January 23, 2003

Hungarian ambassador to visit University

Andras Simonyi (pronounced Shee-mah-nee), Hungary's ambassador to the United States, is scheduled to speak on "Facing Global Challenges Together: The New Trans-Atlantic Agenda" at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 5 in California State University, Sacramento's Hinde Auditorium, located in the University Union. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Born in Budapest, Simonyi was a key player in preparing Hungary's membership to NATO. Before being named ambassador to the United States in 2002, he served as the first Hungarian permanent representative on the NATO Council, where he represented Hungary during the Kosovo campaign. From 1995-99 he headed the Hungarian NATO Liaison Office in Brussels and was a member of the delegation negotiating Hungary's 1999 entrance into the Alliance.

He has also been the deputy chief of mission in the Hague and the personal assistant to Hungary's present foreign minister Laszlo Kovacs.

Ambassador Simonyi is a frequent lecturer on security issues, trans-Atlantic relations, military reform and NATO enlargement. He has published numerous articles on the accession process to NATO, trans-Atlantic relations and European security and the war on terror.

Simonyi speaks six languages including English, Dutch and German. He's based in the Washington, D. C. embassy.

Media assistance is available from the CSUS public affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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