The date, 8 August 2011, was historic for the ASEAN community in Hungary as the ASEAN flag was hoisted for the first time in this former Socialist state at the Residence of the Ambassador of Malaysia. This great occasion was witnessed by Ambassadors from the ASEAN member states in Budapest, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, ASEAN dialogue partners and senior officials from other ministries in Hungary. The leaders of the ASEAN communities in Budapest, ASEAN and international organization diplomatic staff, the Honorary Consul of Singapore in Budapest and members of the media also attended the ceremony. The flag raising, accompanied by the ASEAN Anthem which coincided with the 44 th ASEAN Day celebration, was also witnessed by H.E. Dr. Janos Hovari, Deputy State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Hungary.
2. In his welcome remarks, H.E Ambassador Dato' Kamilan Maksom, dean of the ASEAN Ambassadors, shared the joy of achievement of ASEAN which, since its inception i n 1967, has created the atmosphere of peace and stability in the region and its transformation into one of the most dynamic regions in the world. He stated that the decision to officially fly the ASEAN Flag together with each ASEAN member-states' flag was timely and served as a symbol of its commitment to community-building efforts. H.E. Dr. Janos Hovari, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, expressed Hungary's admiration of ASEAN's success in producing one of the highest levels of economic growth in the world and maintaining the political and security architecture of the Asia-Pacific region.
3. The guests were also given a glimpse of ASEAN hospitality as they were treated with a spread of ASEAN cuisines, specially prepared by the ASEAN Embassies in Budapest.
