On May 24-27, State Secretary for Government Communication, Zoltan Kovacs paid official visit to Washington, DC to brief key decision makers and CEE policy experts on the most recent political and economic developments in Hungary.

Secretary Kovacs gave a lecture in Kossuth House on the essential changes the new Hungarian Constitution will bring about. He stressed that contrary to general perception, the institutional framework of Hungary will essentially remain the same and the Parliament will be passing key legislation prescribed by the new fundamental law in the upcoming half year to bridge the gap between the current constitution and the new one. Among the most challenging legislative issues, the question of electoral reform and voting rights will be addressed.

The Secretary also met with several State Department officials and members of Congress, including chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Europe,  Dan Burton (R-IN) to talk about the upcoming special events in the end of June that will put a unique spotlight on US-Hungarian relations. The event-series will include the inauguration of a state of Ronald Reagan on Liberty Square, a gala dinner and a special memorial session of the Parliament as well as the opening of the Tom Lantos Institute for human rights.

Zoltán Kovács giving a lecture in Kossuth House on the essential changes the new Hungarian Constitution

Secretary Kovacs was also part of the ten-member delegation to represent Hungary at the Ronald Reagan Centennial Gala Dinner hosted by the Reagan Foundation. The delegation included Ambassador Szapáry, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Eugene Megyesy, State Secretary Bence Retvari and State Secretary and Political Director Peter Sztaray from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bence Rétvári, Anna Stumpf and Zoltán Kovács representing Hungary at the Ronald Reagan Centennial Gala Dinner