Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST289
2009-04-10 09:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:  

BLOOD, SWEAT, BUT NO TEARS: EMBASSY BUDAPEST

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM HU 
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VZCZCXRO5114
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHUP #0289 1000958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100958Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4083
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000289 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/AE DAN NADEL, EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM HU
SUBJECT: BLOOD, SWEAT, BUT NO TEARS: EMBASSY BUDAPEST
COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY

REF: STATE 20359

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000289

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/AE DAN NADEL, EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM HU
SUBJECT: BLOOD, SWEAT, BUT NO TEARS: EMBASSY BUDAPEST
COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY

REF: STATE 20359


1. (U) Summary: Embassy Budapest rolled-up its sleeves and
came out in force in support of the 2009 International Roma
Day (IRD). Officers and local staff participated in three
events around Hungary to mark the occasion and pay tribute to
the important contributions of the Hungarian Roma community.
Simultaneously, public debate continued on the Civil Rights
Ombudsman's inflammatory remarks about "gypsy crime" (para
7). End Summary.


2. (U) Eleven American and Hungarian Embassy employees,
including ChargQ Levine, participated in a blood drive
sponsored by the Budapest Gypsy Self-Gvernment and the
Hungarian Red Cross. The event aimed to promote cooperation,
social responsibility, and helping others. Details of the
event were featured in both print and television media. The
Embassy officials were joined by several local dignitaries
and celebrities, including the National Chief of Police,
politicians, and television stars.


3. (U) In a separate high-profile event on the following day,
the National Chief of Police publicly thanked the Embassy for
its overwhelming turnout at the blood drive and its strong
support for the Roma community, graciously exaggerating that
"everyone in the Embassy gave blood."


4. (U) At a separate event, the Cultural Affairs Officer
(CAO) and local PA staff marked the occasion by visiting the
small, predominantly Roma, village of Batoyterenye in
northern Hungary. There they visited with teachers and
students at a local after-school program for disadvantaged
Roma youth where they joined the school's IRD celebrations.
The CAO learned Roma songs and dances from the teachers and
students in celebration of Roma culture. Following the
program, the CAO met with the teachers to discuss the
challenges facing Roma in the village and nationwide. The
program was covered by the national media service, MTI.


5. (U) On April 9, the Embassy Legal AttachQ (LEGATT) and
other EmbOffs participated in an IRD event hosted by the
Hungarian National Police and the Fraternal Association of
European Roma Law Enforcement Officers. The event combined a
photo exhibition featuring images of Roma families with a
ceremony to highlight the importance of diversity in law
enforcement. LEGATT delivered remarks on the FBI's
experience with diversity and the lessons it has learned
about how different racial and cultural backgrounds among its
staff enables it to more effectively serve and protect a
diverse society. Approximately 100 people attended the event
including law enforcement officials, members of the Roma
community, government representatives, and the media.


6. (U) Brief articles and corresponding photos of our IRD
activities are available on the Embassy's website. A link to
the Secretary's video message is also prominently featured on
the home page.


7. (U) The Embassy's IRD activities and other events around
Hungary marking the occasion came in the wake of
controversial public comments made by Parliament's Civil
Rights Ombudsman Mate Szabo. In an interview with an online
news agency on April 2, Szabo said he could see the "profile
of a Gypsy crime" and described Roma as "an almost tribal
group as opposed to the highly individual natureof Hungarian
society." Szabo continued, saying, "When we see this
profile, we must warn the people and we must give it a name."
Szabo's comments were summarily rebuked by several prominent
government officials and NGO representatives, many of whom
have called for his resignation. On April 3, Szabo publicly
withdrew his comments and said it was not his intention to
offend anyone. President Solyom summoned Szabo to his office
on April 8 to express his displeasure with Szabo's comments,
saying that his remarks may undermine the public's confidence
in his ability to serve. If Szabo does not resign, it would
take a two-thirds majority of MPs in Parliament to remove him
from office.


8. (U) The Embassy's IRD activities were part of a broader
public outreach effort to support the Roma community. Recent
events have included an extensive school outreach campaign
reaching over 1,200 students to promote tolerance, a
tolerance YouTube video competition, presentations by
Embassy-sponsored civil rights lecturers, a ceremony to honor
the Embassy's International Women of Courage Award nominee of
Roma origin, and the donation of over 50 pieces of office
furnishings and equipment to a Budapest Roma media
organization.

Levine