September 17-19, 2008

Hungarian Foreign Affairs Committee Delegation Visits Washington

A bipartisan delegation of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee visited Washington September 17-19 to discuss current foreign policy issues of mutual concern, such as the situation in Georgia, energy security and the Visa Waiver Program expansion.

Senator Lugar with the delegation and Ambassador Somogyi

The delegation was headed by Chairman Zsolt Németh (Fidesz), and included Mr. Vilmos Szabó, Mr. József Kozma (MSZP) and Mr. Gabor Tamas Nagy (Fidesz). The delegation’s program included meetings with Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Chairman of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus. 

Congressman Dennis Kucinich with the delegation and Ambassador Somogyi

In the State Department, the delegation met with Deputy Assistant Secretaries David Merkel, Stuart Jones and Judy Garber

House Majority Leader with the delegation and Ambassador Somogyi

The delegation met House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland). Mr. Hoyer was decorated with the Commander's Cross Order of Merits of the Republic of Hungary for the outstanding role he played in the Hungarian democratization process and in promotion of minority rights in Central Europe.