Hungary to benefit from global trade agreement, says ForMin

The global trade agreement signed at a ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Bali, Indonesia represents a positive development for Hungary and Europe, Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi told MTI on Saturday.

Martonyi, who was one of 160 government ministers from around the world to participate in the conference, said that the agreement, aimed at lowering trade barriers and accelerating the passage of goods through customs, was to the benefit of Hungary because it will serve to increase the country's exports, particularly to non-European Union countries.

He added that the importance of the agreement "exceeds its substantive content."

The global trade agreement was the first the WTO had reached since the organization's formation in 1995.

Parliament introduces extra childcare benefit

Lawmakers on Monday adopted a government-initiated package called extra childcare benefit designed to encourage young couples to have more children.

Under the new legislation, mothers will be able to return to work when their child is one year old, and continue to receive childcare benefits. The system will also be applied to students and young graduates, and firms employing mothers with three or more children will be eligible for further tax incentives.

The extra childcare benefit is a milestone in handling the problem of a shrinking population, deputy head of the ruling Fidesz party Lajos Kosa told a press conference earlier in the day.

Most women want to have two or three children, but in many cases they have to choose between their career or motherhood, he said, adding that the new scheme would allow young mothers to work without giving up their benefit.

The extra childcare benefit will promote employment among women, Kosa said.

Orban says Antall's heritage still exerts influence

Even though Jozsef Antall died twenty years ago, his legacy exerts an influence on today's Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

The institutions of Hungary's parliamentary democracy strengthened as a result of Antall's devoted efforts, Orban said.

He was given the task to wake Hungary from "the daze of the Kadar era," Orban said. Hungary, which was described as the "happiest barrack" in the Socialist bloc was in reality "a brainwash camp for 10 million people" where people were taught to neglect politics and great plans. They were told instead that "it's best not to stand out of the line because greyness would never cause trouble," he added.

Speaker of Parliament Laszlo Kover said Antall was one of the real twentieth-century statesmen of Europe. During the collapse of Communism Antall was deeply committed to a Christian, responsibly nationalist and democratic direction, and, as a prepared politician, he became Hungary's first freely elected prime minister. Antall wanted a Christian Hungary since this would be its only future, he said, adding that his Christian beliefs were rooted in his European identity.

Zsolnay vase fetches record sum at auction

A remarkable Zsolnay vase was sold at auction in Budapest's Virag Judit Gallery on Sunday for 19 million forints (EUR 62,700), setting a new record for the work of the renowned porcelain and stoneware maker.

The one-metre-high vase was made about a hundred years ago by Sandor Apati Abt, one of the factory's most famous artisans.

Bidding for the vase started at 10 million forints, and nine offers were made before the Zsolnay Museum in Pecs, southwest Hungary, took it for its collection.

The last record set at auction in Hungary for a piece of Zsolnay was 15 million forints, for a bowl designed by Jozsef Rippl-Ronai, a renowned Hungarian painter.

Hungary’s Environment Generally Good

Forrás: MTI | 2013. 12. 17. 07:32:00

Hungary is generally doing well environmentally, though there are specific areas which it must devote greater attention to, Zoltan Illes, the state secretary in charge of environmental protection, said.
European Union trends have made their way to Hungary. Just like in the EU, the main problem in Hungary is dust particles in the air which pose a health hazard. Managing pollution is among the most challenging tasks in Hungary and the EU alike. The country’s water reserves are vulnerable and protecting them is an important task, he added, presenting an environmental report to the press. Some 94 percent of Hungary’s surface waters originate from beyond the borders, so bilateral relations with neighbouring countries have great importance in preventing pollution, he said. Soil is also something that deserves heightened attention because pollution can easily seep into water reserves. He said more organic farming would be one way of improving Hungary’s environment.

Parliament introduces extra childcare benefit

Lawmakers on Monday adopted a government-initiated package called extra childcare benefit designed to encourage young couples to have more children.

Under the new legislation, mothers will be able to return to work when their child is one year old, and continue to receive childcare benefits. The system will also be applied to students and young graduates, and firms employing mothers with three or more children will be eligible for further tax incentives.

The extra childcare benefit is a milestone in handling the problem of a shrinking population, deputy head of the ruling Fidesz party Lajos Kosa told a press conference earlier in the day.

Most women want to have two or three children, but in many cases they have to choose between their career or motherhood, he said, adding that the new scheme would allow young mothers to work without giving up their benefit.

The extra childcare benefit will promote employment among women, Kosa said.

FUGA hosts exhibition on "recycled" communist architecture

Budapest's FUGA architecture centre will offer a selection of international studies seeking ways to utilise Soviet-style housing estates in an exhibition opening on Friday.

The bids, tendered in a competition announced at this year's Architecture Biennale in Tallinn, offer ideas on "recycling" the space, structures, concepts and materials of communist architecture for use in the present and future, the organising Estonian Institute in Budapest told MTI.

Bidders in the competition were asked to make plans to improve Vaike-Oismae, a large housing estate in Tallinn built in the 1980s. Participating designers have come up with ideas of large parks and new functions, with increased focus on energy efficiency and resident involvement.

The competition was won by a team of students from Moscow's Strelka Institute.

The exhibition will be open till January 21 next year.

Hungary wants access to clean drinking water as independent development goal

Hungary, as co-chair of a working group on the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), wants access to drinking water to become an independent development goal, foreign ministry state secretary Peter Wintermantel said on Thursday.

Wintermantel met European Union development officials in Brussels. They discussed plans for the period following 2015 when the Millennium Development Goals embraced by 189 countries in 2000 expires.

The working team operating under the UN's auspices and co-chaired by Hungary and Kenya will submit a proposal on the SDGs in September 2014.    

Wintermantel said the 110 national delegations at the Water World Summit held in Budapest in October expressed their readiness to support the Hungarian proposal on making access to clean water an independent goal.  

Wintermantel added that only parts of the Millennium Development Goals will have been fulfilled by 2015.

Orban says Antall's heritage still exerts influence

Even though Jozsef Antall died twenty years ago, his legacy exerts an influence on today's Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

The institutions of Hungary's parliamentary democracy strengthened as a result of Antall's devoted efforts, Orban said.

He was given the task to wake Hungary from "the daze of the Kadar era," Orban said. Hungary, which was described as the "happiest barrack" in the Socialist bloc was in reality "a brainwash camp for 10 million people" where people were taught to neglect politics and great plans. They were told instead that "it's best not to stand out of the line because greyness would never cause trouble," he added.

Speaker of Parliament Laszlo Kover said Antall was one of the real twentieth-century statesmen of Europe. During the collapse of Communism Antall was deeply committed to a Christian, responsibly nationalist and democratic direction, and, as a prepared politician, he became Hungary's first freely elected prime minister. Antall wanted a Christian Hungary since this would be its only future, he said, adding that his Christian beliefs were rooted in his European identity.

Zsolnay vase fetches record sum at auction

2013. december 16. hétfő 08:57 |

A remarkable Zsolnay vase was sold at auction in Budapest's Virag Judit Gallery on Sunday for 19 million forints (EUR 62,700), setting a new record for the work of the renowned porcelain and stoneware maker.

The one-metre-high vase was made about a hundred years ago by Sandor Apati Abt, one of the factory's most famous artisans.

Bidding for the vase started at 10 million forints, and nine offers were made before the Zsolnay Museum in Pecs, southwest Hungary, took it for its collection.

The last record set at auction in Hungary for a piece of Zsolnay was 15 million forints, for a bowl designed by Jozsef Rippl-Ronai, a renowned Hungarian painter.