December 12, 2007

Annual Meeting of Heads of Hungarian Representations in the U.S.
 

The Hungarian Embassy hosted  the annual meeting of the heads of Hungarian representations in the U.S. on December 6–7, 2007. This year the conference had a special importance since the year 2007 was the year of changes: apart from changes in the leadership of all Hungarian diplomatic missions in the United States, this year also saw the opening of the Consulate General in Chicago as well as Honorary Consulates in Atlanta and Salt Lake City.  It was a great opportunity for the newly arrived to get acquainted with the entire network of representatives.

 

Honorary Consul George de Pozsgay, Esq. (Coral Gables, Florida), Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Judith Garber, Honorary Consul General Jenő Félegyházy-Megyesy (Denver), Honorary Consul Phillip Aronoff (Houston), Julianna Bika and Honorary Consul Stephen Gergátz (New Orleans), Honorary Consul George Simon (Salt Lake City), Honorary Consul General László Böjtös (Cleveland), Consul Szabolcs Nemes (Washington DC), Honorary Consul Gábor Garai (Boston), Honorary Consul Kaarina Koskenalusta (Chicago), Consul General Balázs Bokor (Los Angeles), Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Honorary Consul John Parkerson (Atlanta), Honorary Consul Emese Komjathy-Pring (Hawaii), Mrs. Bechara and Honorary Consul Dennis Bechara (Puerto Rico), Honorary Consul Eva Voisin (San Mateo, California), Consul General Viktor Polgár (New York), Honorary Consul Helen Szablya (Seattle), Deputy Chief of Mission Viktor Szederkényi (Washington DC)

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi welcomed the thirteen Honorary Consuls and three Consuls General. The Ambassador presented an overview of bilateral issues and highlighted the importance of the contribution made by Hungarian honorary consuls. The presentation of special guest speaker Judith Garber, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State further underlined the excellent state of US-Hungarian relations.

The conference also provided a good opportunity to take stock and exchange views on the ways to strengthen the Hungarian presence throughout the United States in the fields of economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation.