[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF AMBASSADOR FERENC SOMOGYI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in Recognition of the 
Ambassador of Hungary, Ferenc Somogyi, and his family as they celebrate 
their departure from the United States after nearly two years of 
exemplary service.
  Ambassador Somogyi was born on September 1st, 1945 in Hartkirchen, 
Austria. In 1952 the Ambassador began his education in Budapest. He 
earned a University Degree in 1968 from the University of Economics, 
Budapest in the field of International Relations and in 1977 was 
awarded a Doctoral Degree in World Economics from the same institution. 
Moreover, Ambassador Somogyi gained an additional University Degree in 
the area of International Relations from the College for Political 
Science in Budapest.
  After obtaining his degree, Ambassador Somogyi began his career at 
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Hungary. He worked his way from a 
junior desk officer in 1968 to Professional State Secretary in 1990, 
during which he served as the Chief Negotiator for talks on the 
withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. By 1996 Ambassador Somogyi 
became the State Secretary for Euro-Atlantic Integration. While State 
Secretary, Ambassador Somogyi acted as the Chief Negotiator for the 
Hungary-Slovakia Framework Treaty, Hungary-Romania Framework Treaty, 
Hungary's NATO accession talks and Hungary's EU accession talks. 
Ambassador Somogyi took positions as the Director for Euro-Atlantic 
Integration for MATAV Hungarian Telecommunications and CEO of 
Stonebridge Communications AD between 1998 and 2006. Later in 2006, the 
Ambassador became the Director for International Affairs for Magyar 
Telekom before being named the Ambassador of Hungary in 2007.
  In addition to Ambassador Somogyi's impressive professional career, 
he has also played a vital role in several Hungarian national and 
international organizations. For nearly a decade Ambassador Somogyi was 
a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. Between 1998 and 2003 the 
Ambassador served as President of the Hungarian Atlantic Council. He 
was also a member of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in 
Hungary from 1999 through 2001. Between 2001 and 2003, Ambassador 
Somogyi served as Vice President of the Atlantic Treaty Associations. 
Finally, the Ambassador continues to be a member of the Board of 
Trustees for McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland and the 
International Advisory Board for the Institute for the Study of Europe 
at Columbia University.
  While serving as the Ambassador of Hungary, Ferenc Somogyi has 
focused on strengthening transatlantic relations between Hungary and 
the United States. He also continued to work with the Unites States on 
achieving stability in the Balkans as well as with the business 
community to explore new ways in economic and technological 
cooperation.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing 
Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi for his dedication to improving relations 
between Hungary and the United States. Furthermore, I wish Ambassador 
Somogyi and his family a joyous celebration before returning to 
Hungary.

                          ____________________