U.S. PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 001570 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE, DRL/MLGA FOR PAZ, G STAFF FOR FERRAO; PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR ADAM STERLING E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL UNGA PGOV SUBJECT: U.S. PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES REF: SECSTATE 129764 ¶1. (U) Post delivered reftel demarche to MFA Americas desk officer Andras Szorenyi and to Levente Szekely in the Ministry's Department for Policy Planning and Analysis September 20. ¶2. (U) Both emphasized the Foreign Minister's personal commitment to the Community of Democracies. Both undertook to find out how much the GoH had donated to the UNDEF, but noted that Hungary's budgetary straits would compel the government to focus on sharing expertise rather than donating funds. Szekely cited the GoH's decision to accept Cuban refugees as another example of Hungary's emphasis on expressing its commitment to democratization efforts through initiatives other than financial donations. ¶3. (U) Speaking off the record, Szekely also advised that the MFA is considering the designation of an Ambassadorial-level official responsible for all democratization and human rights programs to serve as "the public face" of Hungary's efforts in these areas. LEVINE