Hungary Says US Ambassador Remarks Amount To ‘Interference’ In Country’s Affairs

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(EurActiv) — Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff on Thursday rejected criticism of the Hungarian government by the US ambassador to Budapest, saying her remarks amounted to interference in Hungary’s affairs.

“For me as a voter it is downright irritating that a diplomat should come here and tell us how to live or how our voters should live,” said Janos Lazar, one of Orbán’s top lieutenants.

Since assuming power in 2010, Orbán’s government has come under fire from the European Union and the United States for curbing media freedoms, its reforms of the court system, centralisation of power and a crackdown on NGOs.

US Ambassador Colleen Bell said on Wednesday (28 October) that corruption in Hungary was still a serious concern, using the secrecy surrounding Hungary’s deal with Russia over its nuclear plant in Paks as an example.

“Increasing centralisation of power creates conditions that mean that many of the big decisions that will impact Hungary for generations to come remain opaque,” Bell said.

“We urge an immediate end to heavy-handed tactics against civil society organizations.”

The ambassador also criticized Hungary’s attitude towards refugees amidst the migration crisis in Europe.

“We can relegate nationalist, intolerant rhetoric to the dust heap where it belongs,” Bell said.

Lazar was asked at a routine news conference about Bell’s remarks.

“As a country we are not subjugated to the United States of America, and we do not want to be either,” he said. “Diplomats delegated here ought to get used to this after five years (of the Fidesz party in power).”

“It is not us that need a reality check, but the Embassy of the United States of America, in view of how they interfere in Hungary’s domestic politics, what hasty and simplistic judgements they pass on a society,” Lazar added.

EurActiv

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3 thoughts on “Hungary Says US Ambassador Remarks Amount To ‘Interference’ In Country’s Affairs

  • October 30, 2015 at 3:17 am
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    It is tiresome and sometimes amounts to downright demagoguery when a country criticizing another on issues that the criticizer has a poor track record, such as treatment of foreign financed NGOs. The US is a great country IMO but it is FAR from perfect! Its government sometimes seems to forget that largeness and strength does not qualify and entitles it to treat other nations with disrespect and with implication of superiority!

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  • October 30, 2015 at 3:52 pm
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    It is a shame that an ex-soap opera producer, who bought this position for herself, brave enough to criticise, to dictate and make demands in Hungary. She does her best to help the opposition to bring Mr Orban’s government down. She obviously represents the corporate fascist US interest whatever it takes. Although, she is an ambitious, opportunistic and unscrupulous woman, sadly she is fairly ignorant and superficial person too.
    The saddest thing is, however, that she represents a country which is not democratic and one of the most corrupt countries on earth. They just call the corruption ‘lobbying’.
    The US supports the immigration (from the Middle*East)into Europe because if the European leaders stupid enough to sign the TTIP in 2020 than the corporate fascist will make huge profit there too. Namely, they need the cheap labour to undercut Europeans wages.

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  • October 30, 2015 at 5:49 pm
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    And people wonder why The world hates America , they just cant seen to not middle in other countries affairs! , i wonder if America is going to bring “freedom” to Hungary
    as they did with other countries trough history?
    You Americans are worse then the Communists.

    Reply

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