Bilateral Relations

The Security Council held an open debate on 19 July 2016 focusing on the working methods of the Council. The debate, held under the Presidency of Japan, focused on reviewing the progress made to date in this area by taking into account the views of the wider UN membership. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations highlighted the importance of an efficient and transparent Council which is the shared responsibility of the international community.

Participating at the ministerial segment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Mr. Ádám Zoltán Kovács, Deputy Secretary of State for international cooperation reiterated Hungary’s strong commitment to actively contribute to the effective implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. Convinced that the implementation of SDG6 (“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”) is both a crucial driver and enabler for the realization of sustainable development, Hungary continues to play a leading role in promoting the global water agenda.

On 12 July, Minister of State for Security Policy and International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. István Mikola participated at the the High-level thematic debate on Human Rights convened by the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

As a follow-up to Security Council thematic debate on trafficking in persons in conflict situations held last December, the French Presidency of the Security Council decided to hold an Open Debate on “Women, Peace and Security: Responding to human trafficking in situations of conflict-related sexual violence” on 2 June 2016.

Intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform quietly slipped into a new phase, with Member States commenting on the Chair’s new element paper on convergences concerning the first two main topics of Security Council reform. This brings the process one step closer to text based negotiations. In a first ever Polish-Hungarian Statement delivered by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, the two countries suggested more elements, commented on the way forward and pushed for further meaningful discussions on all elements of Security Council reform.