New US Ambassador to “work tirelessly to uphold democratic values”

Television producer/large-scale Obama campaign contributor Colleen Bradley Bell is getting ready to assume her post as US ambassador to Hungary; among the last bits of business she undertook in the home country was an appearance before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
At this hearing last week, Bell expressed concern about the direction in which the current government is leading Hungary: “Many argue that sweeping legislative and constitutional changes have hurt the international investment climate, undermined property rights, weakened the judiciary and centralized power in the hands of the executive [branch].”
She promised to “work tirelessly to uphold American and European democratic values, to express our concerns where appropriate, and to urge our Hungarian partners to work collaboratively with international partners and civil society on these issues.”
In response, Foreign Minister János Martonyi shot back by saying that Bell “shouldn’t work from scripts written in advance by others” and that her ideas of Hungary “are based on misunderstandings and false information.”
ADVERTISEMENT
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.