US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed his greetings to the Hungarian people on the occasion of Hungary’s August 20 national holiday, in a statement posted on the US embassy’s Facebook page on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the US government, Pompeo called Hungary “a close friend and ally of the United States”.

Pompeo said the US valued its cooperation with Hungary on a variety of important issues such as defence, regional European security and energy diversification.

“We deeply respect Hungary’s rich history, culture, and traditions, and we are grateful for the many contributions that Hungarian immigrants have made to American society in an array of fields, from the arts to business to technology,” the secretary said.

Pompeo added that bilateral exchanges and a growing trade relationship between the US and Hungary “help strengthen the robust people-to-people ties that bind our two countries together today”.

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“We look forward to continued partnership with Hungary to advance our shared interests and commitment to freedom and prosperity in Europe,” the statement concluded.

Source: MTI/Facebook