Prime Minister to meet Hungarian President

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will meet with Hungarian President László Sólyom as part of the President's State Visit to Canada from April 23 to 28, 2007.

"I look forward to President Sólyom's visit," said the Prime Minister. "We share common values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law whether it be working together in providing security for reconstruction in Afghanistan or in pressing for democratic change in Belarus."

During his visit, President Sólyom will also participate in state visit activities, including a State dinner hosted by the Governor General and Mr. Lafond.  President Sólyom will also meet with the Lieutenant-Governor and the Premier of Alberta as well as community groups in Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary.

In 2006, Canada and Hungary commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and the special role played by Canada. Following the intervention of the USSR, nearly 200,000 Hungarians fled the country and Canada welcomed around 38,000 of these refugees. Today, Canada has a Hungarian Canadian community of over 250,000.