March 26, 2007

Embassy of Hungary Hosts the Opening reception of Global Electoral Organization/IFES Conference

On March 26 with more than 200 participants from 67 countries the Embassy gave home to the opening reception of the 20^th Congress of the election observers from 5 continents

US Senator James Inhofe (R-Ok.) with Hungary's Deputy Chief of Mission, Viktor Szederkényi

 
The opening speeches were delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Viktor Szederkényi and IFES CEO Richard Soudriette, both of them praising the value of “democracy solutions” represented and exerted by IFES in almost 100 countries. US Senator James Inhofe and William Hyble, Chairman of IFES Board of Directors also addressed the audience and lauded  the role of the electoral organizations and its “democracy advocates” especially in transition societies.
 

Zoltán Tóth, Secretary General of ACEEEO, and Viktor Szederkényi, Deputy Chief of Mission

Dr. Zoltán Tóth , former Secretary of  State for the Ministry of Interior from Hungary, now acting Secretary General of the Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials (ACEEEO) reminded the guests in his speech of 1991, when senior election officials, government and civic education leaders, and academics gathered in Budapest, Hungary for the Central European Electoral Systems Symposium. This historic meeting led to the founding of ACEEEO, which promotes the institutionalization and standardization of democratic processes and procedures.
 

IFES CEO Richard Soudriette and Embassy DCM  Viktor Szederkényi