On 19 December 2011 János Martonyi Hungarian Foreign Minister presented at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (MKI) the document entitled „Hungarian Foreign Policy after the EU presidency”, which summarizes the strategic directions of Hungarian Foreign Policy. The aim of the strategic document is to provide serve as a guideline for the work of the Hungarian diplomatic corps, inform the public and form the basis for further work on strategy in the Foreign Ministry.

The document deals with the values of our foreign policy, the harmonisation of values and interests, assesses Hungary’s current position in the world, identifies our current priorities, review those policy areas that could become defining in the profile of Hungarian diplomacy and finally presents the perspectives of our foreign relations in a geographic breakdown. The document highlights the public service providing nature of diplomacy and informs of the ideas on strengthening this aspect of the Ministries’ activities. János Martonyi named global opening and our regional policy among the most important new elements of the strategic document.

Botond Zákonyi director of MKI reminded the audience that the structure of the strategic document crystallized during a debate at MKI a year ago. He noted that MKI played an important role in channelling input from the academic and the civil sphere during the preparation of the document. A number of public figures along with foreign policy professionals, academics and civil society leaders were present at the event.

(kormany.hu)