Kurdistan Region PM Bids Farewell to Hungarian Consul General, Reinforces Strengthening Partnership
Consul General Tóth thanked the KRG and its institutions for their ongoing support and coordination throughout his tenure.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday received Hungarian Consul General Attila Tóth in Erbil to mark the conclusion of his diplomatic mission in the Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed his appreciation to Consul General Tóth for his service and efforts in promoting bilateral ties between Hungary and the Kurdistan Region. He wished him continued success in his next assignment.
Consul General Tóth thanked the KRG and its institutions for their ongoing support and coordination throughout his tenure.
The Growing Relations Between the Kurdistan Region and Hungary
Hungary established its Consulate General in Erbil in November 2014, becoming one of the first European Union member states to do so. This move underscored Hungary’s recognition of the Kurdistan Region’s growing strategic and economic significance.
Hungary has been an active member of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. Between 2014 and 2018, the Hungarian government supplied the Peshmerga forces with several hundred tons of weapons and ammunition. Hungarian military advisors also provided training to Kurdish security forces.
Hungary has supported the Kurdistan Region through cultural and humanitarian projects, including funding educational institutions, conducting archaeological missions, and publishing translations of Kurdish literature. In addition, Hungarian scholarships have enabled Kurdish students to pursue higher education in Hungary.
High-Level Visits and Strategic Dialogues
In recent years, both sides have sustained high-level political engagement:
- President Masoud Barzani visited Hungary in 2012 and 2015 to meet with senior Hungarian officials.
- In December 2022, Hungarian President Katalin Novák visited Erbil, where she opened a Hungary-funded international school and met with KRG officials and Peshmerga forces.
- At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with President Novák to reaffirm bilateral cooperation and discuss regional challenges.