A Conversation with the Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S. on His Country’s Past, Present, and Future
Bela Szombati was born to be an ambassador. From his birth in Tel Aviv while his father served as a diplomat in the Embassy’s political section to the charismatic and easy to get along with manner with which he carries himself, it is hard to imagine him in another vocation. Ambassador Szombati sensed this as well, knowing as early as age 14 what profession he would pursue.
In addition to stints in Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and France as well heading Hungary’s Strategic Planning and Information Management Department and serving as foreign policy advisor to the Hungarian president and head of the Foreign Relations Department, his career delivered him twice to the United States. Once from 1988 to 1991 when he was a cultural attaché and again presently as he serves as Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, a post he has held since September 18, 2009.
He is quick to credit his childhood experiences with where he is now. “Being the son of a diplomat I got to know different languages and cultures as a child. I think this taught me openness,” he explained. “I was also impressed by the mediation diplomats must do, crossing cultural boundaries.”
Serving in the United States during the fall of communism in Eastern Europe was something he calls “a tremendous experience.” He shared his memories, saying, “Watching Hungary open its borders with Austria, watching the Berlin Wall come down, watching the Romanian dictator’s trial and live the consequences was truly amazing. All of a sudden, all the doors swung open and we were able to achieve things we hadn’t even dreamt of before.”
Representing Hungary, famous for its ‘goulash communism’ and the 1956 revolt in which the Soviet-inspired government fell only to be replaced by another in what many have labeled “one of the darkest moments of the Cold War,” Ambassador Szombati recalls the differences between his country and others in the Soviet block. “Although the main characteristics of the regime were pretty much the same, the so-called Hungarian style socialism that was created out of fear that the Hungarian freedom fight of 1956 would repeat itself did provide for somewhat broader personal and economic freedoms and more opportunities of traveling abroad than in other COMECON/Warsaw Pact countries,” Ambassador Szombati reflected. “This meant that Hungarians in 1989 knew more about the theory and practice of democracy and a market economy than their less fortunate peers.”
Despite this advantage, Ambassador Szombati is frank about the difficult evolution Hungary continues to face politically, socially and economically. “I am happy the transition in Hungary was bloodless and occurred in a parliamentary framework. However, transition is never easy,” he asserted. “The transition is not quite over yet. We have transformed our political institutions and our economy but we haven’t quite transformed ourselves: mental change takes longer. I think we are ready to share our experiences and the lessons we have learned with other people fighting for their own freedom, aspiring to a democratic future.”
Part of the continuing transformation is good relations with allies in the West like the United States. Having spent over five years in the U.S., the Ambassador has a keen vantage point from which to measure the commonalities and differences between our two countries.
While he admits there are lifestyle differences among them being that Americans are more mobile—changing their workplaces and residences more often than Hungarians—there are also similarities and shared ideas that have traveled in both directions.
Like any official representative, Ambassador Szombati is proud of his country’s accomplishments whatever shape they come in. For Hungary that includes the cube—the Rubik’s cube, which was invented by a Hungarian, as was the ballpoint pen.
In addition to childhood favorites and office supplies, Hungary and the U.S. also share a deep commitment to what Ambassador Szombati called the “precious” value of freedom. “We share the willingness to fight for our independence, as Americans did in 1776 and Hungarians in 1848 and also in 1956,” he said. “Both our nations are committed to defending and promoting democratic values, be it within or outside of our borders.”
This commitment extends beyond theory into practice and shared rhetoric from a world-changing age. The Ambassador’s recount of Hungarian revolutionary Lajos Kossuth’s influence upon Abraham Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address provided an enlightening example of this. In February of 1852, Governor Kossuth addressed the Ohio Legislature, saying in part, “All for the people and all by the people. Nothing about the people, without the people. That is democracy.”
Moving from the past to the future, Ambassador Szombati discussed Hungary’s upcoming Presidency of the European Union, which will begin in 2011, saying, “Although we haven’t seen the final version of the program, I can assure you that Hungary will work for a strong and responsible European Union.”
The Ambassador’s sense is that Hungary will focus on issues close to their hearts and those of all Europeans while helping other states by providing more than just an example. “Hungary must be ready to face global challenges and now it will have the privilege to coordinate a common European approach and common trans-Atlantic answers to those challenges,” he stated. “Hungary is very supportive of the enlargement of the EU and committed to helping its neighbors and the countries of the Western Balkans to realize their Euro-Atlantic integration, join the EU as well as NATO.”
As to his personal future, Ambassador Szombati is reflective. “Serving as Ambassador to the U.S. is in many ways the peak of a diplomatic career, and I am not sure I know what will happen next,” he shared. “I didn’t plan to become ambassador in Washington, DC either, and yet, here I am.”
Here he is indeed, serving in a position he seems born to fulfill. Like his personal career, Ambassador Szombati sees the role of his 1000 year old country still evolving, perhaps in ways that cannot be anticipated.
“We know of the ‘American Dream’ but nobody has heard of a ‘Hungarian Dream,’” he offered. “We have been through some nightmares in our history. Still, I think such a dream may emerge, maybe in a European version.”
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An Emerging Hungarian Dream
October 13, 2010
A Conversation with the Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S. on His Country’s Past, Present, and Future
Bela Szombati was born to be an ambassador. From his birth in Tel Aviv while his father served as a diplomat in the Embassy’s political section to the charismatic and easy to get along with manner with which he carries himself, it is hard to imagine him in another vocation. Ambassador Szombati sensed this as well, knowing as early as age 14 what profession he would pursue.
In addition to stints in Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and France as well heading Hungary’s Strategic Planning and Information Management Department and serving as foreign policy advisor to the Hungarian president and head of the Foreign Relations Department, his career delivered him twice to the United States. Once from 1988 to 1991 when he was a cultural attaché and again presently as he serves as Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, a post he has held since September 18, 2009.
He is quick to credit his childhood experiences with where he is now. “Being the son of a diplomat I got to know different languages and cultures as a child. I think this taught me openness,” he explained. “I was also impressed by the mediation diplomats must do, crossing cultural boundaries.”
Serving in the United States during the fall of communism in Eastern Europe was something he calls “a tremendous experience.” He shared his memories, saying, “Watching Hungary open its borders with Austria, watching the Berlin Wall come down, watching the Romanian dictator’s trial and live the consequences was truly amazing. All of a sudden, all the doors swung open and we were able to achieve things we hadn’t even dreamt of before.”
Representing Hungary, famous for its ‘goulash communism’ and the 1956 revolt in which the Soviet-inspired government fell only to be replaced by another in what many have labeled “one of the darkest moments of the Cold War,” Ambassador Szombati recalls the differences between his country and others in the Soviet block. “Although the main characteristics of the regime were pretty much the same, the so-called Hungarian style socialism that was created out of fear that the Hungarian freedom fight of 1956 would repeat itself did provide for somewhat broader personal and economic freedoms and more opportunities of traveling abroad than in other COMECON/Warsaw Pact countries,” Ambassador Szombati reflected. “This meant that Hungarians in 1989 knew more about the theory and practice of democracy and a market economy than their less fortunate peers.”
Despite this advantage, Ambassador Szombati is frank about the difficult evolution Hungary continues to face politically, socially and economically. “I am happy the transition in Hungary was bloodless and occurred in a parliamentary framework. However, transition is never easy,” he asserted. “The transition is not quite over yet. We have transformed our political institutions and our economy but we haven’t quite transformed ourselves: mental change takes longer. I think we are ready to share our experiences and the lessons we have learned with other people fighting for their own freedom, aspiring to a democratic future.”
Part of the continuing transformation is good relations with allies in the West like the United States. Having spent over five years in the U.S., the Ambassador has a keen vantage point from which to measure the commonalities and differences between our two countries.
While he admits there are lifestyle differences among them being that Americans are more mobile—changing their workplaces and residences more often than Hungarians—there are also similarities and shared ideas that have traveled in both directions.
Like any official representative, Ambassador Szombati is proud of his country’s accomplishments whatever shape they come in. For Hungary that includes the cube—the Rubik’s cube, which was invented by a Hungarian, as was the ballpoint pen.
In addition to childhood favorites and office supplies, Hungary and the U.S. also share a deep commitment to what Ambassador Szombati called the “precious” value of freedom. “We share the willingness to fight for our independence, as Americans did in 1776 and Hungarians in 1848 and also in 1956,” he said. “Both our nations are committed to defending and promoting democratic values, be it within or outside of our borders.”
This commitment extends beyond theory into practice and shared rhetoric from a world-changing age. The Ambassador’s recount of Hungarian revolutionary Lajos Kossuth’s influence upon Abraham Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address provided an enlightening example of this. In February of 1852, Governor Kossuth addressed the Ohio Legislature, saying in part, “All for the people and all by the people. Nothing about the people, without the people. That is democracy.”
Moving from the past to the future, Ambassador Szombati discussed Hungary’s upcoming Presidency of the European Union, which will begin in 2011, saying, “Although we haven’t seen the final version of the program, I can assure you that Hungary will work for a strong and responsible European Union.”
The Ambassador’s sense is that Hungary will focus on issues close to their hearts and those of all Europeans while helping other states by providing more than just an example. “Hungary must be ready to face global challenges and now it will have the privilege to coordinate a common European approach and common trans-Atlantic answers to those challenges,” he stated. “Hungary is very supportive of the enlargement of the EU and committed to helping its neighbors and the countries of the Western Balkans to realize their Euro-Atlantic integration, join the EU as well as NATO.”
As to his personal future, Ambassador Szombati is reflective. “Serving as Ambassador to the U.S. is in many ways the peak of a diplomatic career, and I am not sure I know what will happen next,” he shared. “I didn’t plan to become ambassador in Washington, DC either, and yet, here I am.”
Here he is indeed, serving in a position he seems born to fulfill. Like his personal career, Ambassador Szombati sees the role of his 1000 year old country still evolving, perhaps in ways that cannot be anticipated.
“We know of the ‘American Dream’ but nobody has heard of a ‘Hungarian Dream,’” he offered. “We have been through some nightmares in our history. Still, I think such a dream may emerge, maybe in a European version.”
