Diplomatic Reception Dedicated to the National Day of Egypt in 2023
Edited by Anna Popper
The National Day of Egypt is observed on the 23rd July each year, commemorating the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, during which the country transitioned from a monarchy to a modern republic. The revolution was a pivotal moment in Egyptian history as it marked the end of the Kingdom of Egypt and the beginning of a new era of governance. The revolution brought about significant changes in the country’s political landscape and paved the way for the establishment of the Arab Republic of Egypt. On this day, the Egyptian people celebrate their country’s independence, sovereignty, and the ideals of the revolution, which aimed to create a more just and prosperous nation for all citizens.
On the occasion of the National Day H.E. Mohamed El Shinawy, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Hungary, and his wife hosted a diplomatic event and reception at the Egyptian Residence on the 3rd July.
Senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the business and cultural spheres, Egyptian nationals and friends of this great country with unique ancient civilization and cultural heritage attended this special event. Mr. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence of Hungary, was the Guest of Honour, which reflected the high importance that both countries attach to their multifaceted relationship.
The address of the Ambassador, delivered on the festive occasion:
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the National Day reception of Egypt, as we commemorate the July 1952 and the June 2013 revolutions in Egypt. These two historic events have marked a turning point in the history of our country. As we celebrate our national day, we also celebrate the strong and historic ties between Egypt and Hungary. Our relations have reached the level of a strategic partnership, as reflected in the related agreement signed in Cairo in February 2023.
Egypt and Hungary have a common understanding regarding the political issues and challenges facing our world, and we are committed to working together to address these challenges.
Our bilateral relations cover a wide spectrum of fields and sectors, including agriculture, transport, military, trade and tourism. I want to seize this opportunity to inform you that EgyptAir currently operates 4 direct flights per week from Budapest to Cairo, in addition to other direct flights operated by other companies to other destinations in Egypt. Moreover, Wizz Air will start operating flights from Budapest to Cairo from October 2023.
Within the context of our strong political relations and ties, a number of visits and meetings have recently taken place between the two countries. In November 2022 the Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament visited Egypt and in January 2023 Budapest hosted the 4th round of the joint economic commission between Egypt and Hungary. In February 2023 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Egypt. In February 2023, the Egyptian National Security Advisor visited Hungary and in June 2023, Budapest hosted the recent round of the political consultations between Egypt and Hungary, presided by the ministers of foreign affairs. These high-level visits and meetings reflect the depth and the wide scope of our partnership, and our shared determination to further strengthen it in the years to come.
Egypt is also grateful for the annual scholarships provided by Hungary under the Stipendium Hungaricum program. These scholarships have become appreciated and are very popular among Egyptian students, who are eager to pursue their studies in Hungary and benefit from its world-class education system.
In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have joined us this evening. Special thanks to H.E. Dr. Tamás Sulyok, President of the Hungarian Constitutional Court, H.E. Mr. József Kovács, State Secretary for National Information, H.E. Mr. Kristóf Altusz, Diplomatic Advisor to the President and Mr. Kornél Kisgergely, Chief Executive Officer of Eximbank.
I also want to thank my friends and colleagues from the diplomatic community and from the Hungarian business community and media, I want as well to thank those who have joined us from the Egyptians living in Hungary, and definitely, I want to thank my wife Ingy and my colleagues of the Embassy.”
On behalf of the Hungarian government, Mr. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence took the floor and extended warm greetings to the attendees and conveyed congratulations and best wishes to the Egyptian people on the National Day.
He expressed his gratitude for being present at this celebration and praised the excellent bilateral relations that the two governments have fostered over the years, witnessing the continuous growth of the partnership. Speaking about the historical past of relations between Egypt and Hungary, the Minister mentioned a special fact, namely that one of the royal insignia of the Hungarian kings, the sceptre – the whole set is exhibited in the Hungarian Parliament – the top of its handle is decorated with a carved mountain-crystal, which originated from Egypt, dating back to the Fatimid period in the 11th century, which the king held in his right hand as a symbol of royal power.
Referring to international politics, he stressed that the two governments share common view and positions on various regional and global issues. He also announced his upcoming visit to Egypt on the invitation of his military counterpart, which will serve as a valuable opportunity to further strengthen the ties between the two countries and explore new avenues of cooperation.
During the reception, guests had the opportunity to taste Egyptian specialities and enjoy the good ambiance and live performances of traditional music.
Source: Embassy of Egypt in Hungary
Photos by the Embassy of Egypt and DPA
