Hungarian Representive, Academic Visit and Lecture Students on Hungarian Foreign Policy

The Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies, the Political Science Department and the External Academic Relations Office at Birzeit University held on November 16, 2016 a lecture on Hungary's foreign policy in East Europe and the Middle East.

Lecturer Laszlo Csicsmann, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Corvinus University of Budapest began the lecture with a historical chronology to the Visegrad group foreign policy towards the Middle East, since the cold war.

Csicsmann paid special attention on its recently launched policy "opening to the East", that aims to establishing a closer relationship with the Arab countries, especially the economic ties. He also tackled recent current political issues that have an impact on the approaches of the Hungarian foreign policy, such as the refugees' case and the Palestinian cause.

Prior the lecture, Birzeit University president Abdellatif Abuhjleh met with the Head of the Representative Office of Hungary, and the Deputy Head of Mission Tivadar Takacs and Csicsman. Vice President for Academic Affairs Henry Giacman, and the Director of the Office External Relations Amir Khalil attended the meeting.

Both parties explored areas of common interest in academia, research, exchange and mutual academic programs, focusing on the field of international relations and social sciences.