| Simultaneous Challenges in Europe and a New Era in Hungarian-American Relations – the Priorities of the Hungarian Visegrad Presidency
Featuring
His Excellency Péter Szijjártó
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary
Hosted by
James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security
and Foreign Policy, and the E.W. Richardson Fellow, The Heritage Foundation Hungary has been on the front lines of some of the most important issues facing Europe for the last years. Despite the simultaneous challenges and the repeated harsh criticism, Hungary gave an effective response to illegal migration through enhanced border control. This often criticized policy is gradually gaining support, including by all Central European countries, unifying the region. Hungary has also managed to accelerate economic growth during the Eurozone crisis and today it is one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. Hungary has made significant steps to enhance its energy security.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was the first political leader in Europe to publicly support then Presidential nominee Donald Trump. His support was based on the many similarities that the two leaders and countries embody on important policy issues, such as the promotion of legitimate national interests, achieving economic growth, full employment, and protecting national security and sovereignty. After years of one-sided criticism a new episode can begin in the Hungarian-American relations.
Péter Szijjártó is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary since September 2014. Prior to assuming this position, he served as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations in the Prime Minister's Office. He also served as Government Commissioner for Hungarian-Russian Relations (2013) and Hungarian-Chinese Bilateral Relations (since 2013 still holding the position). Between June 2010 and June 2012 Mr. Szijjártó served as the Prime Minister's spokesman and led the Prime Minister's staff in charge of press, international and organizational affairs. He was the Communications Director and Spokesman of the Fidesz Party between 2006 and 2010, and also Chief of Staff of the party's president from 2009 to 2010. In 2005 he was elected to president of Fidelitas, the youth organization of Fidesz, a position he held until 2009. He first became member of the National Assembly in 2002. He is currently serving his fourth term as member of the Parliament. Friday, July 14, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium |
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