Foreign relations of Hungary

Hungary
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Except for the short-lived neutrality declared by the anti-Soviet leader Imre Nagy in November 1956, Hungary's foreign policy generally followed the Soviet lead from 1947 to 1989. During the Communist period, Hungary maintained treaties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance with the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria. It was one of the founding members of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact and Comecon, and it was the first central European country to withdraw from those organizations, now defunct.

Overview

As with any country, Hungarian security attitudes are shaped largely by history and geography. For Hungary, this is a history of more than 400 years of domination by great powers—the Ottomans, the Habsburg dynasty, the Germans during World War II, and the Soviets during the Cold War—and a geography of regional instability and separation from Hungarian minorities living in neighboring countries. Hungary's foreign policy priorities, largely consistent since 1990, represent a direct response to these factors. Since 1990, Hungary's top foreign policy goal has been achieving integration into Western economic and security organizations. Hungary joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has actively supported the IFOR and SFOR missions in Bosnia. The Horn government achieved Hungary's most important foreign policy successes of the post-communist era by securing invitations to join both NATO and the European Union in 1997. Hungary became member of NATO in 1999, and member of the EU in 2004.

Hungary also has improved its often frosty neighborly relations by signing basic treaties with Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. These renounce all outstanding territorial claims and lay the foundation for constructive relations. However, the issue of ethnic Hungarian minority rights in Slovakia and Romania periodically causes bilateral tensions to flare up. Hungary was a signatory to the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, has signed all of the CSCE/OSCE follow-on documents since 1989, and served as the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office in 1997. Hungary's record of implementing CSCE Helsinki Final Act provisions, including those on reunification of divided families, remains among the best in eastern Europe. Hungary has been a member of the United Nations since December 1955.

The Gabčíkovo - Nagymaros Dams project

This involves Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and .was agreed on September 16, 1977 ("Budapest Treaty"). The treaty envisioned a cross-border barrage system between the towns Gabčíkovo, Czechoslovakia and Nagymaros, Hungary. After intensive campaign the project became widely hated as a symbol of the old communist regime. In 1989 Hungarian government decided to suspend it. In its sentence from September 1997, the International Court of Justice stated that both sides breached their obligation and that the 1977 Budapest Treaty is still valid. In 1998 the Slovak government turned to the International Court, demanding the Nagymaros part to be built. The international dispute is still not solved as of 2008.

On March 19, 2008 Hungary recognized Kosovo as an independent country.

Disputes – international: Ongoing Gabčíkovo - Nagymaros Dams dispute with Slovakia

Illicit drugs: Major trans-shipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines

Hungary and Central Asia

A number of Hungarian anthropologists and linguists have long had an interest in the Turkic peoples, fueled by the eastern origin of the Hungarians' ancestors. The Hungarian ethnomusicologist Bence Szabolcsi explained this motivation as follows: "Hungarians are the outermost branch leaning this way from age-old tree of the great Asian musical culture rooted in the souls of a variety of peoples living from China through Central Asia to the Black Sea".

Relations by region and country

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia		See Armenia–Hungary relations Armenia was represented in Hungary through its embassy in Vienna (Austria) and an honorary consulate in Budapest. Hungary was represented in Armenia through its embassy in Moscow (Russia) and an honorary consulate in Yerevan. There are around 15,000 people of Armenian descent living in Hungary.
Albania		Austria-Hungary supported Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912. Albania has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Tirana.
Austria		See Austria–Hungary relations Austrian-Hungarian relations are the neighborly relations between Austria and Hungary, two member states of the European Union. Both countries have a long common history since the ruling dynasty of Austria, the Habsburgs, inherited the Hungarian throne in the 16th century. Both have been part of the now-defunct Austro-Hungarian Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1921, after their separation.
Belarus		See Foreign relations of Belarus
Belgium		See Foreign relations of Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1992-04-10	See Bosnia and Herzegovina – Hungary relations Hungary recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s independence on April 9, 1992. Bosnia and Herzegovina has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Sarajevo.
Bulgaria	1920	See Bulgaria–Hungary relations Bulgaria has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Varna.
Croatia		See Croatia–Hungary relations
Cyprus		See Foreign relations of Cyprus
Czech Republic		See Foreign relations of the Czech Republic
Denmark		See Denmark-Hungary relations
Estonia		See Foreign relations of Estonia
Finland		See Foreign relations of Finland
France		See France–Hungary relations
Georgia		See Foreign relations of Georgia
Germany		See Germany–Hungary relations
Greece		See Foreign relations of Greece
Ireland	1976	Since 1991, Hungary has an embassy in Dublin and 2 honorary consulates (in Athlone and Cork). Since 1996, Ireland has an embassy in Budapest. Both countries are full members of the European Union. There are around 3,300 Hungarians living in Ireland.
Italy		Hungary has an embassy in Rome, a general consulate in Milan, and 11 honorary consulates (in Bari, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Trieste, Turin, Venice and Verona). Italy has an embassy in Budapest and 3 honorary consulates (in Nyíregyháza, Pécs and Szeged). Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union.
Kosovo		Hungary recognized Kosovo on 19 March 2008. Hungary has an embassy in Pristina.
Latvia	1921-07-21	Diplomatic relations between the two states were renewed on September 2, 1991. Hungary has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Budapest. Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary
Lithuania		Hungary has an embassy in Vilnius and an honorary consulate in Kaunas. Lithuania has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Budapest. Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Hungary (in Lithuanian only)
Luxembourg		Hungary has an embassy in Luxembourg City. Luxembourg is represented in Hungary through its embassy in Vienna (Austria). Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of the European Union and of NATO.
Malta	1964	Hungary is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy) and through an honorary consulate in Valletta. Malta is represented in Hungary through its embassy in Vienna (Austria) and through an honorary consulate in Budapest. Both countries are full members of the European Union. Direction of the Hungarian representations in Malta Direction of the Maltese representations in Hungary
Moldova		Hungarian Embassy, Chişinău
Montenegro		Montenegro has an embassy in Budapest.
Netherlands		The Netherlands has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Pécs. Hungary has an embassy in The Hague and six honorary consulates (in Amsterdam, Arnhem, Aerdenhout, Winsum, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Curaçao). Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary
Norway	1920	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1920, but diplomatic representations were set up only in 1947-1948. Hungary has an embassy in Oslo and 2 honorary consulates (in Stavanger and Sarpsborg). Norway has an embassy in Budapest. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Poland		See Hungary-Poland relations
Portugal	1974-07-01	Hungary has an embassy in Lisbon and 3 honorary consulates (in Funchal, Porto and Tavira). Portugal has an embassy in Budapest. Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union.
Romania	1920	Relations between the two states date back from the Middle Ages. Until the end of World War I, Transylvania, Banat, Crişana and Maramureş were part of the Kingdom of Hungary, after the war they became part of the Romanian territory.
Russia		Hungary has an embassy in Moscow and two consulate-generals (in Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg). Russia has an embassy in Budapest and a consulate-general in Debrecen. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Serbia	1882-11-21	See Hungary–Serbia relations Hungary has an embassy in Belgrade and a general consulate in Subotica. Serbia has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Szeged.
Slovakia	1993	See Hungary–Slovakia relations Before 1918, the territory which called Slovakia today was part of Austria–Hungary, under Hungarian administration. Hungary has an embassy in Bratislava. Slovakia has an embassy Budapest and a general consulate in Békéscsaba.
Slovenia		See Hungary–Slovenia relations Both countries have an ethnic minority from the other state: in Hungary there are around 3,000 Ethnic Slovenes, and in Slovenia there are around 7,713 Ethnic Hungarians. Hungary has an embassy in Ljubljana. Slovenia has an embassy in Budapest and a general consulate in Szentgotthárd. The countries share 102 km of common border. Both are full members of NATO, European Union and the Schengen Agreement. See also Hungarian Slovenes
Spain	1938-01-13	Hungary has an embassy in Madrid, a general consulate in Barcelona and 5 honorary consulates (in Gijón, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, and Valencia). Spain has an embassy in Budapest. Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. Spanish Ministry of Foreign Relations about the relation with Hungary (in Spanish only)
Sweden	1945-12-28	Sweden has an embassy in Budapest. In Stockholm there is a Hungarian embassy.
Turkey		Memorial to Hungarian freedom fighters of 1848-1849 at Protestant Cemetery in Şişli, Istanbul. Hungary has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate–general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Keszthely. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the OECD, the NATO, the OSCE and the WTO. Also Hungary is an EU member and Turkey is a candidate. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary
Ukraine		Hungary has an embassy in Kiev, a consulate general in Uzhhorod, a consulate in Berehove and an honorary consulate in Lviv. Ukraine has an embassy in Budapest and a general consulate in Nyíregyháza. There are around 155,000 Hungarians in Ukraine who live in Ukraine, mostly in the Zakarpattia Oblast at the border with Hungary. Both countries shares 103 km of common border. See also Hungarians in Ukraine Hungarian consulate in Berehove (in Hungarian and Ukrainian only)
United Kingdom	1920	Hungary and the U.K. enjoy friendly relations. Hungary has an embassy in London and 5 honorary consulates (in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Torquay). The United Kingdom has an embassy in Budapest. Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. See also Hungarian migration to the United Kingdom British Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the relation with Hungary

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
India		Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Hungary Indian embassy in Budapest
Indonesia	1955	Hungary has an embassy in Indonesia. opened in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, in 1957. Hungary has two honorary consuls in Indonesia, one in Bandung, West Java and another in Denpasar, Bali. A third consul will be opened in Surabaya, East Java. Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Hungary Indonesia has an embassy in Budapest. and there is a commercial developmental center too.
Iran	1939	See Hungary–Iran relations Since 1951, Hungary has an embassy in Tehran. Iran has an embassy in Budapest.
Iraq		See Hungary–Iraq relations Hungary is represented in Iraq through its embassy in Amman (Jordan). Iraq has an embassy in Budapest. Between August 2003 and March 2005, Hungary had contributed to more than 300 soldiers to the Multinational force in Iraq.
Israel		See Hungary–Israel relations Hungary has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 4 honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv). Israel has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Szeged. There are 49,000 Jews living in Hungary. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Japan		See Hungary–Japan relations After World War II, both countries re-established diplomatic relations in August 1959. Hungary has an embassy in Tokyo and 2 honorary consulates (in Hamamatsu and Osaka). Japan has an embassy in Budapest. Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary
Malaysia		See Hungary–Malaysia relations Hungary has an embassy in Malaysia. Malaysia has an embassy in Budapest. Malaysia Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Hungary Hungary–Malaysia relations on www.kln.gov.my
Mongolia	1959-05-29	Hungary is represented in Mongolia through its embassy in Beijing (People's Republic of China) and though an honorary consulate in Ulan Bator. Mongolia has an embassy in Budapest. Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Hungary (in Mongolian only)
North Korea		See Hungary – North Korea relations Relations between the two countries existed since the Korean War, but however have evolved into conflicts.
Pakistan	1965-11-26	Since 1970, Hungary has an embassy in Islamabad and an honorary consulate in Karachi. Pakistan has an embassy in Budapest
People's Republic of China	1949-10-04	See People's Republic of China – Hungary relations Hungary has an embassy in Beijing and general consulates in Hong Kong and Shangai. China has an embassy in Budapest. Officials from Hungary regularly visit China on trade missions, a factor that helped enabled the buyout of distressed Hungarian chemical maker Borsodchem by the Chinese company Wanhua Group.
South Korea	1988	See Hungary – South Korea relations Permanent missions between the two countries were announced during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The announcement made Hungary the first Eastern Bloc country to exchange ambassadors with South Korea. Hungarian embassy in Seoul South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the relation with Hungary South Korean embassy in Budapest
Sri Lanka		See Hungary – Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary and has a consul in Budapest Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Tsunami, and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka.
Thailand	1973-10-24	See Hungary–Thailand relations Since 1978, Hungary has an embassy in Bangkok and an honorary consulatte in Pattaya. Since 1989, Thailand has an embassy in Budapest. Thailand has also a commercial office in Budapest.
Vietnam	1950-02-03	Hungary has an embassy in Hanoi and an honorary consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has an embassy in Budapest. Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary

Rest of world

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Australia	1972	Australia has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Canberra, a consulate general in Sydney and 4 honorary consulate (in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth). Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Hungary
Brazil		See Brazil–Hungary relations Hungary has an embassy in Brasília and a consulate general in São Paulo. The Hungarian Embassy in Brasília has consular jurisdiction over most of the Brazilian territory, except for the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in São Paulo. Brazil has an embassy in Budapest. The Brazil-Hungary Cultural Agreement was signed in 1992, and ratified on January 12, 1996.
Canada		See Foreign relations of Canada
Mexico	1901	See Hungary–Mexico relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1901, during the time of Austria–Hungary. Diplomatic relations were suspended between 1941 and 1974. They were re-established on May 14, 1974. The Mexican embassy in Budapest was opened on September 30, 1976. Hungary has an embassy in Mexico City and 3 honorary consulates (in Guadalupe, Guadalajara and Cancún).
Morocco		Hungary has an embassy in Morocco. Morocco has an embassy in Budapest. Latifa Akharbach, the Morocco's under-secretary of Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Hungary in 2007.
United States		See Hungary – United States relations Normal bilateral relations between Hungary and the U.S. were resumed in December 1945 when a U.S. ambassador was appointed and the embassy was reopened.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Hungary
• List of diplomatic missions of Hungary
• Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens