October 13, 2006

Foreign Minister Göncz Meets Secretary Rice

Hungary’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kinga Göncz, visited the United States from October 11 to 13, 2006.

Minister Göncz met Secretary Rice

In Washington DC, Minister Göncz viewed the photo exhibition on the 1956 Hungarian Revolution at American University’s Katzen Arts Center. She met with the leaders of Hungarian American organizations and later had luncheon with leading American journalists from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times and the National Press Club.

Foreign Minister Kinga Göncz viewed the 1956 photo exhibition with the Arts Center's founder, Cyrus Katzen

Minister Kinga Göncz met Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the State Department on October 12. They discussed current topics of the bilateral relationship, including the much-debated US visa policy towards Hungary, as well as the situation in Iraq, Cuba, Southeastern Europe, North Korea. Rice and Göncz also spoke about Hungary’s efforts for taking over a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan.

Kinga Göncz and Condoleezza Rice at the State Department

At the meeting, Secretary Rice underlined: "We have many issues that we will cover, including getting ready for the upcoming Riga Summit of our heads of state for NATO, but also bilateral issues in U.S.-Hungarian relations, which is just an excellent relationship. So thank you very much for being here."  

Minister Göncz stated that the United States has confidence in the strength of Hungarian democracy and Hungary’s economy and that Hungary will be able to carry out the reforms. She said that her partners also said that "Hungary needs a strong leader to push these reforms through." Following her meeting with her American counterpart, Kinga Göncz met National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

Minister Göncz with leaders of Hungarian American organizations (László Megyeri, István Nyirjesy, Sándor Végh, György Kunos, Emery Tóth) and Ambassador Simonyi

Minister Göncz left Washington in the evening of October 12 to go to Miami where she took part at the "Cuba Summit – transition to democracy" conference on the following day.