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Embassy Row

By James Morrison
September 21, 2006

'Un-Hungarian' riots
    Hungary's ambassador is angry and embarrassed by the rioting and violence on the streets of his elegant and ancient capital, Budapest, that has damaged the country's image.
    Ambassador Andras Simonyi told Embassy Row yesterday that he also is disappointed that the protests have diverted attention from the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian revolt against communism that was crushed by Soviet tanks.
    "Hungary's image in the United States is the image of a country that is democratic and a country that has faced a lot of difficulties but has solved them peacefully so far and is a great ally of the United States," he said.
    The violence, which has left more than 200 injured and dozens of burned-out vehicles littering the streets, is "very un-Hungarian," he said.
    Mr. Simonyi blamed the riots on "radical-right ultranationalists" and "football hooligans," a European term applied to rampaging soccer fans, who provoked peaceful protesters angered over Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's admission that his Socialist Party lied about the deteriorating state of the economy to get re-elected earlier this year.
    Since the election, the government has imposed severe measures, including cuts in social services and tax increases, to try to prevent a budget deficit from reaching a projected 10 percent of the gross domestic product.
    Mr. Simonyi said governments of the left and right have failed to control spending for the past decade, adding, "finally this prime minister is determined to do something about it."
    The ambassador defended the peaceful demonstrators.
    "I can understand that people are angry, and they are voicing their anger and frustration," he said. "However, we have to face the reality. Harsh, tough reforms are needed to fix the economy and fix the welfare state."
    The ambassador acknowledged he is worried about the effect of the riots on foreign investment and tourism, but he got a vote of confidence from a Canadian investor who owns the building that houses the state-run television station, which was ransacked and suffered damage from small fires set by the protesters.
    "He intends to renovate the building and stay in Hungary," Mr. Simonyi said.

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