Béla Szombati

Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary

Washington, DC

Personal:

 

Born in Tel-Aviv on July 16, 1955, son of a career diplomat.

 

Married to Zsuzsa Mihályi, he has two sons: Kristóf (born 1980) and Daniel (born 1986).

 

Speaks fluent English and French as well as some Russian and Spanish.

 

Academic:

He received elementary and secondary education in Hungarian and French schools, and higher education at London University and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, where he graduated in 1980. Upon graduation he entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Professional:

1980-1982: Department of International Security, MFA, dealing with “third basket” issues of the CSCE

1982: Department of Asia

1982-1986: Attaché, later Secretary of the Hungarian Embassy in Hanoi, dealing with economic, cultural and media affairs

1986-1988: Department for North America and part of Western Europe in the MFA, US Desk Officer

1988-1991: Cultural Attaché of the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C. dealing with cultural affairs

1991-1994: Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the Republic and Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the President’s Office, Budapest

1994-1999: Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary in Paris, France

1999-2002: Deputy Head of the State Secretariat for European Integration

2002-2006: Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary in London, UK

2006-2009: Head of Strategic Planning and Information Management Department

2009- Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary in Washington, DC