"Water is a priority issue for Hungary, and so the country has undertaken to provide the venue for a World Conference on water in autumn 2013", announced Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Katalin Tóth at the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Sustainable Development.

During her report on the Rio+20 UN Conference, the Deputy State Secretary said that the two most important topics of the discussions were the relationship between the green economy and sustainable development, and the strengthening of the institutional system for sustainable development.

"Finalisation of the closing document was only possible with great difficulty and significant compromises because of the differing standpoints of the various countries. The document adopted by the Conference includes significantly fewer concrete measures and commitments than expected", explained the Deputy State Secretary.

"The most important issue for Hungary was that the various dimensions of sustainable development gain equal emphasis within the closing document, and priority areas also included the reduction of poverty and the issue of food security", she stated, adding "Similarly to the other UN member states, Hungary may also not be fully satisfied with the achievements of the Conference."

"Together with the other members of the "Friends of Water" Steering Group, Hungary kept the issue of water on the agenda continuously, and it is in relation to this that we undertook to organise the World Conference on Water", said Katalin Tóth.

The members of the Hungarian delegation at the environmental summit held in Rio de Janeiro between June 20 and 22 included Minster for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, Deputy State Secretary for Parliamentary, Social and International Relations Katalin Tóth, and Deputy State Secretary for Water Péter Kovács.

(MTI, Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)