All areas of Hungarian-US relations should be dealt with by strengthening dialogue, Hungary's new ambassador to the US said in an interview prior to her departure to Washington, DC.
Reka Szemerkenyi said her professional experience in security policy
would enable her to further strengthen this important area of cooperation. Furthermore, a "female approach" in foreign policy can also play an important role in coordinating sensitive issues, she said.
She said her main task would be to ensure that political relations are elevated to the same level as economic and security policy ties, which are strong and positive for both sides.
Hungarian-US relations are especially important strategically in Hungary's foreign policy, she said. "It is an important task, especially during current international shifts, that this system of relations should be made perhaps the best and most dynamic."
Certain elements of bilateral relations, especially economic and security cooperation, functioned well and have developed in recent years. The Hungarian government aims to maintain this trend and further enhance it, she said.
Szemerkenyi said it was a sore point that there was a "lack of understanding and a difference in opinion" in certain political issues in which "both sides are guided by the same principles, considering that we both believe in democracy, we are both building a constitutional state and we would like to make it increasingly better and more efficient."
"My personal professional background also predestines me to further enhance existing strategic relations in security policy and energy policy," Szemerkenyi said, adding that she always considered the professional approach most important in her work and she would continue abiding by this principle.
"Even though there are differences of opinion, it is apparent that maintaining a good partnership is a priority for both sides. Every issue needs to be handled in this framework," she said commenting on recent diplomatic tensions in US-Hungarian relations.
According to Szemerkenyi, the issue of the Hungarian officials banned from entering the US has be "completely closed". She said she had no plans to make efforts to get the list published because "there is no new information; there is nothing to inquire about".
Szemerkenyi, replacing Gyorgy Szapary as ambassador, leaves for the US on Feb. 13 and will deliver her credentials to President Barack Obama on Feb. 23.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told public television on Jan. 23 that the arrival of the new US ambassador in Hungary could open a new chapter in political cooperation between the two countries.