The new Permanent Representative of Hungary to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Sandor Juhasz, on Monday presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka.  | (l-r): Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka and Mr. Sandor Juhasz. |
Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director commended the cordial relations existing between Hungary and UN-HABITAT, which dates back more than thirty years. She recalled that initially, the main area of UN-HABITAT collaboration with the country was the work of Habitat Information Centre for East and Central Europe which was created in November 1980. She noted that the Centre was supported by the Hungarian Ministry of Interior. Mrs. Tibaijuka, however, called on the envoy to help speed up the process of preparing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UN-HABITAT and the Republic of Hungary, which started three years ago. The new MOU aims to expand the Habitat Information Office in the capital city, Budapest, to ensure that the Office is able to provide information to partners in Hungary as well as in other interested neighbouring countries. It also aims to strengthen collaboration between UN-HABITAT and the Partner Agency within the Government of the Republic of Hungary that deals with housing and human settlements issues, and to strengthen the role of the country in the UN-HABITAT Governing Council. The Executive Director congratulated Mr. Juhasz on his appointment and called for better funding of the organization. She presented the envoy with some UN-HABITAT’s publications, including the new-look newsletter, “Urban World.” Responding, Mr. Juhasz, who has a wide experience in UN-HABITAT and the larger United Nations, assured the Executive Director that he will do all he can to support UN-HABITAT and its mandate. Mr. Juhasz also paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Inga Klevby, during which Ms. Klevby appealed to the envoy to use his good offices to ensure continued good relations between the Secretariat and the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the organization.
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