Contact: Sammy McDavid
A former diplomat who established Mississippi's first strategic studies center will be in the nation's capital next week for a White House ceremony honoring the president of Hungary.
Janos Radvanyi of Mississippi State University is among a host of government officials, international diplomats and special guests invited for the Tuesday [June 8] state visit of two-term President Arpad Goncz.
A native of Hungary, Radvanyi founded and became the first director in 1982 of Mississippi State's Center for International Security and Strategic Studies. After retiring as director several years ago, he became the first holder of the university's chair (endowed professorship) in international studies that is named in his honor.
Radvanyi and his wife Julianna are friends with Goncz, the 77-year-old award-winning writer and former political prisoner who has led the nation since it became a parliamentary democracy a decade ago.
In addition to the White House dinner given by President and Mrs. Bill Clinton, the Radvanyis will be among the special guests at a State Department luncheon given earlier in the day for Goncz and his wife Maria by Vice President and Mrs. Al Gore.
In 1962, Radvanyi, a career Hungarian diplomat, was named head of his country's embassy in Washington. Five years later, political issues with his government caused Radvanyi to seek political asylum in the U.S. After completing a doctorate in history at Stanford University, he joined the MSU history department in 1971.
In 1994, Hungary honored Radvanyi for his achievements through the MSU center to help it begin erasing nearly 40 years of communist mismanagement. The Award for Development of Foreign Economy cited his achievements in strengthening Hungary's ties with the U.S. and Japan.