The former President of Hungary from 2000-05 Ferenc Mádl visited Emory University in March as a Halle Distinguished Fellow and a keynote speaker at the World Law Institute’s inaugural conference.
Mádl’s six-day visit began with a Lawyer’s Breakfast with Emory Law School Dean David Partlett, Professor of Law Tibor Várady, World Law Institute Co-Directors Johan van der Vyver and Harold Berman, followed by a meeting with Vice Provost for International Affairs Holli Semetko and Senior Visiting Scholar in Emory’s Department of Russian and East Asian Studies (REALC) Gyula Kodolányi. In the afternoon, Semetko and Kodolányi accompanied Mádl to the Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library (MARBL) where the library’s director, Steve Enniss, presented the former president with a special display of a selections from the recently-acquired Salman Rushdie collection as well as the Seamus Heaney papers, and selections from the Ted Hughes papers and spoke in length about Hughes' active interest in the Hungarian poet Jànos Pilinszky. Hughes translated Pilinszky's poetry into English in the mid-1970s. Afterwards, Mádl had a meeting with Provost Earl Lewis, and dinner with Emory faculty from REALC, hosted by Emory Associate Professor of Russian Studies and REALC Chair Juliette Apkarian.
At his request, the next day Mádl visited the Martin Luther King Memorial Center. In the evening, Mádl and his wife Dalma, were received by former President Jimmy Carter and his Rosalynn for a reception and dinner at The Carter Center in celebration of the inaugural conference of the World Law Institute of Emory University. After a private meeting with Carter, they were given a tour of the Carter Center Library. Dinner remarks were given by Holli Semetko, Harold Berman, Johan Van der Vyver, and Emory President James Wagner, followed by an address by President Carter on the Center’s role in developing countries.
After participating in the two-day World Law Institute conference, Mádl concluded his visit with a panel discussion sponsored by The Halle Institute commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, a revolt against the Communist government and Soviet occupation.
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(from left to right) MARBL Director Steve Enniss shows President Ferenc Mádl and Professor Gyula Kodolányi one of Salman Rushdie's journals from the late-1980s.
 Former President Jimmy Carter (left) presents Mádl and his wife Dalma a medal as thanks for his efforts on behalf of the Hungarian people.
 Kodolányi (left) gives Mádl a tour of Emory's campus.
 Mádl views the monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery as they construct a sand mandala at the Carlos Museum during Emory's annual Tibet Week. |
