Deputy State Secretary for International Communications Ferenc Kumin paid a visit to London, where he held a lecture at an event organized by the Policy Research and Analysis Centre Federal Trust.

Ferenc Kumin held a lecture yesterday on the current political and economic situation in Hungary entitled „Economics and Politics in Hungary – A Situation Report” at an event organised by the Policy Research and Analysis Centre Federal Trust. The organisation, which is largely supportive of the European Union, focuses mainly on the relationship between the EU and Great-Britain, but also shows interest towards the policies of other Member States. A great number of British public figures, politicians and intellectuals took part at the event.

Yesterday, the Deputy State Secretary also held talks with the British delegation of the Council of Europe. In an interview to public television MTV this morning, he said that great interest had been shown in the current Hungarian situation; he also stressed, however, that criticism of the government was still of an emotional nature and ignored real facts.

Similarly to the case when last week two British MPs fiercely criticised the planned Hungarian amendments to the Act on the entry and residence of persons in the House of Commons, when in fact British legislation is practically identical.

Furthermore, the questions posed to the Deputy State Secretary expressed clear criticism towards some elements of the planned Hungarian electoral registration system, when in fact these same elements can be found in the British registration system.

Following the lecture, Ferenc Kumin made a speech at the commemorative gala dinner that paid tribute to Raoul Wallenberg at the Hungarian Embassy in London.

During his two-day visit, the Deputy State Secretary is meeting representatives from several British economic and other newspapers. Today, he is holding discussions with leading political analysts in Oxford.

(Prime Minister’s Office)