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