Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUDAPEST509
2007-04-03 08:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR CODEL LOWEY'S VISIT TO BUDAPEST

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM HU 
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VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUP #0509 0930803
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 030803Z APR 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1038
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000509 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE DAVID KOSTELANCIK AND MICHELLE
LABONTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM HU
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR CODEL LOWEY'S VISIT TO BUDAPEST

Classified By: POL/C ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE DAVID KOSTELANCIK AND MICHELLE
LABONTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM HU
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR CODEL LOWEY'S VISIT TO BUDAPEST

Classified By: POL/C ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) Embassy Budapest looks forward to your visit and
provides the following information in preparation for your
arrival.


2. (C) Domestic politics continue to dominate Hungary's
public discourse. Parliament is back in session to open what
all regard as a critical year, and the parties are evaluating
the impact of renewed demonstrations March 15 following
large-scale protests against the government of Prime Minister
Ferenc Gyurcsany. Recently elected as President of the
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP),Gyurcsany still faces
strong opposition from without ... and often only tepid
support from within. With former PM Viktor Orban still at
the helm of the opposition FIDESZ party despite reported
challenges to his leadership from others in the party, the
opposition continues its calls for the government to step
down and refers to a referendum to be held this fall as the
government's last chance to "heed the will of the people."


3. (C) With the exception of energy security, which FIDESZ
has seized as a priority, foreign policy issues are still
conspicuous in their absence from partisan domestic disputes.
There is virtually unanimous support for Hungary's
acceptance to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP): you will likely
hear that Hungary is working hard to address the issues
highlighted in our bilateral road map and looking forward to
a positive decision from the US.


4. (C) Hungary remains selectively active on key issues such
as the Balkans, where Hungary's broad support for our efforts
to resolve the issue of Kosovo status are tempered by
concerns regarding Serbia's Euro-Atlantic integration and the
potential impact on ethnic Hungarian minorities throughout
the region. Relations with Moscow are increasingly in the
spotlight given Hungary's dependence on Russia for energy and
in light of the European debate over US Missile Defense
plans. While EU membership allows the GOH to default to the
consensus position on many issues, there is growing
ambivalence about the value of EU membership among many
Hungarians. This is particularly true when faced with issues
such as the current austerity measures included in the
government's controversial "convergence plan," which caused a
6.4% decrease in real wages in January. As a result, more
and more Hungarians regard the EU as a source of needless
regulations rather than endless resources. Hungary is also
working to promote a democratic transition in Cuba, but often
chooses to fly under the radar in their activism and has been
criticized for overpromising and underdelivering. A welcome
exception to this trend has been their engagement in
Afghanistan, where they are leading a Provincial
Reconstruction Team in Baghlan Province and will welcome our
recognition. They have also deployed forces to the NATO
Training Mission in Iraq and to international missions in
Kosovo, Bosnia, Lebanon, and Cyprus.


5. (C) We are awaiting word on how you would like to use your
available time while in Budapest, but would propose a trip to
the Hungarian Parliament or a meeting with President Laszlo
Solyom on the afternoon of April 12.

- A meeting at Parliament would likely include discussion of
the Visa Waiver Program, which remains a priority for all
Hungarians. Under Parliamentary Speaker Katalin Szili, the
legislative branch has worked to raise its profile in foreign
affairs through frequent travel and legislative outreach.
Szili invited Speaker Pelosi to attend a June meeting of
Balkan parliamentarians in Budapest during her recent trip to
Washington.

- A meeting with President Laszlo Solyom would likely include
discussions on Balkans and Visa Waiver, an issue of central
interest to Solyom's office. A former Supreme Court Justic,
Solyom is often privately at odds with PM Gyurcsany and has
developed an independent and often divergent approach to
foreign affairs.


6. (U) We are also preparing a reception in your honor at the
Ambassador's residence that evening. It will include
invitees from both the government and the opposition who
represent the issues listed above.


7. (U) We look forward to welcoming you in person.
FOLEY