The U.S. ambassador to Hungary has praised Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy for his courage and political maturity in signing an appeal of support for the United States on Iraq along with seven other European leaders.  

Nancy Goodman Brinker said in Budapest on Wednesday evening she was particularly glad that Hungary had demonstrated its readiness to back action to counter the Iraqi threat by allowing use of the Taszar base for training Iraqi volunteers and permitting the transit of military support for Turkey. 

In a lecture to the Harvard Club of Hungary, the diplomat noted the main challenge now facing the international community over the Iraq crisis was how to preserve the unity of NATO and Europe. She said she was optimistic about the final outcome of the conflict, adding Iraq would be disarmed of its weapons of mass destruction and Hungary would also play a part in this. 

Brinker denied rumours that the U.S. was intending to redeploy much of its German-based forces to Eastern Europe, saying no new developments could be expected, especially since Washington had to concentrate on Iraq.