Programs & Events 2009
Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Balázs Re-affirm Close U.S.-Hungary Ties
On June 10, 2009 Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balázs met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C. Secretary Clinton noted the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain that began with the Hungarians taking down the barbed wire along the border with Austria. Among other issues they discussed mutual defense guarantees as NATO allies, efforts to work together on economic challenges and law enforcement, as well as jointly standing up for tolerance and human rights.
After their meeting they signed the Protocols of Exchange of Instruments of Ratification for the 2005 U.S.-Hungary Mutual Legal Assistance Protocols and the U.S.-Hungary Extradition Treaty. These twin agreements will give the police and prosecutors in both countries state-of-the-art tools to cooperate more effectively in bringing criminals to justice on both sides of the Atlantic. Secretary Clinton concluded the signing ceremony by stating: “I look forward to working with the foreign minister as we tackle problems from European security to the Balkans, from human rights in our countries and beyond, to a real sense of working together for a more peaceful, prosperous future.”