March 15, 2008

National Holiday Reception on the 160th Anniversary of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-1849

The Embassy of Hungary hosted her annual National Holiday Reception on the 160th Anniversary of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848/49 on Thursday, March 13 at 7pm.

Ambassador Somogyi delivering his national holiday speech

After the Hungarian and American National Anthems, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi gave his solemn speech about the significance and validity of the objectives and results of the  Revolution of 1848. He then presented high level Hungarian State Awards to the following people:

Congressman Christopher Smith delivering his acceptance speech

Congressman Christopher Smith, Member of the Foreign Relations Committee and Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (United States Helsinki Commission) was presented with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for the outstanding role he played in the Hungarian democratization process, in promotion of the free practice of minority rights of both the national and ethnic minorities living in Hungary and of the Hungarian minorities living in the neighboring countries of Hungary, and for his tireless efforts taken to reduce human trafficking all over the world.

Director and Producer Imre Tóth delivering his acceptance speech

Film Director and Producer Imre László Tóth was presented with the OFFICER’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for his tireless efforts made for the Hungarian American community, his active promotion of the Hungarian-American relations, and his cultivation of the memory of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in the United States of America.

Charles Dallara at the reception of the Embassy

Charles Dallara, Managing Director of the Institute of International Finance with the OFFICER’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for his active promotion of the accession of Hungary to the International Monetary Fund, his assistance in solving the financing problems during the economic transition and raising international investment support for the Hungarian fiscal consolidation during 1995/96 and 2006/2007.