World Francophone Day: Exhibition in Budapest

The exhibition, organized by the Hungarian National Assembly, brings together the Francophone countries, demonstrates the plurality of the world and the cultural relations of the Francophone countries with Hungary, said Jean-Francois Paroz, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation in Budapest and this year's President of the Francophone Ambassadors' Circle.

According to the ambassador, all countries strive to preserve their own security, all peoples struggle to preserve democracy. “Democracy can never be taken for granted, and all countries have room for improvement in this area," he pointed out.

Katalin Csöbör, President of the Hungarian-French Friendship Association, said that 15 embassies from 15 countries had joined the exhibition "Francophonie - culture and diplomacy", with the aim of showing what links these countries with Hungary and the Francophone idea.

She also stressed that Hungarian-French relations go back to St. Stephen, the first Hungarian king who was a correspondent of the French abbot Odilon de Cluny. In addition to his religious mission, his successor, Abbot Hugo, also achieved diplomatic success, reconciling the Hungarians with the German Emperor. In the centuries since then, the two nations have always influenced each other in the spiritual sphere," she emphasised. 

The parliamentary exhibition will be on display for a month in the lobby of the office building of the members of Hungarian Parliament.