Imre Hollai

Who is Imre Hollai?

Imre Hollai is a retired Hungarian diplomat.

Hollai joined the Hungarian foreign service in 1949. He served as Hungary's deputy representative to the United Nations from 1956 to 1960, as the head of foreign relations for the Central Committee of the Hungarian Communist Party from 1960 to 1963, as Hungary's ambassador to Greece and Cyprus from 1964 to 1970, and as Hungary's deputy foreign minister from 1970 to 1974. He served as Hungary's ambassador to the United Nations from 1974 to 1980 and as Hungary's deputy foreign minister again from 1980 until 1984. While in this position, he served as president of the United Nations General Assembly from 1982 to 1983. Because of his great success in this role and popularity among his peers in international diplomatic circles due to his charismatic intelligence he was seen as a threat to the rigid communists in the Hungarian hierarchy and forced to return as ambassador to his earlier post in Greece and Cyprus in 1984. He retired from the diplomatic service in 1989. However, he has been an active member of the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly, the body informally advising the General Secretary of the United Nations.