Secretariat’s work

Mission of the High Representative to Hungary

13 June 2024

On June 6 and 7, 2024, the High Representative of the Coalition for the Sahel, H.E. Mr. Hamadi Meimou, went to Budapest, where he was received by the Hungarian authorities.

 

These meetings highlighted Hungary’s intention to make the Sahel a priority during its presidency of the European Union, which will begin on July 1, 2024. More generally, they provided an opportunity to present Hungary’s approach to the Sahel through its support actions in the areas of security and development, based on the expressed needs of the Sahelian states. Hungary emphasized its ambition to contribute to political dialogue and the revitalization of regional cooperation, in the Coalition for the Sahel framework. It is indeed important to adopt a broad regional and international approach, given the evolving nature of the regional environment.

 

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the High Representative was received by H.E. Mr. Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security, as well as by H.E. Ms. Henrietta Balajthy, Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy.

At the Ministry of European Affairs, the High Representative held discussions with H.E. Dr. Balázs Molnár, Deputy State Secretary for European Policy in the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the Ministry of Defense, the High Representative was received by H.E. Mr. László Hajnik, Deputy State Secretary for Defense.

At the office of the Principal Advisor on National Security, he was received by Brigadier General Dr. Imre Porkoláb.

In addition to these meetings, the High Representative was able to exchange views with the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA) on the challenges related to instability in the Sahel.

The High Representative was also received by Ms. Christine Bradley, Head of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Director of the CTT program at the UNOCT office in Budapest. Concerns about the entrenchment of terrorism in the region, as well as its spread to coastal countries, were discussed with the experts at the office.