Small Voice Blog: 01/12/2008

Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Ghana's Willing Embrace of Democracy

By Bonka Archie

In Praise of Ghana Election

Once again Ghanaians have demonstrated that democracy can be peacefully practiced and entrenched across the African Continent. Long live Ghana, long live Africa read more

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

Re: Embassy Angers Nigerians

Many Nigerians all over the world reacted to my report, Embassy Angers Nigerians. As a result, I have decided to give two of such reactions a prominent display because of the length, tone and seriousness of the opinions expressed by these two Nigerians. One lives in Toronto, Canada and he is an activist; another lives in Budapest, Hungary and he is in the economic sector...read more

Friday, 26 December 2008

Kudos to Nigeria Embassy Hungary but…

By Hakeem Babalola

I have made it a ritual to keep in touch with our embassy ever since it got its website, and most especially when the website was recently given a fine face, something quite unusual in the history of Embassy of Nigeria Budapest, Hungary. Although there's need for improvement, I must confess that I find the new website accessible and friendly...read more

Monday, 22 December 2008

Woman Finds Root in African Restaurant

Hakeem Babalola Reports

To the invited guests, the place may be about partying, eating and drinking. But to her, it's much more than that. It is her dream; something she had been searching for - all her life. The place has become part of her root she had missed all along saying, “I’ve found what I had been searching for”read more

Saturday, 13 December 2008

Charity March to Africa

By Hakeem Babalola

Helping Africa

Ambulance buses were the hallmark of a Charity March concert recently held at BM Dunapalota in Budapest where four of the eighteen buses were stationed and expected to be driven to five West African countries on 23rd March 2009 in a joint project being undertaking by more than twenty Hungarian businessmen who are currently working and residing in Africa read more

Friday, 12 December 2008

Hungary: Getting Foreign Documents Recognised

Hungarian affair

If we wish to make use of a legal document (for example an authorisation), in the country of its origin there is no problem because this country has clear rules on the form and content of the document. Based on these an expert or even an educated layman can determine whether the document is suitable for producing the intended legal effect.

The situation becomes interesting if we wish to use the given document in a foreign country, in a procedure involving foreign authorities and bodies which implement the law. Since legal systems are very different across the world, and there can be significant differences between individual rules even in cases where the legal systems are similar, those wishing to make use of a foreign document face a difficult task. Multilateral and bilateral agreements offer a solution to this.

Which foreign docs are OKIn Hungary there are essentially four levels at which foreign documents are accepted:

1. If our country has a direct or accredited foreign mission, the competent consular official can legalise the signature and stamp on the document (diplomatic legalisation) for the authority of the host country. Since the foreign mission operates according to domestic law, this creates the link between the foreign document and the legal system at home.The disadvantage is that it is cumbersome (the foreign mission has to have a sample of the signature and stamp in question), time-consuming, and restricted in terms of location (tied to the foreign mission).

2. If the two countries have signed a bilateral legal assistance agreement, they can stipulate in it that documents issued by the other's authorities that comply with certain formalities do not require further legalisation and may be accepted directly in the other country. This allows more flexible application of the law regarding foreign documents.The disadvantage is that Hungary not have bilateral agreements with many countries, and if the text of the treaty is not unambiguous then difficulties of interpretation can arise.

3. If there is no diplomatic connection between the two countries, the relevant authority, having considered the full circumstances of the case, can decide as it sees fit on whether or not to accept the document in question. If doubts arise the authority sends the document to the Department of International Law, which makes lengthy inquiries before reaching a decision on whether or not the document may be accepted.The disadvantage is that the outcome is uncertain, and flexible and prompt administration can become impossible.

4. The desire for a uniform set of rules allowing wide scale and prompt international use of foreign documents led to the Hague convention of 5 October, 1961 abolishing the requirement for diplomatic or consular legalisation of foreign public documents (promulgated in Hungary by Act no. 11 in 1973 ). Based on this, the members of the multilateral agreement and associate countries determined the sphere of authorities which differ from country to country, and are entitled to place an Apostille certificate, whose format and text is uniform, on documents intended for use abroad. This verifies the quality of the body that certified or issued the document in question. Documents authenticated in this way have to be accepted in states party to the convention even without diplomatic legalisation.

This procedure has resulted in a uniform form of authentication which can be easily checked by all parties. The agreement created the possibility for all countries to join, so the list of states adopting the convention is continually growing.

Based on the above we can say that Apostille authentication is suitable if the country where the document will be used and the country of the body which certified or issued the document are party to the Apostille convention, there is no bilateral agreement between the two countries, and we do not wish to request diplomatic legalisation.

In Hungary the apostille is issued for notarial deeds and certifications intended to use out of Hungary by the National Chamber of Civil Law Notaries (Budapest 1st district, Pauler u. 11. 7th floor, +36-1-489-4880.)– Dr Viktor Máté, deputy civil law notaryFor more information about public notaries and their work please see our website or contact us: (06-1) 476-0270.e-mail: notar@notar.hu

Sunday, 7 December 2008

Voice of Reason

Voice of Reason
Bob Marley
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Kola Boof
Kwame Nkrumah
Martin Luther King Jnr. Speech
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Obafemi Awolowo
Socrates Philosophy 1
Socrates Philosophy 2
Tai Solarin
Wole Soyinka's Lectures

Some African Music & Video

Some Nigerian Music
Ebenezer Obey Juju
Haruna Ishola Apala
Hausa music movie
I.K Dairo Early Juju
Igbo movie dance
Igbo music
King Sunny Ade Juju
Kollington Ayinla Fuji
Lagbaja
Majek Fashek
mmiri Maaram
Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu & king Sunny Ade
Shina Peters Afro Juju
Sikiru Ayinde Fuji
Wasiu Ayinde Fuji
Yoruba

Some traditional music and video from other parts of Africa
Agorso...Ghana
Amakula Trailer...Kenya
Youssou N'dour...Senegal
Zevansi...Tanzania

Saturday, 6 December 2008

Embassy Angers Nigerians

By Hakeem Babalola

A Report

Quite number of Nigerians in Hungary are not happy that the 48th National Day celebration of their country was marked strictly by invitation in Budapest. This group of Nigerians has questioned the rationale behind such closed door initiative which they simply called discriminatory gesture. The former Nigerian Union President Hungary, Peter Ihaza, was asked for his opinion even though he was in Canada during the celebration. Although he said that it was hard to comment since he was not there, Ihaza believed the Nigerian Union should have advised the Embassy on how to go about the celebration to avoid a situation whereby people became angry...read more

Friday, 5 December 2008

Predictions for 2009

Predictions for 2009
One more governor to die, cleric predicts
Prophet Predicts Doom
Yar’Adua needs intensive prayers this year - Adeboye
‘Doom Awaits Corrupt Leaders’—Pastor Tunde Bakare
Five Speakers to be impeached, three SSGs sacked...Primate Ayodele

Quotes

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value...Albert Einstein

There's wisdom in knowing that you do not know...socrates

There must be justice before peace reigns...Common Sense

There is no glory in never falling but to rise each time we fall...Obafemi Awolowo

Leadership means suffering...Tai Solarin

No one speaks the truth when there's something they must have...Elizabeth Bowen

"Men Of God" & Materialism

Controversial pastor says God wants you wealthy
Fresh facts emerge on ‘Redeemed Jet’
OPINION: Pastor Adeboye Bought A Plane to See God
Pastor Adelaja sets the record straight on Ukraine fraud charges story
Ukraine-based Nigerian pastor in fraud charges

Hungarian Legend & Study In Hungary

Hungarian Legend
Well-known Hungarians
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hungary
Visit Hungary
Weather in Hungary

Study in Hungary
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)
Corvinus University of Budapest
McDaniel College, Budapest
Semmelweis University

Thursday, 4 December 2008