Hungary's government spokesperson has met with members of Congress, reporters, visiting think tanks and other institutions during a four-day visit to Washington, D.C.
Zoltán Kovács held talks with several Republican politicians, and with officials from important think-tanks and research institutes such as the German Marshall Fund, the conservative Heritage Foundation and the Family Research Council.
Kovács informed everyone he met about the Hungarian government’s politics, about the philosophy and general principles behind what the government has been doing during the past seven years, and what practical measures were introduced as a result.
Kovács said that he regarded as extremely useful those discussions had with officials from the Congressional Research Service because this service operates the database that serves to assist legislators and, as Kovács explained, “there should at least be some precise information on the standpoint of the Hungarian government there because if they are forced to acquire information from other sources then legislators may find themselves reading distorted half-truths and sometimes lies”.
Current issues were of course also discussed, such as "what will be happening with the CEU or non-governmental organizations, and my experience at every one of my meetings was that they fully understand what is happening," Kovács said, adding that “in general, one-sided information, including many half-truths, have been published with regard to the CEU, which the Rector of the CEU and George Soros are propagating internationally”.
The spokesman highlighted the fact that not only the press but background institutions are also increasingly interested in what is happening in the European Union. “Hungary’s voice on this issue is better heard, because our standpoint is outspoken and does not avoid even awkward issues," Kovács said, adding that for instance on the issue of migration the Hungarian government fundamentally agrees with the new American administration.
“The Hungarian viewpoint and the Hungarian approach was received very well. We have rational arguments and these have found understanding ears. We usually say that we would like a Europe of strong nations, and this is something they understand. And not only because the American government is fundamentally sovereigntist, meaning they naturally understand what we are saying, but also because this same approach is also given at background institutions. And we found similarly understanding ears when talking to members of Congress," he added.