Jordan, Hungary face common challenges — ambassador

AMMAN — Hungarian Ambassador to Jordan Csaba Czibere has lauded his country’s ties with Jordan and highlighted the common challenges facing the two countries.

Addressing a ceremony in Amman late last week marking the 59th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight of 1956, Czibere dwelt on the refugee challenge which his country is now addressing with other regional and European countries.

“In my country we are not indifferent to the plight of refugees coming from this or any other regions. International, European and national laws guide us in the process,” he said.

“But we also understand that unless the root causes of armed conflicts and poverty around the world are properly and in good faith addressed, there will be no end to the current migration wave to Europe,” the ambassador said, calling for a global effort to find a solution to the refugee problem.

He emphasised that host countries like Jordan deserve to be assisted in shouldering the burden of hosting refugees.

The ambassador paid tribute to His Majesty King Abdullah’s vision and leadership to fight extremism and international terrorism, noting that Hungary recently joined the international military coalition fighting the Daesh terror group by deploying troops in the region.

Czibere said the two countries are also working to enhance ties in various fields, from energy to water, higher education and parliamentary cooperation.

In addition, he dwelt on a scheduled address by King Abdullah to the World Science Forum, which the Hungarian capital Budapest will host in November

“We have high anticipation for His Majesty’s message to the Hungarian-initiated World Science Forum next month in Budapest, which will come to Jordan in 2017.

“On that note I would like to recognise the outstanding support the forum has enjoyed from the very beginning from the Royal family, in particular from Their Royal Highnesses Prince Hassan and Princess Sumaya,” he said.

The ambassador also expressed pride in excavation and restoration work carried out by Hungarian experts and scholars at the Machaerus historical site near the Dead Sea, namely Dr Gyozo Vörös, who is leading the work.