Hungary Helps

The Consul General of the Republic of Hungary, Balasz Martonffy, is greeted at the Chaldean Community Foundation by CCF president Martin Manna and Dr. Adhid Miri.

Consul General of the Republic of Hungary visits the CCF

By CN Staff

The Consul General of the Republic of Hungary, Balasz Martonffy, based in Chicago, Illinois, visited the Chaldean Community Foundation on Friday, October 4 while he was in Michigan to learn about the activities and programs of the Chaldean Community Foundation.

His Excellency the Consul was received by Mr. Martin Manna, President of the Foundation, Dr. Adhid Miri, Projects Manager, and Attorney Mike Sarafa.

At the beginning of the visit, Martonffy toured the halls of the building, gaining a general overview of the projects and programs of the Chaldean Community Foundation. He learned that the Foundation is a charitable, non-profit community service organization branching out from the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, and that it dedicates its various programs to supporting and assisting members of the community and helping them adapt to American society and alleviate the difficulties they encounter after arriving in this country.

After the tour, CCF staff welcomed the honorable guest and thanked him for the valuable assistance that the Republic of Hungary has provided and continues to provide to Iraqi Christians. Hungary is considered the largest international supporter of Christians in the towns of the Nineveh Plain and the Kurdistan Region; it has taken the initiative to build schools, rehabilitate homes, support projects, solve difficulties related to Christians, and facilitate the conditions of the rest of the indigenous components in Iraq.

During the meeting details were shared about the CCF’s projects under development, including the new branch of the Foundation in West Bloomfield and the residential apartment project for low-income people under construction on Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights. Topics also discussed were the Iraqi legislation of the unfair law on the import, manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages and the negative impact on the livelihoods of Christians and Yazidis in the country.

The Consul was impressed by the Foundation’s projects and services, and the new building’s pillars, as he considers these visits and programs for exchanging experiences with diplomats, businessmen, and pioneers an important part of his duty. He also sees the Foundation’s activities as a useful step to build human and commercial relations and strengthen ties between the Michigan and Hungarian communities. Martonffy hopes the efforts will open new horizons for twinning projects between cities and states and support everyone who seeks to develop self-efficiencies and create opportunities and pillars of success.

The Consul stressed his happiness with this visit and his desire to develop relations and exchange experiences. He also reflected his desire to exchange visits, cooperation, communication, and partnership between the Chaldean Community Foundation as well as humanitarian service institutions in the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Iraq.

At the end of the visit, the Consul General and his family praised the useful services provided by the Chaldean Community Foundation and the Foundation’s staff in this blessed work. He expressed his desire and readiness to work together and benefit from the Foundation’s expertise to support future initiatives, contribute to and strengthen the programs of community and charitable institutions, and exchange visits between the two teams.

Martonffy extended an invitation to attendees to visit Budapest, the capital of Hungary, to introduce citizens to the history, roles, and successes of Iraqi Christians in the homeland and abroad, hoping that goodness and peace would prevail in the world and that all institutions and donors would strive and work to support and assist those who remain of our people wherever they are, especially in Iraq.