Ambassador nominee to promote US business interests, democratic values in Hungary

US businessman David B. Cornstein, President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Hungary, has said that he would work to promote his country’s business interests as well as democratic values on his mission.

At a hearing in the US Senate on Wednesday, Cornstein said

his primary focus would be strengthening bilateral ties and promoting such democratic values as the freedoms of expression, media, and religion.

He said he would build close cooperation with the Hungarian government concerning shared security concerns and added that such cooperation would further strengthen communication between law-enforcement and anti-terrorism organisations.

Concerning the Hungarian economy, the candidate said that it has performed especially well under Viktor Orban’s premiership.

On another subject, Cornstein said it was important to fight anti-Semitism in Hungary and in the region.

He said he would closely cooperate with Jewish organisations and religious communities to ensure security for the Jewish community.

Mr. Cornstein is chairman of Pinnacle Advisors, Ltd and was previously CEO, president, and ultimately chairman emeritus of Finlay Enterprise, a billion-dollar NASDAQ Stock Exchange Company. A native New Yorker, Mr. Cornstein served as chairman of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation and as vice chair of the city’s Economic Development Corporation. He was also chair of the New York State Olympic Games commission and a board member of the Battery Park City Authority and of the Jacob Javits Development Corporation.