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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" > <channel> <title>DailyNewsHungary</title> <atom:link href="https://dailynewshungary.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com</link> <description>DailyNewsHungary</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:53:48 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <image> <url>https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-favico-32x32.jpg</url> <title>DailyNewsHungary</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>America is draining European gold reserves – analysis</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/america-is-draining-european-gold-reserves-analysis/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/america-is-draining-european-gold-reserves-analysis/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Guest Author]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:04:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[World]]></category> <category><![CDATA[economy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[investment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[United States]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645565</guid> <description><![CDATA[The analysis was written by Kristóf Juhász The Trump Tariff Trade is shaking up the gold market: gold and silver bullion are now being flown on business jets from vaults in London and Zurich to the New York Commodity Exchange. This surge in transatlantic shipments could trigger a gold shortage in Europe, with the first […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ The analysis was written by Kristóf Juhász The Trump Tariff Trade is shaking up the gold market: gold and silver bullion are now being flown on business jets from vaults in London and Zurich to the New York Commodity Exchange. This surge in transatlantic shipments could trigger a gold shortage in Europe, with the first warning signs already appearing. Physical gold deliveries on the COMEX futures exchange have surged to levels unseen in 25 years. In January alone, almost 3 million troy ounces (93,31 tonnes) of gold were shipped from London vaults to New York, bringing the total to 435 tonnes since Trump’s election in November, with an additional 4 million ounces (124,45 tonnes) already slated for delivery in February. The volume of physically delivered gold (blue, right scale, 100 ounces) and gold price (yellow line, left scale, USD/ounce) on COMEX from 2000 to 2025 <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe4ZBvDfjBMd5sWQDHU67MAxJlhEALevtE4IZgeqxMwweX_GpIXdJH2MYS4nHpeknrioNHZlv8MXYiH7OeUOpKapBS9izK5ZKzT4eH9Dt1TBBOi8FaQuDQe1uuj-Bf3g39BHWrOiaHefpJs-lPt7Zo?key=f7ZCNwYPAwZ5dwwnahnMaUEQ" alt="A képen szöveg, képernyőkép, Diagram, sor látható Előfordulhat, hogy a mesterséges intelligencia által létrehozott tartalom helytelen."/></figure> In January 2025, a record-breaking three million troy ounces (93,31 tonnes) of physical gold was delivered to the COMEX futures exchange’s public warehouses. The surge in physical gold deliveries is driven by arbitrage opportunities created by the price gap between the New York and London gold markets, a direct consequence of Trump’s tariff war. The anticipated 25% tariffs on gold and silver imports from Canada, Mexico, and possibly Europe have widened the futures market premium. Consequently, gold has risen to $50 per ounce and silver to $1 per ounce over the London spot market, creating an arbitrage opportunity of approximately 1.5–3%. The premium difference between physical gold and silver bars between New York and London <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc4NGd08WJ-n4MR0RWgUNrbhv5zfIfLrtYFi839jTCvpT9H6-vFoV9tntSHBi7pt0Qkk3_2LSFL69Hn528YBFaApIj1abL1RjzIGJ59vhIUj7_EKAIgJLwcUTyDDEft183e0v5j6JwlHp14DHX2xMM?key=f7ZCNwYPAwZ5dwwnahnMaUEQ" alt="A képen szöveg, képernyőkép, Betűtípus, sor látható Előfordulhat, hogy a mesterséges intelligencia által létrehozott tartalom helytelen."/></figure> Since Donald Trump’s election, the price spread between the London and New York precious metals markets has widened, reaching $1 per ounce for silver and $50 per ounce for gold. This premium differential has created such a profitable arbitrage opportunity for investment banks handling multi-tonne lots that it is now more cost-effective to transport silver bullion—which is traditionally shipped by container vessel—on passenger planes from London to New York to mitigate the risks of a rapidly changing tariff landscape. Given the weeks-long shipping time, there is a risk that the notoriously unpredictable Trump could change his stance on tariff implementation multiple times, potentially resulting in an immediate 25% loss for arbitrageurs. According to market intelligence from <a href="https://www.conclude.hu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Conclude Zrt</a> – a major bullion gold dealer in Hungary – it has recently become common practice to transfer 400 oz Good Delivery gold bars from London to Zurich, where they are converted into 1 kg bars before being flown to New York to capitalize on the premium margin profit. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dormant Frankfurt Vaults; London Running Out of Gold?</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1200" height="801" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold.jpg" alt="gold" class="wp-image-645568" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold.jpg 1200w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold-768x513.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold-282x188.jpg 282w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Conclude Zrt</figcaption></figure> Europe’s gold trading hubs are already feeling the impact of rising U.S. gold demand. Stocks of the most popular investment gold bars and coins have been depleted in Frankfurt’s vaults, which supply EU gold traders. Meanwhile, Swiss refiners are experiencing longer production and delivery times, with some reporting pre-order waiting lists of up to 8 weeks for 1-kilo gold bars. The LBMA responded to gold traders’ concerns about a significant decline in London’s bullion stocks with a concise statement, assuring market participants that there was “ample liquidity” to support the average daily OTC gold trading volume of $226 billion. However, this nonchalant stance contrasts with rumors, reported by Bloomberg, suggesting that gold deliveries from the Bank of England’s vaults are now delayed by several weeks. The LBMA’s statement is meant to be reassuring: <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdHMQbCGYdnXBPCgYYDZhIOAFdgCkEbBwICGJpJOpIhpubIlQFBcZLIt03q0TuFozjq4BTqAH5yKxda4tQYDkY5q5SMPKEawDKJrStD0hSwHutw0NmWNHrLzHcr_u8danr29LzZCDJQeXV5qLg17fM?key=f7ZCNwYPAwZ5dwwnahnMaUEQ" alt="A képen képernyőkép, Számítógépes játék látható Előfordulhat, hogy a mesterséges intelligencia által létrehozott tartalom helytelen."/></figure> The gold market story, which originally broke on <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-31/traders-load-us-bound-planes-with-gold-and-silver-in-tariff-bet" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Bloomberg</a>, has now been picked up by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-gold-magnet-banks-fly-bullion-asia-focused-hubs-benefit-premium-2025-02-03/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Reuters</a>. Their report indicates that not only London and Zurich, but also gold stockpiles in Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong—which traditionally supply precious metals to China and India—have been diverted to the U.S. in recent days. Meanwhile, there is no sign of major physical gold buybacks on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, where sales have remained steady in recent weeks, suggesting that no additional inventories are expected in the short term. However, <a href="https://www.metalsdaily.com/archive/ross-norman-london-gold-shortages-/364019" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">according to Ross Norman</a>, managing editor of Metals Daily, concerns about London running out of gold due to rising demand are unfounded. As of December 2024, the LBMA vaults held 8,678 tonnes of gold, with 4,573 tonnes (around 400,000 bars) backing global central bank reserves stored in the Bank of England’s vaults and a further 2,912 tonnes held by physical gold ETFs, stored in various vaults throughout London. This leaves an approximate   1,193 tonnes in free floating stock, although there is no clear data on how much of this is already allocated—meaning already owned by other entities. Update: 05.02.2025 20:05 The<a href="https://www.lbma.org.uk/articles/lbma-engagement-on-recent-us-tariffs-on-china-hk" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external"> LBMA’s announcement</a> originally published on 03.02.2025 has been updated to reflect that the impact of import duties on China and Hong Kong are being investigated and the reference to daily turnover coverage has been removed. LMBA also added in a more recent market update, that there is an inflow of freshly mined gold to London, amounting to 325 tonnes per month on average. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What happens if gold really does run out in Europe?</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold-3.jpg" alt="gold" class="wp-image-645567" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold-3.jpg 1200w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gold-3-282x188.jpg 282w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Conclude Zrt</figcaption></figure> Although scenarios like this have been rare even in Conclude’s 16 years of experience, our observations during the COVID pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war suggest that a gold shortage could reintroduce the systemic risk premium. In other words, physical gold prices might diverge from the gold exchange rate, with physical gold trading at a significant premium over paper-based gold products—similar to what occurred in the spring of 2020 and 2022. It is also possible that this is the early stage of a large-scale market cornering speculation, designed to exploit the price gap between physical gold and futures contracts. This potential scenario has been highlighted by gold traders in the U.S., London, and Hong Kong—each with nearly four decades of experience—who have shared their insights with Conclude. In Conclude’s view, the spike in physical gold demand loco London may be just a one-off arbitrage opportunity that will gradually fade over time, allowing the market to return to its slow but steady upward trend. This comes as gold reached a new all-time high of $2,940/oz in February. One thing is certain: free floating stocks of physical gold are inherently limited, unlike the unlimited supply of money printed without inhibitions since the 2008–2009 global financial crisis. If demand for physical gold suddenly surges, those who wait for a full-blown market panic before buying investment gold may find themselves left empty-handed. <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>read also: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-forint-trend-change-experts-believe/" data-wpel-link="internal">Trend change to come after forint strengthening, experts say</a></li> </ul> <div class="lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post-Z1gScp6 wp-block-lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post"> <div class="custom-link-block dnh-embed-container"> <h3 class="dnh-embed-post-label">read also</h3> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-forint-coin-can-be-withdrawn/" class="dnh-embed-post-url" data-wpel-link="internal"> Hungarian media: too expensive Hungarian forint coin may be withdrawn </a> </div> </div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/america-is-draining-european-gold-reserves-analysis/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Top Hungary news: meeting of losers in Paris? Vucic in Budapest, Dubai sex workers, Godfather, eurozone – 17 February, 2025</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-news-17-february-2025/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-news-17-february-2025/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:42:12 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[News To Go]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary news]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645590</guid> <description><![CDATA[Exciting topics have been covered today: meeting of losers in Paris? Vucic in Budapest, Dubai sex workers, Godfather, eurozone and a couple of historical articles, read here: ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ We’ve rounded up the top Hungary news from today, scroll down and do not miss any of them. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Featured Hungary news</h2> Orbán cabinet: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-pro-war-leaders-meet-in-paris-to-prevent-peace-in-ukraine/" data-wpel-link="internal">‘Pro-war’ leaders meet in Paris to prevent peace in Ukraine</a> The Hungarian Godfather: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-mafia-boss-on-the-run/" data-wpel-link="internal">notorious mafia boss on the run</a> Hungarian twins found dead in Scotland: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-twins-private-murder-investigation/" data-wpel-link="internal">ex-policeman launches private investigation</a> The Dubai sex worker scandal: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/the-dubai-sex-worker-scandal-a-verdict-after-ten-years/" data-wpel-link="internal">a verdict after ten years</a> Hungarian National Bank: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/forint-euro-hungary-eurozone/" data-wpel-link="internal">When will Hungary finally join the Eurozone?</a> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Travel, history</h2> Metro bus in Budapest: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/metro-bus-in-budapest-first-details/" data-wpel-link="internal">here are the first lines and more exciting details</a> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-budget-friendly-travel-destinations/" data-wpel-link="internal">Hungary among the top budget-friendly travel destinations</a> Hidden lift under the Danube: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hidden-elevator-beneath-danube-horthy-era/" data-wpel-link="internal">a forgotten memory of the Horthy era</a> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/ancient-discovery-bodajk-confirms-old-legend/" data-wpel-link="internal">Ancient discovery in Hungary confirms centuries-old legend</a> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Business, economy</h2> Hungarian 4iG Space and Defence Technologies signs MoU with US peer Axiom Space – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-4ig-space-and-defence-technologies-signs-mou-with-us-peer-axiom-space/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a> Hungary, Kazakhstan to step up cooperation, Minister Szijjártó said in Astana – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-kazakhstan-to-step-up-cooperation/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Politics</h2> Orbán cabinet: Paris summit ‘a meeting of losers’ – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-paris-summit-a-meeting-of-losers/" data-wpel-link="internal">UPDATE</a> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/huge-protests-in-serbia-vucic-honoured-in-budapest/" data-wpel-link="internal">Huge protests in Serbia, Vucic honoured in Budapest</a> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-news-17-february-2025/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Huge protests in Serbia, Vucic honoured in Budapest</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/huge-protests-in-serbia-vucic-honoured-in-budapest/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/huge-protests-in-serbia-vucic-honoured-in-budapest/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:04:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[energy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Serbia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viktor Orbán]]></category> <category><![CDATA[war in Ukraine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Western Balkans]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645583</guid> <description><![CDATA[Friendly help? Many are calling for the resignation of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, while he is in Budapest for talks and Orbán praised him]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ The largest protests in Serbia’s history have been taking place in recent months, with many calling for President Aleksandar Vucic’s resignation while he is in Budapest for talks. Viktor Orbán has been full of praise. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Orbán: Vucic ‘champion of Balkans stability’</h2> Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has called Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic “the champion of the Balkans stability”. Orbán told a joint press conference after meeting Vucic in Budapest on Monday that Serbia’s stability was key to that of the region, “and Serbia is stable if it has a strong, determined leadership”. Orbán noted that earlier in the day Vucic received “the greatest Hungarian honour” from the country’s president. Hungary and Serbia have faced similar challenges several times in the course of their history, Orbán said. “Some leaders recognised that; others didn’t. Today, we’re celebrating the fact that Serbia has a president who did recognise this, and acted on that recognition to shape Serbian-Hungarian relations,” he said. Regarding energy security, Orbán declared that Hungarian energy security did not exist without Serbia and vice versa. “Intensive preparations” for construction of a 300 km oil pipeline between Serbia and Hungary is under way, he said, adding that the energy security of both countries would be enhanced as a result. Last year a record 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas came to Hungary via Serbia, 2 billion more than the previous year, and this was indispensable to the Hungarian economy and households, he said. Work is under way to double the volume of cross-border electricity links, he added. Orbán referred to efforts to destabilise Serbia-Hungary relations, and said both countries were under pressure by those who “are closing off money taps” and supporting the activities of NGOs. “But, face to face, we have achieved great outcomes,” he added. “We’ll break new records” this year in trade, investment and border developments, Orbán insisted. Serbia “is an extremely successful country” which has recently raised real wages by 9 percent. “Hungary has managed to keep the pace in that friendly competition.” At the same time, Serbia achieved a 4 percent growth this year “which Hungary only aspired to”, he said, adding that Hungary wanted to catch up this year. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> “We Hungarians see Serbia as one of the most successful, if not the most successful, country in Europe,” </blockquote> Orbán said, adding that Serbia had successfully resisted the pressure “and did not get dragged into a war that we hope will end soon”. Orbán praised as an “enormous achievement” the fact that 40 percent of Serbia’s foreign trade is conducted outside the European Union. Serbia had a successful connectivity strategy and had managed to build important economic ties in all directions, he said, adding that that had resulted in a “much more balanced system than ours”. Hungary took this as an example, he added. Asked about the pipeline, Orbán said the investment was of strategic importance. “Energy is a circulatory system: if it stops, the economy dies,” he said. The pipeline is the most important among Hungarian strategic investments. “A moment could come when our lives depend on it.” Read details: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-serbia-to-build-oil-pipeline/" data-wpel-link="internal">Hungary and Serbia to build joint oil pipeline</a>. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Friendly-help-Many-are-calling-for-the-resignation-of-Serbian-President-Aleksandar-Vucic-while-he-is-in-Budapest-for-talks-and-Orban-praised-him.jpg" alt="Vucic in BUdapest" class="wp-image-645585" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Friendly-help-Many-are-calling-for-the-resignation-of-Serbian-President-Aleksandar-Vucic-while-he-is-in-Budapest-for-talks-and-Orban-praised-him.jpg 1200w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Friendly-help-Many-are-calling-for-the-resignation-of-Serbian-President-Aleksandar-Vucic-while-he-is-in-Budapest-for-talks-and-Orban-praised-him-768x512.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Friendly-help-Many-are-calling-for-the-resignation-of-Serbian-President-Aleksandar-Vucic-while-he-is-in-Budapest-for-talks-and-Orban-praised-him-282x188.jpg 282w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: MTI</figcaption></figure> Meanwhile, Orbán said that he was taking a stand against efforts to destabilise the region. “We’re not blind,” Orbán said. “What’s taking place in Slovakia and <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/tag/serbia/" data-wpel-link="internal">Serbia</a> doesn’t happen by itself…” He said he would combat any attempts at destabilisation “without interfering in the domestic affairs of any other country”. Destabilisation, he said, was “bad for everyone”. Trouble arises if people “living here do not decide what happens and the governments they elect do not decide what happens”, the prime minister said. “That’s why we must stand up for our sovereignty.” On the subject of the war in Ukraine, <a href="https://kormany.hu/hirek/aleksandar-vucic-a-balkani-stabilitas-bajnoka" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Orbán said</a> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> “there are bigger challenges in the world than the Russia-Ukraine war”. </blockquote> Before those negotiations start, “world powers will hold talks among themselves on the future, energy prices, technological issues and trade. The Russia-Ukraine war will also be considered in this bigger context.” He said the leaders of large European countries had missed the moment when they could have become “initiators” in connection with the war. “It is painful that Europeans will have to be informed of [the developments] from the newspapers.” He said European institutions were incapable of proactive action, “they can only deal with the daily grind”. European countries should have taken steps towards peace several times in the past three years, but “got stuck on the side of war”. “Now we can look on from the sidelines as others arrange without us … the most important issues for us,” he said. <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>read also: Tragedy at Novi Sad railway station linked to Hungarian-owned firm – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/novi-sad-tragedy-linked-to-hungarian-firm/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a></li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">President Sulyok awards state honour to Serbian President Vucic</h2> President Tamás Sulyok awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in Budapest on Monday. At the ceremony held in the Sándor Palace, Sulyok said: “Often we fail to notice we’re living in historic times and that we’re capable of historic deeds, as the head of the Serbian state is.” In past centuries, neighbouring countries often made the mistake of using up their energy, knowledge and opportunities against each other rather than “building on each other and becoming stronger and more resilient to crises”, he said. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> “Today, the wise ones with foresight and a trust in cooperation have the upper hand… We’re living in historic times that favour us: not Hungarians or Serbians but rather Hungarians and Serbians,” he said. </blockquote> Sulyok said Vucic had played a crucial role in the era that came after a “historic peace”. “As a sensible leader, he started on the road towards today’s exemplary Serbian-Hungarian cooperation … recognised our shared fate, and turned ties between Hungary and Serbia into a strong alliance with years of hard and persistent work.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="779" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/state-president-Vucic.jpg" alt="Vucic in BUdapest" class="wp-image-645586" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/state-president-Vucic.jpg 1200w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/state-president-Vucic-768x499.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/state-president-Vucic-282x183.jpg 282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: MTI</figcaption></figure> He praised Vucic for “supporting a policy for ethnic minorities that is outstanding even in European comparison, as a result of which the situation of Hungarian minorities in Serbia today is exemplary and well-regulated.” In his speech, Vucic emphasised his friendship with the Hungarian nation and said he accepted the honour on behalf of his people. While he had done much to promote Hungarian-Serbian friendship and a historic peace between the countries, that work was not complete, he added. He hailed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a “friend”. “Whenever my country or myself came up against challenges, we met for a friendly handshake, and we could always show this respect, loyalty and allegiance”. Speaker of Parliament László Kövér and Milorad Dodik, the President of the Republika Sprska of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also attended the event. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for talks in his office on Monday. Orbán and Dodik reviewed the work plan for political and economic cooperation between Hungary and the Republika Srpska for this year. <div class="lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post-Z1cIupW wp-block-lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post"> <div class="custom-link-block dnh-embed-container"> <h3 class="dnh-embed-post-label">read also</h3> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/huge-construction-hungarys-southern-border/" class="dnh-embed-post-url" data-wpel-link="internal"> Huge construction project begins on Hungary’s southern border </a> </div> </div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/huge-protests-in-serbia-vucic-honoured-in-budapest/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>4</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Defence Minister: Hungarian soldiers have earned respect in EUFOR Althea mission</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/defence-minister-hungarian-soldiers-have-earned-respect-in-eufor-althea-mission/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/defence-minister-hungarian-soldiers-have-earned-respect-in-eufor-althea-mission/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:34:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungarian Defence Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungarian government]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[military]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Western Balkans]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645543</guid> <description><![CDATA[Hungarian took over the leadership of the European Union's EUFOR Althea peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina in January 2024]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ Soldiers operating under the Hungarian command of EUFOR Althea have earned international respect, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, said on Monday, noting that a Hungarian took over the leadership of the European Union’s EUFOR Althea peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina in January 2024. Major General László Sticz commanded the soldiers of 24 nations and a large Hungarian contingent there, the minister noted at the defence ministry’s Balna centre in Budapest at a ceremony marking the end of Hungary’s command of the EUFOR Althea mission. <a href="https://honvedelem.hu/hirek/nemzetkozi-elismerest-szereztek.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">He added</a> that the Western Balkans was “perhaps the most important region” in terms of Hungarian security interests. Szalay-Bobrovniczky noted the once-war-torn region is still burdened by ethnic, religious, economic and political tensions. Stability in the region, he added, was a key issue for Hungary. As well as their role in ensuring the region’s stability since the end of the Yugoslav wars, Hungarian service personnel have undertaken humanitarian, infrastructure development and flood protection work as part of various missions. He referred to Sticz and his troops as “completely impartial, reliable, predictable, precise and determined” allies and partners in the region. From May, a Hungarian senior officer will take over as the EUFOR Althea mission’s chief of staff, he noted, while from March 2026, a Hungarian will hold the position of deputy commander. As we wrote last week, Hungary hands one million dollars to Lebanon army instead of financing arms shipments to Ukraine, <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-hands-one-million-dollars-to-lebanon-army-instead-of-financing-arms-shipments-to-ukraine/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a> <div class="lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post-ZJTViH wp-block-lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post"> <div class="custom-link-block dnh-embed-container"> <h3 class="dnh-embed-post-label">read also</h3> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-nato-usa-europe-defence/" class="dnh-embed-post-url" data-wpel-link="internal"> Hungary reaffirms NATO commitment, urges Europe to boost defence efforts </a> </div> </div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/defence-minister-hungarian-soldiers-have-earned-respect-in-eufor-althea-mission/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ancient discovery in Hungary confirms centuries-old legend</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/ancient-discovery-bodajk-confirms-old-legend/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/ancient-discovery-bodajk-confirms-old-legend/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News Hungary]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:34:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Special Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[archaeology]]></category> <category><![CDATA[History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungarian history]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary news]]></category> <category><![CDATA[museum]]></category> <category><![CDATA[religion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645506</guid> <description><![CDATA[Radiocarbon analysis confirms that a burial site in Bodajk dates back to the time of King Saint Stephen, supporting a long-held local legend.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ Laboratory analysis of artefacts uncovered in Bodajk has confirmed what was once known only through legend. With funding from the Szent István Király Museum, samples from several archaeological excavations were analysed for radiocarbon dating at the Hertelendi Ede Environmental Analytical Laboratory of the Institute for Nuclear Research in Debrecen. This scientific technique determines the age of materials by measuring the decay of naturally occurring carbon isotopes. Simply put, the less C-14 present, the older the artefact. Archaeologist Frigyes Szücsi included human skeletal remains from a 2022 rescue excavation at the Bodajk Calvary among the examined samples. The remains were discovered unexpectedly during the construction of earthworks. Their orientation, densely layered arrangement, and lack of accompanying artefacts suggested a medieval cemetery, though no church ruins were found, nor were there references to one in historical records. Even after the excavation, the cemetery’s age remained uncertain, although it appeared medieval. As highlighted in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SzentIstvanKiralyMuzeum/posts/pfbid02aNPUEc4iTwjmxQHZafwq5e3F37UDan4ti2YeytRsU6EinXns6qELin6JzhmJwv3rl" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">museum’s Facebook post</a>, the Szent István Király Museum hoped radiocarbon testing would provide a timeline for these burials. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Startling discovery</h2> The findings exceeded all expectations: with a 95.4% probability, the examined individual died between 994 and 1028, making them a contemporary of King Saint Stephen. In the late 17th century, Capuchin friar Wilibald recorded local folklore claiming that Saint Stephen established a chapel in Bodajk, where he and his son, Prince Emeric, travelled by boat for prayer. Based on the layout of burial sites that could be linked to a churchyard, this legendary Saint Stephen chapel once stood atop Calvary Hill, even if its remains have yet to be identified. Further radiocarbon testing and scientific analysis of the skeletal remains may provide even more precise insights into this extraordinary early Árpád-era burial site. “At this point, we can confidently say that scientific data appears to validate the thousand-year-old Bodajk tradition regarding the construction of a chapel (church) during the time of King Saint Stephen,” archaeologist Frigyes Szücsi stated. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bodajk-saint-stephan.jpg" alt="Bodajk discovery Saint Stephen ancient legend" class="wp-image-645517" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bodajk-saint-stephan.jpg 1200w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bodajk-saint-stephan-768x576.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bodajk-saint-stephan-267x200.jpg 267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Saint Stephen King Museum Facebook</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The legend of Saint Stephen in Bodajk</h2> Bodajk is known as Hungary’s oldest pilgrimage site. The village’s shrine was built on the foundations of Saint Stephen’s original chapel, and its revered image was brought from Passau, the birthplace of his wife, Queen Gisela. The popular Bodajk pilgrimage site has long been associated with Saint Stephen and Prince Emeric. Local tradition holds that Bodajk Lake is frog-free because Saint Stephen, disturbed by their croaking during prayer, cursed them. ProVértes recounts <a href="https://provertes.hu/index.php/naturparki-kincsestar/legendak-tortenelmi-erdekessegek/vertes-kornyeki-legendak/812-szent-istvan-legenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">this legend</a>. Since ancient times, pilgrims have been drawn to the healing spring at the base of Calvary Hill, known as the Well of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. According to legend, Saint Stephen visited the site multiple times and later had a chapel built beside the well, which he and Emeric frequently visited. Saint Gellért is also said to have visited the site, and in 1090, King Saint Ladislaus reportedly used the sign of the cross to drive out pagans there. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The history of the pilgrimage site</h2> During the Middle Ages, the site was maintained by the Knights Templar. It later became a battleground during the wars against the Ottoman Turks, with many notable warriors defending it—among them the pious Capuchin friar Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. The Capuchins, who later settled in Mór, rebuilt the shrine. In 1697, a friar named Wilibald began constructing the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on its old foundations. By 1728, plans were made for a new church, which, under the leadership of Archbishop Leopold Kolonits, was completed in 14 years. It was consecrated in 1742 by Bishop Zsigmond Berényi of Pécs. This baroque church, adorned with magnificent frescoes, received an altar painting from Passau—a replica of the famous image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help—brought from Queen Gisela’s hometown, as reported by <a href="https://mariaut.hu/tart-farticle-76-556-1/Bodajk__Szent_Istvan_zarandokhelye" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Mária Út</a>. Over 200 years, miraculous healings attributed to the Bodajk shrine significantly increased the number of pilgrims, prompting the construction of a vast, arched pilgrimage courtyard capable of accommodating 15,000 people in 1942. The Second World War left the site in ruins, but it was later restored. The Capuchin friars, exiled for 40 years, returned in 1989 and continue serving pilgrims today. An intriguing aspect of the Bodajk shrine’s history is the central role played by Hungary’s first saintly family: King Saint Stephen commissioned the chapel’s construction, while a miraculous image associated with the site arrived from Queen Gisela’s birthplace 600 years later. Other stories from Hungarian history: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/what-happened-with-the-hungarian-golden-team/" data-wpel-link="internal">What happened to Ferenc Puskás’s Golden Team, the “Mighty Magyars”, after the tragic 1954 UEFA World Cup loss?</a></li> <li>The Tiszazug poisoners – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/tiszazug-poisoners-darkest-murder-mystery/" data-wpel-link="internal">Hungary’s darkest criminal mystery</a></li> </ul> <div class="lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post-Z276Cq wp-block-lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post"> <div class="custom-link-block dnh-embed-container"> <h3 class="dnh-embed-post-label">Read also</h3> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-actress-adored-hitler-and-stalin/" class="dnh-embed-post-url" data-wpel-link="internal"> The Hungarian actress who was adored by both Hitler and Stalin </a> </div> </div> To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: <a href="https://hellomagyar.hu/2025/02/17/szent-istvan-legendaja-bodajki-lelet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Helló Magyar</a> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/ancient-discovery-bodajk-confirms-old-legend/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Hungarian National Bank: When will Hungary finally join the Eurozone?</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/forint-euro-hungary-eurozone/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/forint-euro-hungary-eurozone/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Martin Németh]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:34:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[economy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[European Union]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungarian government]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary news]]></category> <category><![CDATA[money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645378</guid> <description><![CDATA[Forint vs. euro: Which currency will shape Hungary’s future? Check out our article to see what politicians and experts are saying about Hungary joining the eurozone!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ The question of joining the euro area has divided Hungarian politicians and economic experts for years. While many EU countries have already adopted the single currency, Hungary has remained committed to the forint. The Vice-President of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), Barnabás Virág, stated in an interview that the introduction of the euro is not only a financial issue, but also a strategic decision that requires a significant increase in economic development, as <a href="https://index.hu/gazdasag/2025/02/14/virag-barnabas-mnb-euro-forint-inflacio-elelmiszer-tej-etolaj/" data-type="link" data-id="https://index.hu/gazdasag/2025/02/14/virag-barnabas-mnb-euro-forint-inflacio-elelmiszer-tej-etolaj/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Index</a> reported. According to the central bank’s calculations, Hungary’s GDP would have to reach 90 percent of the EU average to avoid problems with the single currency. Sadly, the country is still far from that level. The central bank’s VP argues that discussions about adopting the euro tend to arise when the forint’s exchange rate fluctuates. However, he warns that a rushed decision could lead to long-term economic challenges. Therefore, Hungary’s main priority is to reinforce economic stability and competitiveness before considering such a move. <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="798" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/euro.jpeg" alt="euro exchange rate orbán" class="wp-image-641258" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/euro.jpeg 1200w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/euro-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/euro-282x188.jpeg 282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: <a href="https://depositphotos.com/photo/woman-with-euros-17172165.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://depositphotos.com/photo/woman-with-euros-17172165.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">depositphotos.com</a></figcaption></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hungarian government vs. opposition on euro introduction plans</h2> Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is firmly against the introduction of the euro in the current economic situation. In a speech at the Lamfalussy Conference organised by the Hungarian National Bank, he warned that the benefits of the single currency would mainly accrue to the economically stronger countries, while less developed countries could be at a competitive disadvantage. In his speech, he quoted Sándor Lámfalussy, one of the intellectual fathers of the euro, as saying that the euro area could only be truly successful if it had a common fiscal policy, but that this was still not in place. According to <a href="https://hu.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/27/orban-euro-bevezetese-magyarorszagon-europai-unio-lamfalussy" data-type="link" data-id="https://hu.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/27/orban-euro-bevezetese-magyarorszagon-europai-unio-lamfalussy" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Euronews</a>, Orbán said that if Hungary joined unprepared, it would do more harm than good to the economy. The Prime Minister added that the current economic environment in the EU was not favourable for catching-up countries and that the focus should be on solving competitiveness problems rather than on adopting the euro. <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1280" height="853" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PM-Viktor-Orban-4-1280x853.jpg" alt="PM Viktor Orbán" class="wp-image-639583" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PM-Viktor-Orban-4-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PM-Viktor-Orban-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PM-Viktor-Orban-4-282x188.jpg 282w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PM-Viktor-Orban-4.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: FB/Orbán</figcaption></figure> Péter Magyar, President of the Tisza Party, on the other hand, is strongly in favour of the early introduction of the euro. In an interview with <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-02/orban-rival-magyar-vows-to-end-hungary-s-economic-crisis-by-unlocking-eu-funds" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-02/orban-rival-magyar-vows-to-end-hungary-s-economic-crisis-by-unlocking-eu-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Bloomberg</a>, he said that if he came to government in 2026, he would first ensure the repatriation of EU funds and then prepare for the introduction of the euro after a stable forint exchange rate is established. Magyar argued that the current government’s mismanagement, wasteful fiscal policies, and corruption have eroded investor confidence, weakening the forint and fueling economic uncertainty. According to <a href="https://index.hu/gazdasag/2024/12/02/magyar-peter-tisza-part-bloomberg-interju-gazdasag/" data-type="link" data-id="https://index.hu/gazdasag/2024/12/02/magyar-peter-tisza-part-bloomberg-interju-gazdasag/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Index</a>, Péter Magyar believes that by implementing a more transparent economic strategy and restoring international trust, Hungary could create the conditions necessary for euro adoption, bringing much-needed stability to businesses and citizens alike. As an example, he highlighted Poland, where frozen EU funds were swiftly unlocked after Donald Tusk took office. Magyar promises that a similar approach in Hungary could pave the way for a more stable economic environment, ultimately facilitating the introduction of the common currency. <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/peter-magyar-tisza-party-orban-inflation.jpg" alt="péter magyar tisza party orbán inflation" class="wp-image-641739" srcset="https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/peter-magyar-tisza-party-orban-inflation.jpg 960w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/peter-magyar-tisza-party-orban-inflation-768x512.jpg 768w, https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/peter-magyar-tisza-party-orban-inflation-282x188.jpg 282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Facebook/Péter Magyar</figcaption></figure> The debate between the Orbán government and the opposition led by Péter Magyar illustrates the two different economic visions. While Orbán stresses economic catch-up and caution, Péter Magyar argues that only the introduction of the euro can solve the current uncertainty. The debate is not only a financial issue but also a political and strategic decision that could determine Hungary’s place in the European Union in the long term. For the time being, however, the government’s position is the stronger one, and the introduction of the euro seems unlikely in the current political climate. Nevertheless, the growing support of the opposition and the uncertainty surrounding EU funds could override this position in the coming years. Read also: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/pm-orban-said-days-of-the-eu-were-numbered/" data-wpel-link="internal">PM Orbán: Hungary does not need to leave the EU because it will fall apart</a></li> <li><a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-forint-coin-can-be-withdrawn/" data-wpel-link="internal">Hungarian media: too expensive Hungarian forint coin may be withdrawn</a></li> </ul> Featured image: <a href="https://depositphotos.com/photos/forint.html?filter=all&qview=654627430" data-type="link" data-id="https://depositphotos.com/photos/forint.html?filter=all&qview=654627430" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">depositphotos.com</a> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/forint-euro-hungary-eurozone/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Orbán cabinet: Paris summit ‘a meeting of losers’ – UPDATE</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-paris-summit-a-meeting-of-losers/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-paris-summit-a-meeting-of-losers/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:55:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[diplomacy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[European Union]]></category> <category><![CDATA[France]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungarian government]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[United States]]></category> <category><![CDATA[war in Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645553</guid> <description><![CDATA[Once a friend, now a loser? Members of the Orbán government attack European leaders with incredible vehemence: ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ The prime minister’s political director, Balázs Orbán, said about the Paris summit on Monday that the French president’s “Paris rendezvous” is “in fact a meeting of losers.” Emmanuel Macron convened a summit in Paris to discuss “how European leaders, who have been pro-war so far, should react to the peace talks initiated by the US in the face of protests from the European Union,” Orbán said in a Facebook post. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had warned European leaders to draft an independent peace strategy lest Europe lose out on the war once Donald Trump was elected president, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orbanbalazsandras/posts/pfbid0oTWV1omQqQSUKsYvxGkeVMtVdAhUVVFqJvUYhnJzbxFP1Pyb1XLp7kBUCF8LagrCl" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">he said</a>. “Everything is going according to the script: the European Union has lost this war, the Americans want peace, and Europe has no sensible proposal three years into the war on how it could find its way out of the conflict — meanwhile, thousands are dying at the front,” Orbán said. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> “The leaders who derided Viktor Orbán’s peace mission fervently supported further bloodshed in Ukraine, rejected a ceasefire and negotiations, are now in a panic and trying to make themselves look important…” </blockquote> Orbán said, adding: “Enjoy your nice little brunch!” As we wrote today, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Astana that “pro-war, anti-Donald Trump” European leaders will meet in Paris on Monday to try and thwart achieving peace in Ukraine, <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-pro-war-leaders-meet-in-paris-to-prevent-peace-in-ukraine/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a>. Also, we reported that Balázs Orbán said that the fall of the US Democrats exposed the international liberal network, <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-fall-of-the-us-democrats-exposed-the-international-liberal-network/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a>. <div class="lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post-1gz5Lb wp-block-lazyblock-dnh-insert-embed-post"> <div class="custom-link-block dnh-embed-container"> <h3 class="dnh-embed-post-label">read also</h3> <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-ep-delegation-rule-of-law/" class="dnh-embed-post-url" data-wpel-link="internal"> Hungary under scrutiny as European Parliament sends urgent fact-finding delegation to assess rule of law </a> </div> </div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPDATE</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gathering in Paris is of ‘pro-war European leaders’</h3> European leaders who are gathering in Paris are “pro-war, anti-Trump and frustrated”, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, has said, adding that they “want to prevent a Ukraine peace agreement from being reached”. “Unlike them, we support Donald Trump’s aspirations,” he said in a video posted on the government’s Facebook page on Monday. “Unlike them, we support the US-Russian negotiations; unlike them, we want peace in Ukraine.” Szijjártó said the US Vice President and the US special representative for Ukraine and Russia had “harshly criticised Brussels” in Munich last week. “In Brussels, they’ve panicked,” he said, adding that “the enemies of peace” had gathered in Paris because “they want to continue the war”. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPDATE 2</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Orbán points to economic benefits of peace</h3> Prime Minister Viktor Orbán highlighted the economic benefits of peace in a video message posted on Facebook on Monday. “Peace has economic benefits, another reason we have undertaken a peace mission in the past three years,” Orbán said. Since the start of preparations by the Russians and Americans for peace talks, Orbán said gas prices had fallen 10pc and the forint was firming. He added that it was “only a matter of time” before the forint traded under 400 to the euro. If things continue on the same trajectory, he said everybody would see that peace brings economic benefits, too. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-cabinet-paris-summit-a-meeting-of-losers/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Hidden lift under the Danube: a forgotten memory of the Horthy era</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/hidden-elevator-beneath-danube-horthy-era/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/hidden-elevator-beneath-danube-horthy-era/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News Hungary]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:55:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Special Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Danube]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HellóMagyar]]></category> <category><![CDATA[History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungarian history]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary news]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645504</guid> <description><![CDATA[A forgotten elevator beneath the Danube tells the story of Horthy’s canceled visit and the wartime efforts to safeguard Budapest’s water supply.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ A story by András Károlyi unveils a unique lift concealed beneath the Danube, preserving the memory of a bygone era. The devastating 1923 flood caused significant damage, severely impacting the twin canal linking Dunakeszi and Szentendre Island. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why did Governor Miklós Horthy need an Elevator?</h2> The restoration process took several months and led to a serious water shortage. As a result, a parallel backup canal was built alongside two walkable tunnels to ensure continuous water flow. To this day, these tunnels house two 700-millimetre-diameter pipes that transport water. According to a report shared by Fővárosi Vízművek, during the construction of the second tunnel, rumours spread that Governor Miklós Horthy wanted to personally inspect the work. In response, workers quickly began installing lifts at both tunnel shafts so that the 64-year-old governor would not have to climb up and down 25 metres of stairs, as reported by <a href="https://lelepo.hu/horthy-lift-duna-alatt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Lelépő</a>. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> However, by the time the lifts were halfway completed, Horthy’s visit was cancelled, leaving the unfinished structures abandoned to this day </blockquote> This is not the only legend surrounding the tunnels beneath the Danube. Towards the end of World War II, the retreating German army planned to destroy the tunnels after blowing up the bridges. According to some accounts, Kálmán Lindenmayer, the chief engineer of the Káposztásmegyer waterworks, and his colleague Brúno Abos convinced the Germans that flooding the tunnels would be sufficient to block Soviet advances. Another version of events suggests that when word spread of an imminent explosion, workers hastily flooded the tunnels and then informed the Germans that the water had already made entry impossible. However, historical records clarify the true events. According to the wartime diary of chief engineer Béla Pétsics, military authorities had already begun discussions regarding the tunnels’ fate in early November 1944. As a result, on the night of 12-13 December, they ordered the flooding of the walkable water passage tunnels leading to the pumping stations, directing water through pipes connected to the Szentendre Island shafts. Although not entirely unexpected, this move helped preserve the tunnels, ensuring that despite wartime difficulties, Budapest continued to receive at least a limited supply of drinking water. Read also: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>18th of June – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/18th-of-june-the-birthday-of-miklos-horthy/" data-wpel-link="internal">The birthday of Miklós Horthy</a></li> <li>László Almásy: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/laszlo-almasy-explorer-officer-spy/" data-wpel-link="internal">The Hungarian man who served as an explorer, reconnaissance officer, and spy</a></li> <li>Hitler wanted to kill the grandson of Governor Miklós Horthy, he dreaded returning to Hungary – <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hitler-wanted-to-kill-the-grandson-of-governor-miklos-horthy-he-dreaded-returning-to-hungary/" data-wpel-link="internal">details HERE</a></li> </ul> To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: <a href="https://hellomagyar.hu/2025/02/15/horthy-miklos-lift-duna-alatt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Helló Magyar</a> Cover image is an illustration. Photos of the elevator can be viewed on the Lelépő website. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/hidden-elevator-beneath-danube-horthy-era/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Dubai sex worker scandal: a verdict after ten years</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/the-dubai-sex-worker-scandal-a-verdict-after-ten-years/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/the-dubai-sex-worker-scandal-a-verdict-after-ten-years/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily News]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:55:36 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Society]]></category> <category><![CDATA[court]]></category> <category><![CDATA[crime]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[United Arab Emirates]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645522</guid> <description><![CDATA[In Hungary, the hostess job in Dubai, filled with extras, has become a separate definition: dubajozás]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ After many years, the criminal case involving three individuals—Zoltán K., Vivien Sz., and Silvia P.—suspected of chain-linking, known as the “double-dealing” case, has finally come to an end. According to the prosecution, the trio recruited several women from their circle of acquaintances for so-called “hostess jobs,” not only in Hungary but also abroad, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ibiza, Orlando, Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco, among other locations. However, conflicting information regarding the nature and purpose of the work emerged, ultimately leading to legal proceedings. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Dubai case dragged on for years</h2> The Dubai case, which lasted for more than a decade, was decided by the Pest Central District Court on 17 February. During the trial, the names of several well-known individuals emerged as witnesses or persons involved. For instance, Pamela Hódi and Dóra Kovács gave testimonies, while Edina Kulcsár was summoned several times but did not appear at the hearings due to pregnancy. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Intercepted conversations and new details</h2> According to intercepted phone calls presented as evidence, the defendants regularly discussed working conditions not only among themselves but also with the women they had mediated. During the trial, the name of Tímea Vajna (then Palácsik) was also mentioned in some of the intercepted conversations, although her involvement was only referenced in the telephone records. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">One of the most famous Hungarian models also testified</h2> Zita Görög told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9r7sqN3M0w" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Telex</a> in November 2023 that “dubbing exists in a very rough way.” She recounted that she was once sent to Dubai, having received the job offer from the same agency that secured her a film role in Underworld. She described having a very unpleasant experience at a Dubai hotel. “A blonde girl appeared; she spoke Hungarian, she looked exactly like the girls in porn movies, and she told us to get ready because they were taking us to dinner,” she said, explaining that she was reluctant at first but eventually agreed to go to avoid conflict. “They took us to a huge garden where there were dolphins spitting gold water—it was disgusting. The most shocking thing was that Something America 1 was playing on a giant screen the size of this studio. This made me wonder how many Hungarian girls had been there if this film was being shown on arrival. I had a panic attack; I started crying and screaming to be taken away because I saw girls in bikinis at sunset, carrying eggs back from the sand. If the eggs didn’t break, they received money in their underwear. It was all very disturbing. My panic attack unsettled the other girls and made the whole situation even more uncomfortable,” Görög recounted in her shocking testimony. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Andy Vajna’s widow also testified</h2> Tímea Palácsik <a href="https://promotions.hu/orszagos/szines/2024/04/12/vajna-timi-per-birosag-kulcsar-edina" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">told investigators</a> that the later defendant in the case initially introduced her to Hollywood producer Andy Vajna as a hostess. She stated that there was no sexual service involved, only “photography,” which entailed taking erotic nude photos. “Zoli told me that he had a Mongolian uncle in Kazakhstan, and we had to go there for his birthday to entertain guests and enhance the party’s glamour. I didn’t know exactly how much I would earn, so I didn’t ask, but in the end, I received €1,000 for the day,” said Andy Vajna’s widow, who admitted to becoming close to one of the guests, for which she was given extra money. “At the party in Kazakhstan, there was a Mongolian man I kissed; we had a good time, and I received additional money for that,” she added in her statement. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Disputed works and the defence position</h2> The prosecution charged the defendants with the crime of pandering, but Zoltán K. consistently denied having recruited anyone for prostitution. His defence lawyer maintained that it was merely legal hostess work. The second defendant in the Dubai case, Vivien Sz., was responsible for coordinating the women, and the defence argued that she must have known exactly what each individual was doing. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Judgement in first instance</h2> At the end of Monday’s Dubai trial, the court delivered its verdict after a short deliberation: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>The first defendant, Zoltán K., was found guilty on multiple counts.</li> <li>He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, and was also fined 80 days (HUF 200,000) and ordered to pay HUF 412,000 in criminal costs.</li> </ul> Zoltán K. indicated his intention to appeal, and the Dubai trial is expected to continue at the second instance. This marks the end of the first phase of the “double jeopardy” case, but given the defendants’ stance, further legal proceedings are likely. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Plus background information</h2> The “dubaiozó” scandal has been a subject of interest for the Hungarian press and public for years. At the heart of the controversy is the fact that, in many cases, “hostess work” involves escorting individuals to luxury hotels and exclusive resorts, sometimes accompanied by allegations of sexual services. To date, the defendants have maintained that they organised only legal employment; however, the court’s evaluation of the evidence suggests otherwise. Since the judgment is not yet final, further details may emerge in the appeal proceedings. Read also: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Prostitutes and secret clauses: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/myths-about-the-treaty-of-trianon/" data-wpel-link="internal">5+1 perplexing myths about the Treaty of Trianon</a></li> <li>Shocking numbers: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/shocking-numbers-hungarians-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-prostitutes/" data-wpel-link="internal">Hungarians spend a lot of money on prostitutes</a></li> </ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/the-dubai-sex-worker-scandal-a-verdict-after-ten-years/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Op-ed: Kosovo, a story of success</title> <link>https://dailynewshungary.com/op-ed-kosovo-a-story-of-success/</link> <comments>https://dailynewshungary.com/op-ed-kosovo-a-story-of-success/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Guest Author]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:04:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[diplomacy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hungary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[opinion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Western Balkans]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailynewshungary.com/?p=645476</guid> <description><![CDATA[Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February 2008, 17 years ago, and on this occasion Ambassador H.E.Mr.Delfin Pllana wrote a public article: ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ Op-ed by: H.E.Mr.Delfin Pllana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kosovo to Hungary Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008, marking the culmination of an UN-led process based on the Ahtisaari Plan. This declaration, reflecting the will of Kosovo’s people, followed extensive negotiations between 2005 and 2007, during which Kosovo fulfilled key prerequisites, including dialogue with Serbia. UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari ultimately recommended independence under international supervision, which lasted until September 2012. Kosovo’s leadership emphasized democracy, human rights, and European integration, pledging to build a multi-ethnic state governed by the rule of law. The path to statehood was complex, requiring institutional development, security frameworks, and the management of ethnic relations. Despite these challenges, Kosovo remained committed to domestic stability, international recognition, and Euro-Atlantic integration. The establishment of a parliamentary democracy after Kosovo’s declaration of independence was a central objective of our society. International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2010 gave a verdict on the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence according to which the declaration did not violate international law, as there is no prohibition against unilateral declarations of independence under international law or the UN Charter. The ICJ also found no breach of binding Security Council resolutions. Kosovo’s state-building process reflects the interplay between domestic and international factors. Post-independence period focused on institution-building, security, and building of public and economic infrastructure, influenced by external governance and support of EU, which shaped Kosovo’s institutions to ensure stability and minority protections.  The process of building democratic institutions in Kosovo following its declaration of independence in 2008 has been a multifaceted and challenging endeavor, marked by complex interactions between international and domestic actors, significant ethnic divisions, and an overarching need for effective state-building. This journey involved both incremental progress and setbacks, shaped by several stages that span international oversight, domestic constitutional development, legal reforms, local governance restructuring, and public administration transformations.  Kosovo continues to make significant strides on its path of progress and development, marked by notable achievements in various fields. One of the most significant milestones was the successful liberalization of visas with the European Union, which came into effect on January 1, 2024. This achievement has strengthened Kosovo’s ties with Europe, facilitating travel and mobility for its citizens. Additionally, Kosovo has advanced in global rankings, improving its position in the Henley Passport Index and Global Passport Power Rank, reflecting its growing international recognition and mobility. In the fight against corruption, Kosovo has demonstrated tangible progress. According to Transparency International’s 2025 Public Perceptions of Corruption Index, Kosovo ranked 73rd with a score of 44, marking an improvement from the previous year. This positive development underscores ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, strengthen institutions, and build public trust in governance. Since gaining independence, Kosovo has made significant advancements in human rights and democracy. These achievements are reflected in key international indices, including the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, civil liberties and political rights assessments by Freedom House, and electoral democracy rankings by the V-Dem Institute. Such progress highlights Kosovo’s commitment to democratic values, freedom of expression, and inclusive governance. On the economic front, Kosovo continues to grow steadily, with a projected economic growth rate of approximately 4% in 2024. This expansion reflects increasing investment, a resilient private sector, and a favorable business environment. Looking ahead, Kosovo remains committed to strengthening its global presence, including through sports diplomacy. The country continues its preparations for the Prishtina 2030 Mediterranean Games, an event that will showcase Kosovo on the international stage and promote regional cooperation through sports. These accomplishments demonstrate Kosovo’s resilience and determination to advance its European integration, economic development, and democratic governance, laying a strong foundation for a prosperous future. Kosovo has made remarkable progress in strengthening its democratic institutions, enhancing security, fostering regional cooperation, and advancing its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. A key achievement has been the successful closure of parallel and illegal structures in the north, accompanied by decisive action against organized crime. By dismantling criminal networks, Kosovo has reinforced the rule of law and ensured greater stability and security for all its citizens. Kosovo has also demonstrated unwavering commitment to the normalization of relations with Serbia. Its constructive approach in the EU-facilitated dialogue, particularly its strong insistence on formalizing agreements, has been crucial. The signing of two key instruments—the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of Relations (Brussels, February 27, 2023) and its Implementation Annex (Ohrid, March 18, 2023)—reflects Kosovo’s dedication to achieving lasting peace through diplomacy and dialogue. Despite challenges, including destabilizing efforts from external actors, Kosovo has remained steadfast in upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Its institutions continue to work diligently to protect national security while promoting stability in the region. Kosovo’s vision for the future is firmly rooted in Euro-Atlantic integration, with continuous progress toward aligning with European values, standards, and policies. The country remains committed to deepening its partnership with the EU, NATO, and other international organizations, reinforcing its role as a reliable and responsible global partner. Furthermore, Kosovo actively champions peace and regional cooperation, prioritizing good neighborly relations based on mutual respect and shared prosperity. Through diplomatic engagement and participation in regional initiatives, Kosovo continues to contribute to a more stable and interconnected Western Balkans. Celebrating 17th anniversary of our statehood, Kosovo’s achievements showcase its resilience, determination, and forward-looking vision, paving the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for its people. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Relations with Hungary</h2> Hungary was among the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Kosovo on March 19, 2008. Its diplomatic presence in Kosovo began on January 1, 2006, through a Liaison Office, which was later upgraded to an Embassy on May 15, 2008. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established on June 27, 2008. Subsequently, the Embassy of Kosovo in Budapest commenced its official operations in January 2010.  Hungary actively contributes to international security efforts in Kosovo through NATO. From November 2021 to October 10, 2022, Hungary assumed command of KFOR, demonstrating its strong commitment to regional stability. The number of Hungarian military personnel in KFOR is currently at 365, making it the third-largest contingent after the United States and Italy. Hungary also remains a staunch supporter of NATO membership for Western Balkan countries, including Kosovo.  Hungary is a vocal advocate for EU enlargement, firmly believing that integration has no alternative for the Western Balkans (BP6). Hungary has been a strong and consistent supporter of visa liberalization for Kosovo, emphasizing the importance of free movement for Kosovo’s citizens within the European Union. Last year’s Hungarian EU Presidency achieved some notable successes, among which was enacting of the reform programs of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia under the Reform and Growth Facility. This opened the door to a €6 billion assistance package for these countries, marking a significant achievement of the Hungarian EU Presidency. The organization of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit on November 7 was a notable highlight of the Hungarian EU Presidency. During the summit in Budapest, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, held a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and other EU delegation leaders. The Hungarian Presidency also hosted numerous informal summits in Budapest, Szeged, Podgorica, and Brussels, with active participation from Western Balkans countries including the Republic of Kosovo. Senior representatives from the Republic of Kosovo demonstrated the country’s commitment to EU integration by engaging constructively in these forums as an aspiring EU member. The parliamentary dimension of the Presidency was equally significant. Members of Parliament from the Republic of Kosovo participated in four inter-parliamentary conferences, alongside representatives from the European Parliament and other EU candidate countries. The Hungarian Parliament welcomed the contributions of Kosovo’s MPs, highlighting their active involvement in plenary sessions. While the political climate and timing may not have positioned Hungary as the optimal mediator for advancing these goals, efforts made by Hungarian Minister of EU Affairs János Bóka to support the Western Balkans, including the Republic of Kosovo, were appreciated. His attempts to achieve meaningful results during the Presidency reflect a positive step, albeit insufficient in addressing the broader aspirations and needs of the Republic of Kosovo. On the other hand, the bilateral legal framework between Hungary and Kosovo is well-established, covering a wide range of sectors. There is significant potential to further enhance economic cooperation, particularly in the fields of ICT and digitalization, water management, pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture and the green agenda. Hungary provides scholarship opportunities for Kosovar students through the Stipendium Hungaricum program, in which Kosovo has participated since 2015. Initially, Kosovo was allocated 50 scholarships per year, but since 2020, this number has increased to 75 scholarships annually. These scholarships cover studies at all academic levels, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs in Hungarian universities. Currently, approximately 300 Kosovar students are studying or have completed their studies in Hungary under this program. Kosovo’s presence in Hungary extends beyond the student community, with the Kosovar diaspora making a significant economic and cultural impact. One of the most notable contributions is in the bakery industry, where Kosovar entrepreneurs, own or manage, hundreds of bakeries across Hungary, a sector that has flourished over the past two decades. These two communities—students and entrepreneurs—serve as vital bridges between Kosovo and Hungary, strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. A frequently discussed topic in bilateral meetings I have conducted has been the re-establishment of a direct flight between Pristina and Budapest. In August 2024, I held discussions with Wizz Air CEO József Váradi, who confirmed the airline’s interest in resuming the Pristina-Budapest-Pristina route. The reintroduction of this direct air route would significantly boost travel, tourism, and economic exchanges between Kosovo and Hungary. It would also provide a strategic connection for Kosovo’s diaspora, students, and business community, while fostering Hungarian tourism in Kosovo and the broader Albanian-speaking regions. Beyond economic benefits, this would also be a strong symbol of deepening bilateral cooperation, fostering political, economic, cultural, and scientific ties. A significant achievement in cultural diplomacy recently was the joint concert of the Prizren Wind Orchestra and the ELTE University Orchestra on December 3 in Budapest. This event, organized in full cooperation with Hungary’s oldest and most prestigious university (ELTE), was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MKRS). The audience of approximately 200 attendees, including officials, diplomats, students, and members of the Kosovar community, was deeply impressed by the performances. Hungary and Kosovo have initiated city twinning projects to enhance people-to-people ties and local-level cooperation. The first city twinning agreement was signed on February 17, 2023, between Peja (Kosovo) and Eger (Hungary). Discussions are underway for additional twinning projects and partnership initiatives between other cities in Kosovo and Hungary. Our relations with Hungary hold significant untapped potential and missed opportunities. I am committed to being a tireless advocate for strengthening our ties, fostering the necessary exchanges, and ensuring that our partnership flourishes. In view of our historical and geographical connections, as well as our shared interests, I will work diligently to further deepen this relationship. Become a guest author at Daily News Hungary, <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/write-for-us" data-wpel-link="internal">details here</a>. read also: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Kosovo or not? <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/tamas-sulyok-kosovo-map-mistake/" data-wpel-link="internal">Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok’s post sparks outrage!</a></li> <li>Hungarian minister: <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-vote-un-general-assembly-srebrenica/" data-wpel-link="internal">no to Srebrenica, no to Kosovo!</a></li> </ul> Read here for more news about <a href="https://dailynewshungary.com/?s=kosovo&ct_post_type=post%3Apage" data-wpel-link="internal">relations between Kosovo and Hungary</a>. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://dailynewshungary.com/op-ed-kosovo-a-story-of-success/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>