CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM HUNGARIAN POLITICAL

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 001075 SIPDIS FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, EUR/NCE FOR JAMIE LAMORE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP HU SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM HUNGARIAN POLITICAL PARTY LEADER REF: SECSTATE 118192 ¶1. Following is the text of a congratulatory message to President-elect Obama from Gabor Fodor, Chairman, Alliance of Free Democrats, the Hungarian Liberal Party, received November 6, 2008. ¶2. Begin Text Dear Senator Obama, Allow me to congratulate you for your own great victory, and for that of the Democratic Party at Congress and in the Senate! You lead a fantastic campaign during the last months which was a great inspiration for everybody. A good many people are interested in politics and foreign policy in my country, and I was very happy to have witnessed your victory speech with them, despite the late hour and the time distance. Of course, it was not only your speech that was inspiring. For the Hungarian liberal party it is very important that finally, after eight years the United States has a liberal, a Democratic president. I hope as President you will keep your promise and you will be able to change the United States' foreign relations from unilateralism to friendly multilateral relations. Especially as former Minister of Environment and Water I was very pleased to hear your affiliation towards climate change and the exploitation of alternative energy sources. I hope the United States and the European Union will be able to work together on that cause. I would also like to thank you for your very kind words on the occasion of the Hungarian revolution of 1956, it meant a lot for my nation, and especially for the Hungarian liberals. There are many founders of my party who have fought in October 1956, and who had been sentenced to lifelong prison, or even death. I hope we will have an opportunity to meet in person, and that we can build a friendly relationship between our parties also. Kind regards, Gabor Fodor Chairman Alliance of Free Democrats, the Hungarian Liberal Party Budapest, 5th of November 2008 End text. Foley