The Deputy Minister congratulated the guest on his appointment and wished him good luck in his mission.

A conversation followed the ceremony during which the two discussed issues of bilateral cooperation. Both diplomats stressed the need for completing legal framework of cooperation, organizing high-level visits, as well as consultations between the foreign ministries.

The Ambassador briefed the Deputy Minister on the situation after the Parliamentary election
held two days ago, as well as on Hungary’s experience of the European integration.

Arpad Szekely was born in Miskolc 1957. In 1976-1981, he studied at Moscow State University of International Relations, and started his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary in 1981. In 1984-1989, A. Szekely worked at the Hungarian Embassy in Germany. He served as a special assistant to the Prime Minister for home policy and trade in1990-1992. In 1990, he represented the Hungarian side in the Hungarian-Bavarian Intergovernmental Council. In 2005, he was appointed Ambassador to the Russian Federation. He speaks fluently Russian, English and French. He is married and has three children.