H.E. Mr Pal Vastagh, Ambassador of Hungary to Canada, gave a paper on Canada-Hungary relations at the annual conference of the Hungarian Studies Association of Canada (HSAC) at the end of May 2009. The conference took place at Carleton University as part of the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences. His talk was entitled: “Diaspora Communities in a global world. Canada-Hungary Relations Today”. We are pleased to be able to present it here.
Diaspora communities in a global world Canada – Hungary Relations Today
Talk by
Dr Pál Vastagh
Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to Canada
Ottawa, May 24, 2009
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have the great honour of addressing the annual conference of the Hungarian Studies Association of Canada, which is an outstanding joint cultural and academic event of Canadian Hungarian communities, scholars and researchers from Hungary.
Since the very beginnings the Association has devoted its activity to studying Hungarian culture and history at an academic level. The Hungarian Studies Review, published in close cooperation with the National Széchényi Library and the Hungarian Studies Association of the USA, since its launch has been an important forum for the scholarly exchange of views and discussions. The series of annual conferences since 1985 has been a real contribution to the development of the scientific study of Hungarology.
I would like to express my high appreciation for this hard work. The fact that we can welcome so many renowned scholars from Hungary also reflects the great values of this conference.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have divided my talk into four parts.
Firstly, I am going to give a summary of the policy of the Republic of Hungary on Hungarians in the neighbouring countries and diasporas.
Secondly, I am going to speak about the current bilateral ties between Canada and Hungary,
Then, I would like to share with you the great values I have found among Canadian-Hungarians, Hungarian communities, their activities here in Canada.
Finally, I am going to draw some conclusions. Read the whole speech