OREANDA-NEWS Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó paid a visit to the severely damaged Church of the Sacred Heart and Saint Benedict in the quake-ridden town of Tolentino, in the Marche Region of Central-Italy, towards the restoration of which Hungary has contributed a sum of HUF 150 million.

He met with the engineers and planners of the restoration works. According to plans, the restoration of the church will begin in March and will be completed by November.

"There is a profound friendship between Italians and Hungarians as a friend in need is a friend indeed, and as the Italians helped us after one of the most tragic coach accidents that ever affected Hungarians abroad, it is natural that we, too should help the Italian region affected by the earthquake”, Mr Szijjártó said.