Minister of State for Public Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Iván Bába and MFA Political Director Szabolcs Takács both held separate discussions with President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Tadateru Konoé on 3 September 2013.

Mr. Konoé is the first President of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation with 187 member organisations to visit Hungary since the regime change in 1989. The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation between the Hungarian Government and the IFRC and to draw institutional relations closer.

During their talks with President Konoé, the MFA executives reiterated that the Hungarian Government remains committed to the work of the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, especially with regard to the assistance given to those living in disaster and crisis hit areas. Testament to this is the 287,500 euros in aid contributed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2012 through the Federation to those affected by the Syrian crisis.

The Federation has been active in Hungary for 20 years, since 1993. The Europe Zone Office, which coordinates aid operations in 54 countries of the continent, was set up in Budapest in 2007 within the framework of a series of institutional reforms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports the Office with an annual amount of EUR 50.000.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)