Daniel Berg’s letter to the American ambassador in Budapest, David B. Cornstein

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

My name is Daniel Berg, and I am a Board Member of Momentum Movement, a new Hungarian centrist party. Today I am writing to you not only in this capacity, but also as a concerned dual citizen of the United States and Hungary. As a staunch believer in the transatlantic alliance and Hungarian-American cooperation, I felt it is my duty to draw your attention to a few worrying developments that have taken place in Hungary in the last few years.

Daniel Berg

First and foremost, allow me to congratulate you on your appointment and confirmation. I was very happy to hear that this important position was finally filled, and personally proud to learn that our nation would be represented in Hungary by a fellow New Yorker and Hungarian-American.

The friendship between the United States and Hungary is a long one, as evidenced by the warm welcome received by the exiled Hungarian revolutionary and statesman Lajos Kossuth when he visited the States in the mid-19th century. Kossuth had the distinction of being the first foreign politician to address Congress after the Marquis de Lafayette, and his bust still graces the corridors of the Capitol today, a testament to the continuing endurance of Hungarian-American friendship.

While this friendship between the two countries is long and fruitful, and one that I hope will continue, I believe it is one of the fundamental duties of friends to speak out when the other party’s actions are misguided and may endanger the friendship. There are three particular areas I’d like to highlight where the Hungarian government’s current policies threaten not only the relationship between the countries, but also American and Hungarian interests alike.

First, there is the continued pressure being placed on Central European University, a reputable American and Hungarian institution of higher learning. As an alumnus of CEU, I can attest to the high quality of education provided by the university and to the valuable service it renders to Hungarian and international students alike. In my class alone, there were three other American students who greatly benefitted from CEU serving as a bridge between the Central European and American academic world. Yet the so-called “Lex CEU”, the higher education law passed by the Hungarian government, has kept the university in uncertainty for more than a year now.

CEU has taken every step to comply by the requirements set by the law, and all that remains is for the Hungarian authorities to sign the bilateral agreement with their counterparts in the State of New York. Until this agreement is completed, CEU will remain in limbo, which jeopardizes its functioning and future. Indeed, it may even be forced to move its operations to Vienna, which I believe would be a terrible blow to its students, staff and faculty, as well as to academic life in Hungary and Hungarian-American relations.

I therefore respectfully request that the United States and its diplomatic representatives in Hungary defend this acclaimed American and Hungarian institution and call on the government to sign the agreement. On a personal note, I am confident that you will take all steps that are necessary based on your public comments and on your first official visit, which was to CEU. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for this encouraging symbolic gesture, which meant a lot to the CEU community.

Second, I would like to draw your attention to the increasing influence of the Kremlin in Hungarian politics. President Putin has made several visits to Hungary in the last two years, and Russian financial interests are deeply involved in the country, from the construction of the Paks II nuclear power plant to the lucrative gas deals negotiated between the countries. Additionally, Hungary has been repeatedly named the Visegrad country most exposed to subversive Russian political influence, and there is much discomfort about the government’s Russia policy among NATO allies.

This is reflected by the attention given to Hungary in the Senate Foreign Relation Committee report from January entitled “Putin’s Asymmetric Assault On Democracy in Russia and Europe: Implications For U.S. National Security”, which states: “given Orbán’s positive orientation towards Moscow, his government has taken no discernable steps to stop or even discourage Russian malign influence, and appears to applaud [Russian propaganda] because it aligns with the themes that Orbán promotes. Instead of defending Hungary against Russian malign interference, Orbán appears to have welcomed it”.

As an influential ally and friend, the United States is the best placed to bring Hungary back into the fold of the transatlantic alliance, and to highlight the dangers posed by the government’s “Eastern Opening” and further overtures to Moscow.

Third and finally, the issue of Hungary’s position on Ukraine is a closely related matter. This week the Hungarian government indicated that Prime Minister Orbán would block any decision on Ukraine at the NATO summit, which will be taking place in Brussels next week. No specific reason was given publically for this decision, but ostensibly it relates to Article 7 of the Ukrainian Law on Education, which could potentially harm ethnic minorities.

The protection of Hungarian minorities in Ukraine and providing them with the means to preserve their cultural heritage is an important issue. Nevertheless, it is highly unusual for a bilateral dispute on education policy to be discussed at the NATO level, and to have such a significant impact on joint security policy and collective defense.

Article I of the NATO Charter obliges members to “settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered”, in accordance with the principles outlined in the Charter of the United Nations. Continued instability in Ukraine resulting from a lack of action is a threat to European security as well as American interests in the region. That is why I welcomed the recent statement from the White House that it does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

It is my sincere hope the United States will clearly express to the Hungarian government that it cannot hold Ukraine as a political hostage because of a dispute over education policy and also that Hungary must abide by all of its obligations as a member of NATO.

During my morning commute to work, I pass the statue of President Reagan on Szabadság Tér every day. More and more, I am reminded of his famous quote: “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction…it must be fought for [and] protected.” This sentiment seems especially apt during the troubled and uncertain times that we live in, when democracy is increasingly under threat by hostile authoritarian powers.

Yet it is my sincere hope that the United States will continue to be that shining city upon a hill, which stands to fight and protect the values that it was established to uphold, and which are enshrined in our Constitution. That is why I am glad that the US is again represented at the ambassadorial level in Hungary in your person.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, and I wish you the utmost success in your coming years of service, a pleasant stay in Hungary for you and your family, as well as a very happy Fourth of July!

Sincerely yours,

Daniel Berg

Board Member, Momentum Movement
Hungarian-American citizen

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