US ambassador critical of Hungarian government

The US ambassador in Budapest, Colleen Bell, spoke of her country’s concerns – mainly corruption, energy security, decline in press freedom and xenophobic characterizations of refugees – in a speech at Corvinus University in the Hungarian capital.

”Fostering the Hungary-U.S. relationship is not
simply a professional duty, it is a personal mission.  And it is important
to me, to Secretary of State Kerry, and to President Obama that we make it work,”
she pointed out.

She mentioned several examples of international partnership between the two countries but she also stressed some points of concern, indicating that US companies would invest more in Hungary if there was more transparency and predictability as well as free, fair and transparent market conditions.

Among other things, she said corruption is a serious concern in Hungary. "Quite clearly a top concern of average Hungarians, as I have heard, and as public polls consistently show.  Wherever systemic corruption has effectively undermined fair governance, it creates an environment ripe for civil unrest, resistance to the government, and even violent extremism."