The new U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, was sworn in by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington on January 7, 2010. She arrived in Budapest on January 10 and presented her credentials to the Hungarian President László Sólyom on January 11.
After the credentialing ceremony at the Sándor Palace, Ambassador Kounalakis proceeded to Heroes Square where she laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier. In a statement issued on this occasion, the Ambassador noted that she feels "proud and fortunate to be the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary" and that the two countries "have forged a strong friendship and enjoy excellent bilateral relations."
