US ambassador candidate to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis said on Wednesday that, if appointed, she would cooperate with the Hungarian government in handling sensitive issues, such as minority rights.
Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis addressed a hearing of the Washington senate’s foreign affairs committee. The California businesswoman also said that Hungary and the US maintained excellent bilateral relations and a close friendship.
President Barack Obama has nominated Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis, an influential fund-raiser for the Democratic Party and a leading activist of the American-Greek community, for the post.
As an American/Hungarian living in Hungary, I wish we would be given a real diplomat as ambassador – not just someone who is an “influential fundraiser” with strong ties to a community nothing to do with Hungary (Greece).
Hungary could really use a strong American ambassador right now who could make the right decisions with the political changes coming about.
A/H – Actually ambassadors are just mouth-pieces of the state department so they don’t stray far from the administration narrative.
@ C’est Moi;
Your probably right about the roles of Ambassadors; but, like American/Hungarian said, it would have been nice to have somebody nominated for that position, that was active in the American-Hungarian community.
I have linked to another story which is just about this. If most of Europe also goes to political appointments, that is ‘bundlers’, surely Hungary will not get a career diplomat. Though you bring up an interesting point it might actually be better having ‘political’ appointees who have no cultural connectiosn so they can be removed the passion of local politics, but certainly you would want someone who has at least an inkling of the culture they are getting into.
@ C’est Moi;
That’s what I’m saying, have somebody that “understands” the culture, people, language, etc, but, someone that comes at issues from a different angle.
“US ambassador candidate to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis said on Wednesday that, if appointed, she would cooperate with the Hungarian government in handling sensitive issues, such as minority rights.”
What is she going to do, relocate the Roma to Greece? I don’t think she’s referring to ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.
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