Parliamentary Assembly

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Republic of Hungary, with true respect and appreciation, I should like to greet you. Thank you for the invitation and for the honour of this opportunity to talk to this highly esteemed body of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I am happy that I can speak about the present and the future of our relationship and also outline the ongoing democratic changes in Hungary.

At the beginning of the last decade of this century we are both active participants in and witnesses of historic times in Europe. We are eliminating the artificial confrontation between the eastern and western parts of our continent, the remnants of the cold-war years. In Eastern Europe not only the Iron Curtain and the walls are being dismantled and pulled down, but the underlying ideological values and political structures and stereotypes, the one-party political structures and centrally planned economies are also being swept aside.

Hungary was among the first countries that were affected by the changes in Eastern Europe. We were the very first country where the Iron Curtain was dismantled, and this is where the irreversible split in the monolithic structure of the party state was started. A political institutional structure that lasted for over four decades has come to an end as a result of the constant pressure exerted by the progressive forces in the country – both inside and outside the ruling party.

What we can consider to be important during the almost two-year-long dynamic and peaceful democratic transition is as follows. In spite of the very different party programmes proclaimed by the wide variety of political parties, there is a consensus in one respect: we all want to establish a constitutional state, a parliamentary democracy on a multi-party structure with the full implementation of human rights.

As to the economy, there is a majority opinion among the different political forces in the country that it is in our national interest to establish a social market economy. All parties recognise the importance of keeping the transition peaceful. This is adhered to even if at times during the preparations for the election campaign emotional outbursts are heard. By keeping the party contests under control, I hope that the Hungarian political parties and public opinion will demonstrate the responsibility that they should feel for the nation and will also manifest a political maturity. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, I hope that the political parties will ensure a peaceful democratic transition and will not weaken, but will on the contrary strengthen, the domestic political and social stability of our country.

We are aware that, basically, it is up to us to resolve our problems. The specific historical situation only offers an opportunity; it will not act instead of us. We are also aware that a long process full of unknown and non-predictable difficulties is yet to come, and sacrifices will also have to be made. We are striving for a more stable and modern economy, for a more secure and prosperous future for our nation.

In a few years’ time, the Hungarians will be celebrating the 1100th anniversary of settling in this region of the world. We have a historic past to look back upon, rich in culture and scientific heritage. Since the early years of European civilisation, since the arrival of humanism, the task and endeavour of Hungarian intellectuals have always been to keep pace with European developments.

During the history of our nation, it has always been our desire to belong to Europe. Europe cannot forget the significance of Hungarian Protestantism, the Hungarian reformers who came home with Descartes in their heads and Protestantism in their hearts. And we Hungarians cannot forget that all this, at that time as it is now, was a sustaining element of national culture. Several examples can be listed. For instance, when in Hungary development was halted, intellectuals always directed the people’s attention to the importance of belonging to Europe. As the great Hungarian historian, Gyula Szegfu, wrote – I quote him:

“Since the eighteenth century democracy has been the ideal of all better Hungarians.”

Unfortunately, for a long period it remained only an ideal and a desire. We were lost in the maze of history. Storms of the past ages affected the state of our nation, and not just once were we turned into the instrument of alien powers and were degraded to be their serfs. Hungarians, who frequently fought miraculous battles for their self-preservation, when it came to historic moments of selecting the right course of development could not seize the emerging opportunities. We had to pay a very dear price for that.

Even today, I cannot tell you that every single individual of this nation sees our future free of illusions. But one thing I can state for certain. Our people – and maybe all the peoples of Central Europe – can pronounce that apart from Europe, apart from the world, there is no progress at home. Hence, we should like to join the new European set of values by terminating all kinds of enmity with other peoples, ethnic groups and minorities. For us Hungarians, this is a special lesson that history has engraved on our minds.

The changes taking place in our immediate neighbourhood do not leave us unaffected. These changes rewrite the scenario of the entire process of the whole European development. All parties concerned should recognise that they cannot delay any longer the review of the European integration concept. It is our duty to pose the question over and over again. Are we prepared to accept – both in our spirit and in our minds – that a period in European history has ended; that a new structure will emerge in place of the divided Europe even if lines of division still remain, but drawn at different places? This new structure in Europe will unavoidably affect the external set of relations of the continent too.

Are we able, and do we want, to think in terms of a unified Europe, or is our imagination still restricted by the limits of historical development? Are we prepared to encounter possible new conflicts that spring from closer human relations and interests? Will those European institutions emerge that can handle the conflicts, and will those institutions bear sufficient weight to integrate nationally motivated endeavours and will they be able to manage economic, political, ethnic or any forms of hidden nationalism?

The challenge is complex and it is far from being only a trade or a tariff issue.

For the time being, the East European countries are atomised, and they are in the midst of a unique race with time for democracy and yet there is a uniformity in the urging impulses they transmit to the world – and that in such a historic age, when the Western countries of the continent are also searching for new ways and means of a renewed European co-operation.

The actions of the Government of the Republic of Hungary are motivated by the creation of a fully independent sovereign country. Our foreign policy, due to our geopolitical situation and historical traditions, is Europe-centred, while, at the same time, it respects the universal values and norms of human civilisation. We respect and represent the rights of nations to sovereignty. We co-operate with all those countries, governments and peoples, with regional and universal organisations and institutions, which show willingness to act in the spirit of international law, the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the follow-up meetings and which are governed by equal rights and mutual advantages and consistently refrain from intervention in the internal affairs of other countries.

For the realisation of our democratic transition process and for maintaining the internal stability of the country, we need a peaceful international environment in Europe and in the broader sense as well. In accordance with our opportunities in our foreign relations, we should also like to make a contribution to this peaceful environment. In relation to this, I think it is necessary to state here once and for all that the days are past when Hungarian foreign policy was determined by ideological considerations. This principle is expressed by our full respect for human, individual and collective rights which we represent regardless of social structure or allegiance.

In this perspective, it is the goal of the Republic of Hungary to contribute to a Europe free of military blocs, where no troops are stationed in other countries, and also to help to create a peaceful and secure continent. This is in line with our national interest, and we actively pursue that objective.

Last year, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe, which unites twenty-three democracies. Then we recalled the words of Robert Schuman who said that the Council of Europe was a laboratory where European cooperation was put to test. I agree with the words of Schuman and may I add that the Council of Europe has been playing that role, in a pragmatic and at the same time in a far-sighted way. Since last June, as a result of your decision, Hungary – together with the Soviet Union and Poland – has been participating as a special guest in the plenary sessions and the committees of the Assembly. Last autumn, governed by our resolute intention to deepen the multilateral ties with Europe and also to contribute in line with our abilities and resources to shaping European unity, we decided to apply for full membership of the Council of Europe. I hope that the ongoing historic changes in our country and the broadening contacts between Hungary and the Council of Europe will serve as a sufficient basis for a favourable reception of our application.

We hope that the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers will view this positively and that, as a result, Hungary will become a full member of the Council of Europe this year.

I should like to take this opportunity to announce our intention to sign the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities or Authorities. I should like to announce at the same time that Hungary is ready to join, as an observer, the work on the charter on regional and minority languages, at the level of experts. I am convinced that these steps will further strengthen the fruitful links with the Council of Europe. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Hungary, I warmly welcome the initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Communities, which declared 1990 the year of tourism.

I look forward to the forthcoming visit of Madame Catherine Lalumière with great expectations. 25 March will be an important day in the process of democratisation in our country. That is the date for which the President ad interim of the Republic of Hungary has invited you, Mr President, and the representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to be present at the Hungarian general election. I sincerely hope that you accept that invitation.

We attach great importance to the organic integration of Hungary into Europe. We pay particular attention to our relations with the European Community. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Twenty-three and, among them, the member countries of the European Community to help the Hungarian reform process to expand.

We have been furthering our relations with the European Parliament. Political consultations have become regular within the framework of political co-operation with the European Parliament. We should like to go further in our relations with the European Community, hoping that in the not too distant future Hungary can attain special association that could promote our integration into Europe.

It is vital for us to establish institutional relations with EFTA. We tabled our proposals to this effect last year, and it is hoped that they will result in talks between the experts of Hungary and EFTA in the near future.

A stormy chapter of post-war history in Europe is coming to an end. In the outlining of a new stage, Hungary focuses on her relations with Europe. It is an integral part of our efforts to strengthen our co-operation and, if that meets with your approval, we hope that soon our country will become a full member of your Organisation.

Thank you, Mr President, for your invitation and thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your kind attention. (Applause)