Hungary not only needs to be successful but also look successful, and the conditions are provided, said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade László Szabó, at the international conference on foreign relations organised by Századvég Foundation.
The Minister of State emphasised in his speech that the role of the government is to coordinate the activities of the ministries in a way as to create a consistent image of Hungary.
László Szabó was of the opinion that Hungary has a stronger global presence in culture than in the world economy, and there is no doubt that the country has left a larger mark on the world in this regard well beyond what its economic performance or geographical size would suggest.
We must be very proud of the economic performance achieved in the last few years, the Minister of State declared. In addition to this, he mentioned among the further major achievements the new constitution, the completely transformed Hungarian system of public administration, the new Labour Code, laying the foundations of the dual education system, the preference given to consumption taxes over payroll taxes, the flat rate family income tax, the low profit tax and the sectoral taxes. He said that these changes have resulted in a more balanced internal economic system. Hungary is a small country, it will not change global trends, but the performance it delivered throughout the past 25 years can be a cause for enthusiasm, he added.
László Szabó also explained that the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade resulted in the creation of a new infrastructure that offers excellent opportunities, whereby traditional diplomacy was complemented by cultural diplomacy and economic diplomacy. He listed the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict, the strengthening our alliance with the United States, the development of our relations with Russia using pragmatic, objective tools, reducing energy-dependence, strengthening relations with Germany and Central European cooperation as the objectives of Hungarian foreign policy.
Hungarian Ambassador to Washington Réka Szemerkényi explained that the almost concurrent appointment of the two new ambassadors in Hungary and in the United States can mark the opening of a new chapter in bilateral relations. She was of the opinion that this is necessary because this bilateral cooperation may have a key role in responding to challenges the two countries are facing.
She emphasised that the relationship between Hungary and the United States is an alliance with deep-rooted values and is built on shared convictions and very strong foundations. The diplomat drew the attention to the strategic importance of the Atlantic relations. In her view, the significance of these relations will continue to increase in the following decades; therefore, the Hungarian-U.S. cooperation must be reinforced.
András Lánczi, President of Századvég Foundation explained that there seems to be a kind of “world public opinion” nowadays that can co-exist with the numerous local public opinions. Since there are a lot of complex interrelationships between these opinions, it is not enough to influence and mould the opinion of people locally. It is not enough to convey our messages to the citizens of a certain country, because “we are globally connected”, and we must take into account all the benefits and disadvantages arising from that, he pointed out.
Lobbyist and former U.S. Congressman Connie Mack said that Hungarians underestimate the position Hungary actually occupies in the world, whereas the contribution of Hungarians to world history is undeniable, so they should be proud of the position they have in the world.
The task is to further intensify the already strong Hungarian-U.S. relations, which are based on common values and commitment to freedom. The Hungarian economy is strong and growing, and this is an achievement worth heralding to the world because it is not something that every country can claim, he declared. He added that this takes courage because there might be attacks against the country, so it is important to have strong leaders in the country.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the vice president of Századvég Foundation explained that new tools and methods must be applied for shaping the image of the country, such as social media that cannot be neglected, and in the case of Hungary, the involvement of the diaspora may bring benefits as well. It may be worth involving non-governmental organisations, too, he noted. An adequate strategy should be developed, giving due consideration to various opportunities, in order to create an image that can be properly represented in front of the general public, and this could be based on the Hungarian economic model, he said.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
