Clayton News Daily

By Joel Hall

 

Morrow Gives Hungarian Ambassador Key To City

 

 

Jim Millirons, the mayor of Morrow, presented a key to the city to András Simonyi, the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, in a ceremony at the Morrow Tourist Center Tuesday afternoon.

 

Millirons also presented a key to John Parkerson, the newly appointed consul to the honorary Hungarian Consulate in Morrow. The consulate, which opened this week, is the first representation of a foreign government in the Metro Atlanta area south of Interstate 20.

 

It will facilitate business relationships between Hungary and the states of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Hungarian Ambassador came to Morrow after having a meeting with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

 

"When you go to the Capitol Building, you are just another delegation passing through, but this is nice," said Simonyi, commenting on the reception at the Morrow Tourist Center.

 

"We know that all the states are different, but there is something about the [American] south that is close to the hearts of Hungarians," he said. "Through the honorary consulate, we will have a close attachment to Morrow and Clayton County.

 

"Creativity will be the most important resource in the 21st century," said Simonyi, citing Atlanta and Budapest's commitment to the arts and engineering. "Big cities like Atlanta and Budapest will be very important. I am really looking forward to our businesses working together."

 

Simonyi hoped that the new relationship would allow Hungary "to spread its wings" throughout the south and result in a non-stop flight between Atlanta and Budapest. "I want Atlanta to consider Hungary one of its gateways to Europe," he said.

 

Gábor Szabó, head of the economic section of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Washington, DC, said that currently, InterContinental Hotels, Coca-Cola, and Delta Airlines were the only southern companies with a presence in Hungary. "You cannot find any Hungarian companies in Georgia," he added. "We have to build a bridge between them.

 

"We have a common interest," he continued. "Atlanta is a hub for the whole southeast. We have to be here, because the businesses are close to the people. We can't do it in Washington [D.C.]"

 

"This was imperative for us," said Mike Twomey, president and director of the Morrow Business and Tourism Association. "Things like this can only further our growth."

 

Twomey said the city of Morrow is in the midst of building a Global Trade Market, in which foreign businesses will be able to sell their products. He said he is hoping to feature Hungarian specialty products, such as wines and textiles.

 

Twomey said the relationship may also move the Morrow Tourist Center to begin translating its materials in Magyar nyelv, the native language of the Hungarian people, to accommodate an increase of Hungarian Tourists to the area.

 

"It's an honor," said Mayor Millirons. "We're very pleased to have them. It's another outstanding name on the city's roster. We hope that it will influence more Hungarians to relocate their businesses here."