Interviewing with H.E.ambassador of Hungary to Thailand—Mr.Peter Jakab
[PREFACE]
Hungary had established an official diplomatic relations with Thailand in 1973, but in history behind, there was a signal witnessed by signing of the Treaty of Amity, Trade and Navigation between the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Kingdom of Siam in 1872. Due to the deep friendship between two countries, The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy had opened a legation in Bangkok in 1913，the first Hungarian first ambassador, also the first envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, named as Rudolf (Rezső) Wodianer von Maglód, who came from a small town near Budapest, he had presented his credential to His Majesty KingVajiravudh during reign of Rama VI in 1913. At that time, it was named a diplomatic mission as legation and not an embassy, and housed in what is now called the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. This is commemorated by a plaque in the hotel, unveiled by the Hungarian minister for foreign affairs when he visited here to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the legation.
Part 1—Culture and History
HUNGARY, owned with lots of very popular tourist destination, by attracting millions of international people every year. There are so many natural attractions. It is home to the largest thermal water cave system and the second largest thermal lake in the world, for bathing in Lake Hévíz is very healthy and enjoyable, it also has the largest freshwater lakes in Central Europe, the water in Lake Balaton is very calm and safe for parents with children, it also encompasses the largest natural grasslands in Hortobágy National Park with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe,among them the Puszta [with its meaning in Hungarian “prairie”] of the Great Plains for the traditional home of Hungarian cowboys ,actually with name for the well-known Hungarian soup goulash called cowboy. In the old days the cowboys rode horses, herded cows and cooked their goulash on the prairie. These days the cowboys remain so mostly there living with their traditional lifestyles, as the sightseeing for the tourists, The Puszta has changed lots, of course, but any visitors can still go there by experiencing the traditional culture in Hungary，which offers so interesting places to visit, from the low prairies to the higher mountains and into the magnificent caves. Budapest is considered as one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, there is a river Danube going through the town amidst the city and the castles, which are named as World Heritage Site. Hungary promotes its spas for tourist items, like the famous thermal Lake Hévíz. The tourists not only visit the capital but also go to the countryside filled with the thermal lakes and spas.
Part 2—The Great Cultures
There are many spas in Budapest as well and other places throughout Hungary, there have been available there at early centuries of the ancient Roman Times.
Architecturally Hungary is a treasure trove, with lots of historic marks from Roman ruins and medieval castles as well as baroque churches, neoclassical public buildings and Art Nouveau bathhouses.
Hungarian goulash is world famous Hungarian cuisine，it has still preserved the most sophisticated styles of cooking in Europe. Besides the wines are also world-renowned from the big-bodied reds of Villány to the honey-gold dessert wine Tokaj [famously dubbed by Louis XIV as ‘Vinum Regnum – Rex Vinorum’ ̶ the wine of kings, the king of wines].
Part 3—The Great People
Hungarians are proud of their creativity and inventions, which include the dynamo, matches, ballpoint pen and holography. There are many more, among them the famous Rubik’s Cube invented by Ernő Rubik, an architect in Budapest. The country has 12 Nobel Prize laureates, one of the highest numbers per capita in the world. The first university in Hungary, the University of Pécs, was founded in 1367 by King Louis the Great, Hungary has historically excelled in sports and has the third-highest number of Olympic medals per capita and second-highest number of gold medals per capita in the world, in the past, Hungary used to be ranking at 8th out of 211 participating nations, with a total of 476 medals.
Part 4—The Prides of Hungary
Hungary join in NATO in 1999 and EU in 2004 and considered itself as an integral part of Europe and the Western world, Hungarian people have the images of being romantic in the aspects of culture, dances and traditional folk music as well as classical music, there had been some of world known prominent composers such as Ferenc Liszt, Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók,also Hungary is also famous for its folk art, including temperamental dances and colorful embroidery.
Part 5—The Education Exchanges Program on Sign
In October 2017, H.E. Mr.Jacob ambassador to Thailand on behalf of the Hungarian government signed with the Ministry of education of Thailand on memorandum of the educational exchanges Program, with aids of Hungarian government to provide a full scholarship per year to those 50 students selected from Thai Colleges and Universities entering to the various universities of Hungary within periods of 8 years on academic training, this project will not only enhance the enthusiasm of Thai students to study abroad, but also cultivate Thai talents in potential for future development in Thailand, furthermore The new ties had been made between nations to strengthen the mutual friendship since then.
【BACKGROUND TO AMBASSADOR】
Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary – PhD, Intercultural communication, 2006
Budapest University of Economic Sciences, Budapest, Hungary – MA in International Relations, 1998
Position
November 2014 – Present
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to the Kingdom of Thailand
July 2013 – September 2014
Director General, Asia-Pacific Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International Elections Supervisor, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo
Other
Assistant Professor – Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary
Written by Darwin