pose a risk, he said, adding
that attempts to abuse the British welfare system should be prevented but bilateral relations provided an adequate framework to deal with the problem. Minister Martonyi added that parties at the talks saw eye to eye “on theoretical aspects of enforcing European freedom rights”, but “the British have problems, concerns, and clearly political priorities, too” as far as welfare services are concerned. At the talks, Minister Martonyi invited his counterpart to Hungary for a meeting of Visegrád Four foreign ministers in May. The meeting will focus on energy and reviewing ties between Central Europe and the UK.
140 million HUF to junior school programs in the Hungarian diaspora
two-bin waste collection system will be very similar to the one introduced in Poland. Household will be able to selectively collect waste using a "fool-proof system", he added. The Minister of State explained that one bin would be for so-called wet waste such as garden waste, some of which will be recyclable. The other bin will be for dry waste (paper, plastic, clothing, glass), the contents of which will be transported to sorting centres and then sold for recycling. He also stated that non-recyclable waste may be processed to create high heat value fuel. The generation of one unit of energy from oil derivatives costs 10 forints, while a similar of energy can be generated from waste at a cost of only 0.5 forints, he added. Mr. Illés pointed out that the European Union has determined what percentage of household waste each member state must recycle during the upcoming years. The introduction of landfill contributions was necessary to meet increasing EU requirements, and the results is that waste management companies now prefer to recycle waste rather than deposit it in landfills, because the former can generate significant income for them, he emphasised. Companies that are incapable of operating their services in a non-profit
(Online 14 Jan) me Minister Viktor Orbán paid a working visit to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The two parties expressed their appreciation for the advancement of bilateral relations in areas including the economy and inter-parliamentary cooperation, adding that a number of documents prepared for signature will contribute to the further development of Hungarian-Russian relations. Viktor Orbán confirmed that Russia is Hungary's most important partner outside the European Union and noted that as
Zolt á n pus he s f or f ull c los ur e of hor t obá gy da nge r ous wa s te f a c ilit y
years Early He was born on September 12, 1924 in Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau, son of
(Online 15 Jan) Household waste collection using two separate dustbins will begin in Hungary on 1 January 2015, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Zoltán Illés announced on Tuesday at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Budafilter 94 Ltd's new plastic recycling plant in Mezőfalva, Central Transdanubia. Mr. Illés stressed that a totally new waste management system has been and is continuing to be established in Hungary. The new
Photo: Zsolt Burger
Photo: Károly Árvai (Online 16 Jan) The foundation stone of a new wing of the László Batthyány Institute for Blind Children, was laid in Budapest on Thursday. The institute, run by the Hungarian Catholic Charity, will be supported by the Azerbaijani Heydar Aliyev Foundation. "This event opens a new chapter in Hungarian-Azerbaijani relations", Hungary's State Secreatry Péter Szijjártó
(Online 14 Jan) 140 million HUF is available for junior school programs in the Hungarian diaspora this year, focusing on talent management, career guidance, personality development and science promotion. As Zsuzsanna Répás, Deputy State Secretary for National Policy said at the press conference held in Budapest this Tuesday, with a raised level of funding, they would like to bring around multifold events during this thematic year. As she stressed that the main goal remains in strengthening Hungarian education in the diaspora and making it appealing to parents and students alike. A methodology package will be compiled again this year for teachers, while conferences and career orientation trainings will be organized as well. One of these will focus specifically on natural sciences and the other will be about talent management. Two roadshows will be engaged in the Carpathian Basin - one will be a career orientation training focusing on 7th and 8th grade primary school students, to help them find the most appropriate way how and where to advance in studies; and as the Deputy State Secretary added, they would like to see more light being shed on foreign Hungarian vocational education. The other roadshow will
focus on economic, fiscal and business issues. hey plan to organize advancement trainings with a participant number of 100 for teachers about the role of the class-master. Regionspecific trainings are planned, dealing with themes considered important by local teachers. There will also be tenders announced, one of them aims to strengthen schools’ natural science education and the other is to ensure cooperation of teachers and kindergarten nurses. She noted, that they will develop the 'Ringató' program further on, may it reach even the smallest settlements too. In order to upgrade debate culture, they plan to initiate debate societies and for more, the game called 'Miénk a város' (literally 'The City is Ours') carries on, with upper graders encouraged to plan a hiking trail around their own areas. She also stated, a sixissue online journal starts shortly, its specific issues being about topics such as success, talent, science, adventure, role models and expectations. First issue should be ready until 21 February. According to Zsuzsanna Répás, the thematic programs were worked out in accordance with the strategic plan of the national policy. She reminded, for the ethnic Hungarian population located outside of cur-
rent-day Hungary, 2012 was the year of the Hungarian kindergartens, last year was the year of the infant schools. For each program a 100-million HUF budget was available. She stressed, that they did pin up the idea of Hungarian education abroad and inform parents about the importance of native language schooling in such a way that they could rely on local educational associations. Botond Siklódi Burus, president of the Romanian Hungarian Educational Association said, the dedicated years of kindergartens and infant school programmes provided an opportunity to the Hungarian community to experience educational issues. He remarked, that a big advantages of the programmes are that they help professionals with a set of methods starting with the first link in the chain of education. He expressed, that he is happy to see the thematic series of programmes going on and they hope for the participation of civil and professional institutions abroad. Furthermore he said because of the reorganization of the education system abroad, lots of Hungarian educational bodies got endangered and situation is similar in every other area in the Carpathian Basin.
Photo: Gergely Botár to increase Hungary's energy independence. At a press briefing held on Thursday, the Minister of State stressed that the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission did not take a stand either for or against the agreement. In November 2013, Mr. Lázár visited the organisation in Brussels, and briefed Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger on the Government's plans to sign an agreement with Russia. A copy of the draft contract was sent to the EU and Brussels officially notified the Hungarian
including procurement laws. With regard to the loan to finance the project, the Minister of State said it was offered for a 30-year term and at an interest rate lower than the average market rate of around 5.6 percent. Hungary is signing a good deal, he insisted, adding that it will help turn the country into one of the most competitive economies in Europe. The Hungarian central budget will be able to finance the loan, he said, adding that the loan construction would not alter the debt curve. The cost
not a business venture but an inter-governmental agreement. The new reactors will be built at a good price, János Lázár said, adding that every step of the procedure will be put through a tender once Rosatom begins construction. The blocks should begin operating within ten years, he said, adding that even after the project has been completed, half of Hungary's electricity consumption will come from imports or renewable energy sources.
2014 a transitional year for the agriculture funding system (Online 16 Jan) Some 725 billion forints (EUR 2.4bn) are available this year to fund the Hungarian agricultural economy, but this is only a transitional year, as the principles regarding the distribution of funding will change in 2015, the Ministry of Rural Development's Deputy State Secretary for Agricultural Economy said on Thursday in Keszthely. Zsolt Feldman was speaking at a potato sector forum organised by the Agricultural Science Department of Pannon University, where he explained that Hungary would be receiving 8.8 billion euros in direct funding from the European Union and 3.4 million euros via the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) until 2020. Earlier Hungarian agriculture and rural development programmes have come to a close with the closing of the EU financial year in 2013. Since the EU only finalised its Common Agricultural Policy at the end of last year, the development of domestic funding principles will also only be completed this year and will come into force next year, the Deputy State Secretary added. In this transitional year, area-based subsidies will remain the most prominent aspect of funding, and will be equivalent to 227 euros or 68 thousand forints per hectare. Special sectoral funding, for rice and milk producers or for the restructuring of fruit and vegetable and tobacco production, for example, will also continue to be distributed this year, but will close at the end of 2014. A Hungarian budget of 725
billion forints (EUR 2.4bn) is available through the Ministry of Rural Development for agricultural and rural development funding Hungary this year, of which around 560 billion forints is direct European Union funding and the remainder is derived from the national budget. Hungary must complete the development of the funding system that will be valid from next year by this August, the Deputy State Secretary indicated. Of the major changes to be expected within the new system that will come into force from 2015, Mr. Feldman highlighted the fact that 30 percent of monies may be applied providing environmental conditions are met. Extra funding will become available to young farmers, but Hungary will be unable to make full use of the funds available, because only around 9000 farmers are eligible to receive such funding, he said. Small farms may receive simplified funding beginning next year and will be able to choose between maximum annual funding of 1250 euros with simpler administration, or to stick with the normal funding system. Funding for large farms in excess of 150 thousand euros must be reduced by a minimum of 5 percent, but these reductions may be offset through certifying the payment of wages and related contributions. The Deputy State Secretary also indicated that Hungary would also be receiving EUR 3.4bn via the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development during the 7-year financial period until 2020. A positive
change with regard to the possible application of these funds is that the payment of VAT may also be subsidised. In his lecture, Zsolt Feldman also mentioned the efforts made to renew the Hungarian agricultural research system, pointing out that over the past year 9 agricultural research institutes have returned to the control of the Ministry of Rural Development from the National Asset Management company, and the National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, with headquarters in Gödöllő, had been established on 1 January through the amalgamation of several of the Ministries former background institutions. The objective was the establishment of a research network with a unified structure that is capable of reacting to professional requirements and with time may develop to become internationally significant, and which is operate through task financing, he explained. Four research centres, in Újfehértó, Szeged, Kecskemét and Mosonmagyaróvár, will continue to operate as independent organisations, he added. The Deputy State Secretary also mentioned the fact that in the case of several research institutes that operate within the framework of higher education, the Ministry of Rural Development was working on the development of professional integration together with the Ministry of Human Resources.