On 17 April 2012, Foreign Minister János Martonyi conducted negotiations with Peter Slipper, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.

In the discussion, Mr Slipper thanked Hungary for supporting Australia’s application for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council. The parties considered it to be a sign of mutual confidence that from 6 March 2012 the Hungarian Embassy in Damascus ensures the consular representation of the citizens of Australia in Syria under the agreement between the two countries. The Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives expressed special thanks for this. The partners agreed that economic and scientific cooperation is a further area to be developed in our balanced bilateral relations based on the community of values and interests. The parties expressed their commitment to give real content to this by exchanging high-level business delegations.

Peter Slipper’s visit contributes to the maintenance of the nearly two-decade long continuity of relations between the two countries’ top leaders, the importance of which is increased by the fact that Mr Slipper came to Hungary in the framework of his first visit to Europe as the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.

(kormany.hu)