The
Hungarian Ambassador hosted the annual "Mikulás" (St.
Nicholas) Dinner of the Hungarian
American Coalition (HAC) on December 2. The dinner usually
precedes the general board meeting of the Coalition, and is
traditionally hosted by the Embassy. The keynote speaker of the
evening was U.S. Ambassador to Hungary George H. Walker.
Ambassador
Simonyi said in his welcoming speech that 2006 will be a very important
year for Hungary because of the 50th anniversary of the 1956
Revolution. The events in Hungary and in the United States will
commemorate the Revolution by focusing on its message for today: the
importance of democracy and freedom in the world.
The
crowd was pleased to hear a few songs sang by the very talented Charity
Tilleman Dick.
Amb. Walker with HAC Treasurer Zsolt Szekeres
Embassy DCM Viktor Szedrkényi with László Hámos,
President of the Hungarian Human Rights Federation (HHRF) in New York,
and HAC President Maximilian Teleki
Charity Tilleman-Dick, Mrs. Simonyi, Dana Scott, and Ambassador
Simonyi
Ambassador Walker delivering his keynote speech
Ambassador Simonyi greeting the invitees
Edith Lauer, HAC Chairman of the Board Emerita,
introducing President Max Teleki
Consul General Ferenc Bösenbacher (Los Angeles) with
Honorary Consuls Helen Szablya (Seattle) and Eva Voisin (San Francisco),
and György Rétfalvi, CEO of the Hungarian Investment and Trade
Development Agency (ITDH)
State Department Hungary Desk Officer Michelle
LaBonte with First Secretary Mária Vass
