ETHIOPIA: Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán Meets Christian Leaders in Budapest

ADDIS ABABA, JUNE 21, 2019 (CISA) – Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán on June 18 met Christian leaders from Ethiopia for talks on the impact of migration on Europe and Africa.

The meeting was attended by the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Berhaneyesus Demerew Cardinal Souraphiel; Samson Bekele, Director General of the Child and Family Affairs Organization of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Girma Borishie Bati, Director of the Development and Social Services Commission of the Mekane Yesus Ethiopian Evangelical Church.

According to the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, the parties agreed that Europe should seek to remain faithful to its Christian heritage. The West should not be ashamed of its Christian identity, whether in crises or in better times.

The Christian human rights civil-society organization, Open Doors highlights Ethiopia as one of the 30 countries most at risk from the persecution of Christians.

The Ethiopian Christian leaders assured the Prime Minister that their churches are committed to help young Ethiopians find progression in their own country as opposed to emigration.

They lamented of how, “those leaving their native land find themselves in an exposed situation and become toys in the hands of human smugglers.”

The clerics thanked Hungary for providing scholarship programs to several Ethiopian young people who, upon the completion of their studies, returned home to serve their country.