Hungary's network of diplomatic missions has been rebuilt almost completely, MFA Parliamentary State Secretary Zsolt Németh declared at a press conference on Thursday.

The Hungarian Government has introduced several measures to expand the foreign mission network, to promote the policy of global opening and to enhance the unity of the Hungarian nation.  The aim was to remedy what the previous Socialist-led governments had destroyed, Zsolt Németh said.

The previous governments closed down several missions under what the MFA State Secretary called a "rather short-sighted cost-saving policy," noting that the measures also "seriously hurt national interests", referring to the closure of the Toronto and Sydney missions located in countries with a large ethnic Hungarian community.

Mr. Németh pointed out that the policy of global opening was about the diversification of economic and cultural relations, and accordingly the Government's measures had an impact on all five continents. Hungary has reopened its embassies in Nigeria, Baghdad and Chile, its consulate-generals in Sao Paulo, Toronto, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and a consular office in Melbourne, he added.

Hungary will next open a consular office in Lendava, Slovenia, and a consulate-general in Krakow, Poland on March 14, the MFA State Secretary announced. Hungary also assigned ambassadors-at-large to serve in African and Latin American countries, and so-called "laptop diplomats" to serve in Mongolia, Myanmar and the Philippines.

With regard to Hungary's upcoming general election, he said the expenses of voting at Hungary's various diplomatic missions are being assessed and, if required, the option of renting appropriate facilities would be considered.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)