Hungarian Foreign Minister Warns Against Politicising WHO

  • 24 May 2022 8:56 AM
  • Hungary Matters
Hungarian Foreign Minister Warns Against Politicising WHO
The spread of monkeypox makes it crucial to uphold the professional and pragmatic operations of the World Health Organization, the foreign minister said, adding that politicisation of the WHO's work could put lives in danger.

According to a foreign ministry statement, Péter Szijjártó told the 75th session of the general assembly of the WHO in Geneva that though experts believed monkeypox was very different from coronavirus, it required caution.

It is therefore important that the WHO approach the issue with the necessary level of expertise, Szijjártó said. If things are politicised even in the WHO, the world will not be able to prepare for this new epidemic, Szijjártó said, adding that even lives could be at risk.

The WHO will need to provide countries with the right recommendations so that the world can succeed in taking the fight to monkeypox and so that it does not cause as severe a health-care, economic and social shock as the fight against the coronavirus pandemic did, he added.

The minister underscored the importance of the WHO’s ability to uphold its professional, pragmatic and practical operations.

Earlier in the day, Szijjártó met WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.


Photo courtesy: FM's Facebook page

  • How does this content make you feel?

XpatLoop Media Partner

Hungary Matters

Launched in January 2014, this newsletter published on week days covers 'everything you need to know about what’s going on in Hungary and beyond', according to its publisher the state media agency MTI.

  • Flaming Warning: Outdoor Fire Ban Imposed Nationwide in Hungary

    Flaming Warning: Outdoor Fire Ban Imposed Nationwide in Hungary

    • 25 Jun 2026 10:57 AM

    The government will introduce a nationwide ban on outdoor fire from June 25 due to prolonged dry weather and the heightened wildfire risk caused by the current heatwave, according to an announcement by the food safety office Nébih.

  • V4 Summit: Visegrád Four Cooperation is Back

    V4 Summit: Visegrád Four Cooperation is Back

    • 25 Jun 2026 9:30 AM

    Cooperation among the Visegrad Four countries has returned, PM Magyar said in Godollo on Tuesday after a meeting of the V4 prime ministers. The PMs of the V4 countries have "returned to their roots and agreed to strive for closer cooperation than ever before," according to a statement they issued following a summit just held at Godollo, outside Budapest.

  • Teacher Appraisal System in Hungary 'Unfit for Assessing Real Performance'

    Teacher Appraisal System in Hungary 'Unfit for Assessing Real Performance'

    • 25 Jun 2026 9:05 AM

    Parliament's education committee on Wednesday backed a bill to suspend the current teacher performance appraisal system (TER) for the current school year. Tisza Party MP Anna Muller, the deputy head of the committee, said the existing system was unfit for assessing real performance.

  • Orbán Loses Libel Case Over Spar Supermarket CEO Interview

    Orbán Loses Libel Case Over Spar Supermarket CEO Interview

    • 25 Jun 2026 8:53 AM

    The Budapest Municipal Court has rejected a libel claim by former prime minister Viktor Orbán against news site 24.hu over its coverage of a 2024 interview with Spar's CEO, in a ruling that marks a victory for press freedom in Hungary.