Administration State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Iván Bába opened the Ministry's new simulative training centre on February 18.

The new centre recreates the actual environment of a Hungarian diplomatic mission abroad, including the same areas, equipment and devices used at embassies and consular offices for the performance of diplomatic duties. Foreign Ministry employees can learn important practical skills at the centre, such as how to process visa applications, seal diplomatic packages or handle confidential documents, so public servants employed by the Ministry can become familiar with their working environment before leaving for posts abroad.

The opening event was attended by, among others, Patrick Child, the Managing Director for Administration and Finance at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Božin Nikolić, the Director of the Serbian Diplomatic Academy in Belgrade, and Hans Winkler, Director of the Austrian Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. Following the opening remarks by State Secretary Iván Bába, the guests had the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the new training centre. (The centre's first client was Patrick Child, whose biometric passport was examined by the consulate computer system.)

The State Secretary’s full speech is available in English here.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)