Remarks at the Opening of the American Corner at the Corvinus University in Budapest

February 18, 2009

Jó napot kívánok. Nagyon örülök, hogy itt lehetek.

Rector Mészáros, Dr. LaFayette, Mayor Gegesy, Excellencies, distinguished faculty and guests.

It is a great pleasure to celebrate the opening of Hungary’s fifth American Corner. I am very excited that we now have an American Corner in Budapest. I cannot think of a better location than Corvinus University.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Rector Mészáros.

The American Corners are based on partnership. Thank you and Corvinus for your support and close collaboration. You will be fine partners.

A lot of hard work has gone into opening this American Corner.

I’d like to extend my special thanks to my Public Affairs staff at the Embassy, Mike Hurley and Carolyn Glassman, who are gloriously productive, and to Corvinus Vice Rector Kis for bringing this opening to fruition.

You may be wondering, what exactly is an American Corner?

“American Corners” are a State Department initiative that started ten years ago. The U.S. has nearly 400 American Corners in more than 120 countries.

Here in Hungary, we now have five Corners: in Budapest, Pécs, Debrecen, Veszprém, and Eger.

An American Corner is a small space that carries a collection of American books, magazines, and movies, as well as internet access, where visitors can learn more about the United States.

Our American Corners also have Student Advisors who can help students learn about study, work, and travel opportunities in the U.S.

It is a portal for gaining access to resources about America. It’s also a location to exchange thoughts and opinions with Americans.

The American Corner serves as a venue for joint programs with the University, such as lectures, speakers, discussion groups, and exhibits. It helps increase mutual understanding.

In all of these programs, the American Corner exists not only for the students and faculty of Corvinus.

This American Corner is open to the public. It will serve all the people of Budapest and the surrounding areas, including university and high school students, government officials, business officials, media, civil society representatives, and any community member who wants to gain a better understanding of the United States.

From U.S. culture, history, society, and geography, to information on studying in the USA, the American Corner is a place where everyone is welcome to learn more about America and its people.

Our overarching goal is to forge a lasting relationship between the people of Hungary and the American people.

I am confident that this American Corner will be a fun, friendly, and lively place that promotes dialogue and mutual understanding between Hungarians and Americans.

This American Corner is yours to build and grow and will go wherever your imagination and initiative take it.

Köszönöm megtisztelő figyelmüket.