The diplomat said that commemorating the anniversary was also a celebration of such constant values as "liberty, self-government, civic responsibility, and the belief that freedom is worth defending."

Savage highlighted Hungarian immigrants who had contributed to the achievements of the US, and said the two countries were linked through a commitment to freedom, sovereignty and national identity.

She also noted that the Washington monument in Budapest was erected in 1906 using donations by expatriate Hungarians in the US.

Meanwhile, the diplomat said Washington's legacy was that "the fight for freedom does not end on the battlefield: a free nation must also build institutions, uphold laws, and cultivate civic virtue."

Rather than concentrating power, Washington had helped to lay the foundations of democracy through personal restraint, she added.

She also noted that "at a pivotal moment in history, he voluntarily stepped away from power, setting a precedent that leadership in democracy is rooted in service, humility, and accountability to the people."

Concerning ties with Hungary, Savage said "the ideals Washington embodied continue to resonate far beyond America’s borders" and that the partnership between the two countries was rooted in shared values and history, and it was continuously growing.

Gergely Karacsony, the mayor of Budapest, said the American Revolution "not only achieved independence for a nation but yielded a new constitutional model to the world."

"The world changes around us, but the principles of democracy, rule of law, human dignity and governmental answerability remain the same," Karacsony said.

The mayor cited 19th-century Hungarian statesman Lajos Kossuth’s remarks made during a visit to the US 170 years ago, that "democracy is worthless without the people," adding that Kossuth’s words remained meaningful.

"Each generation faces new challenges but the directions, the principles of democratic governance do not change... We must adapt to changing times but still maintain the unchanged principles of democracy, freedom, rule of law, and human dignity."

Savage and Karacsony laid a wreath of commemoration at the statue together.

MTI Stock Photo

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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