By Politico staff writer
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Hungary Péter Szijjártó, has paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David John Francis, to advance bilateral ties between the two countries.
The two ministers met at Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland. According to the mission’s Information Attache’, Mohamed Sheriff, the Hungarian envoy applauded Sierra Leone`s efforts towards creating a highly skilled human resource base in the country and mitigating the impact of Covid-19. He disclosed that his country will increase support for Sierra Leone’s educational sector by providing
more scholarships and will invest in the water resources sector.
The Foreign Minister assured Hungary`s commitment to providing fifty (50) scholarships for undergraduates, postgraduates, and Master programmes immediately, Operationalization of Visa free countries, Exchange of diplomatic staff for diplomatic and service passports holders, cooperation on water management among other things.
The Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone thanked the government of Hungary for its assurances of deepening ties and greater support for Sierra Leone, while praising the good working relationship the country has enjoyed with Hungary for close to 60 years.
“We consider your country as a close partner. My government is committed to strengthening the relationship”, Professor Francis asserted. The two Ministers agreed to mutually support each other’s candidacy in pending UN-related elections.
Ambassador Dr. Lansana Gberie, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone in Geneva facilitated the meeting.
The state of Hungary was one of the earliest European countries to establish bilateral ties with the Republic of Sierra Leone after her independence from Great Britain in 1961. In line with the new alignment policy directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hungary is now under a diplomatic jurisdiction of the Embassy of Sierra Leone to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Sierra Leone established Consular Representation in Budapest in 1993 and has now been the oldest Consular Representation.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (03/09/21)
