Reception at the Residence: the Korean Ambassador to Hungary, Chung-Ha Sum welcomed guests at his residence for the celebration of the National Day of the Republic of Korea.

The Csodalámpa Foundation grants the wishes of seriously ill children, thereby contributing to their recovery, in cooperation with volunteers from GE Healthcare and the Budapest Marriott Hotel.

After the political changes in the late 1980s, Hungary was the first country in the former Soviet bloc that established diplomatic relations with Israel two decades ago. The Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Aliza Bin-Noun is of the view that this has been a special relationship between the two countries.

At the anniversary, a conference was held - instead of a celebration - to emphasize the excellent state of bilateral relations. Hungarian MP János Fónagy emphasizes that in Hungarian parliament, there is consensus on good relations with Israel.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko offered to settle Hungarian minority issues in an upcoming series of government level consultations

11 Hungarians were awarded a medal bearing their name, and the privilege of having their name on the Wall of Honor at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

New Hungarian foreign minister Péter Balázs was quick to point outthat his main priority will becommunicating PrimeMinister Gordon Bajnai's crisis-management program.

After four years' service as Dutch Ambassador to Hungary, Ronald Mollinger was appointed to the helm of the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC).