I first congratulate Her
Excellency Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa on her
election as the third female President of the General
Assembly. I firmly believe that the involvement of
women in the decision-making processes at the
national and international levels can contribute to the
better management of today’s global problems. In
fulfilling her challenging tasks during the sixty-first
session, the President may rest assured of the support
and cooperation of the representatives of the Republic
of Hungary. I also wish to salute her predecessor,
Ambassador Jan Eliasson, who served us with
distinction, dedication, an innovative spirit and a good
sense of humour. He made great efforts and
achievements to advance the reform of the United
Nations.
During the 2005 World Summit, our heads of
State or Government agreed to proposals with the
potential to adapt the world Organization to the
realities of our contemporary world. While we have
accomplished only modest reforms so far, we should
remind ourselves that United Nations reform is more a
process than a single event.
In order to foster public confidence in the United
Nations, we must agree on substantial management
reform, with greater accountability and transparency
and better allocation of resources. The reform process
should include all the main bodies of this Organization,
including the General Assembly, which, in our view,
must remain the most important deliberative body of
the Organization.
Hungary supports the expansion of the Security
Council in both the permanent and non-permanent
categories to better reflect the political realities of
today. However, new approaches need to be identified
to facilitate the emergence of a compromise. The
enlargement of the Council should be combined with
enhanced efficiency and improved working methods.
Hungary condemns all forms of terrorism, which
give rise to fear and distrust in our daily lives. It is our
firm conviction that the United Nations should remain
a key player in the international fight against the
scourge of terror. It is therefore natural that Hungary
welcomes the recent adoption of the new United
Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution
60/288) and looks forward to the elaboration of a
comprehensive convention on terrorism by the General
Assembly.
The establishment of the Peacebuilding
Commission was one of our top priorities. We believe
that the Commission is well equipped to deal with
fragile post-conflict situations.
With the establishment of the Human Rights
Council, the international community has opened a
whole new chapter in its joint efforts to protect human
rights. My Government has wholeheartedly supported
this ambitious project from the outset. We sincerely
hope that with the completion of the Council’s first
year of existence, adequate machinery will be put in
place to address the challenges of the twenty-first
century. The universal periodic review is one of the
initiatives on the Council’s agenda and holds the
promise of making a real difference. The full and
unhindered participation of non-governmental
organizations in the activities of the Council is also of
vital importance for us.
Protection of minority rights, including those of
national minorities, is a pivotal element of Hungary’s
human rights policies. The turbulent history of our
region has all too often demonstrated the potential of
inter-ethnic tensions to trigger crisis situations.
Conflicts based on ethnicity, both past and present,
must remind us all that multi-ethnic societies are in
desperate need of a sensitive and careful approach to
minority issues, sound legal arrangements, generosity
in practice and firmly embedded institutional
guarantees, safeguarding the rights of minorities.
The interdependence of democracy and human
rights is clearly demonstrated in countries and regions
with a deficit of democratic practices. As the late
Sergio Vieira de Mello, former High Commissioner for
Human Rights, stated so eloquently, “Imperfect as the
ship of democracy may be, no other vessel has proved
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as seaworthy in bringing us safely to the shores of
human dignity”.
Driven by the policy objective of promoting
democracy, the Government of Hungary launched the
International Centre for Democratic Transition last
year in Budapest. The Centre intends to provide
guidance regarding transition in a supportive manner
by collecting experience from past democratic
transitions and sharing it with those determined to
follow that path. Hungary fully supported the
Secretary-General’s decision to establish the United
Nations Democracy Fund. Being a member of the
Advisory Board and a contributor to the Fund, we are
pleased to recognize that the projects approved by the
Fund properly reflect local, regional and global
demands.
Fifty years have passed since the citizens of
Hungary rose up against a brutal dictatorship,
demanding democracy, human rights and dignity. The
totalitarian regime crushed the dreams of the
Hungarian revolution and took cruel revenge during its
return to power on top of foreign tanks.
The spirit of 1956, however, was not to be
defeated. Fifty years ago, the Hungarian revolution
began with a peaceful demonstration to show solidarity
with the Polish nation. Today, I am proud to confirm
that Hungary will show solidarity with every nation
that seeks freedom and democracy for its people.
It is my moral obligation to express our profound
respect for the activities of the dedicated politicians
and diplomats who kept the so-called Hungarian
question on the agenda of the world Organization for
several years. Hungary will never forget the devotion
of Povl Bang-Jensen, the Danish United Nations
officer who served as Secretary of the United Nations
Committee entrusted with the examination of the
Hungarian events of 1956. His efforts and sacrifice
made for the sake of the Hungarian revolution are
etched on our collective memory forever.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
and their delivery systems constitutes a major threat to
international peace and security. The most important
challenge faced by the international community in this
context is non-compliance with the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). My
Government sincerely hopes that the next NPT review
cycle will ultimately bring tangible results, and it urges
all nations to make genuine contributions to that effect.
Working out lasting solutions for unresolved
issues relating to the western Balkans is of paramount
importance for peace and stability in the European
continent. Hungary is convinced that the success of the
status talks in Kosovo will depend on the ability of the
parties to build mutually acceptable arrangements,
which, in turn, will require a proper time frame. A
functioning multicultural society in Kosovo is
inseparable from the sincere implementation of
standards, respect for minority rights and effective
decentralization, all of which are essential
preconditions for the successful outcome of the status
talks.
Hungary is fully committed to a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East. It is essential to revitalize the
peace process on the basis of the Road Map and other
agreements accepted by the parties concerned. Israel
has the right to live in peace and security, and the
Palestinians have the right to an independent and
viable Palestinian State peacefully coexisting with its
neighbours.
Peace and stability in Lebanon are vitally
important for the entire Middle East. The international
community, along with the parties concerned, must
make every effort to ensure the swift and full
implementation of Security Council resolution 1701
(2006).
The Republic of Hungary is strongly committed
to building a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. Our
resolve has been manifested by my Government’s
recent decision to take over the leadership of the
Provincial Reconstruction Team in Baghlan province.
Although major efforts are being undertaken by the
international community to assist in the reconstruction
process in Afghanistan, the primary responsibility for
the stabilization and development of the country lies
with the Afghan people themselves.
Hungary remains gravely concerned about the
prolonged and dramatic security situation in Iraq. We
welcome the resolve of the Iraqi Government to engage
all communities in order to achieve reconciliation and
strengthen national cohesion. I would like to reiterate
Hungary’s continued commitment to assisting the
people of Iraq in their endeavour to build a free and
prosperous country.
The deteriorating situation in Darfur is another
matter of grave concern. The Government of the Sudan
should agree to the swift deployment of a United
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Nations peacekeeping force with a mission to halt the
unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. In this regard,
Hungary also hopes that at this session the General
Assembly will make advances in the elaboration of the
important concept of the responsibility to protect.
Six years ago, the Governments of the world
made a solemn pledge to strive to eliminate global
poverty by signing the Millennium Declaration
(resolution 55/2). A great deal remains to be done to
achieve the objectives set out in the Millennium
Development Goals, in developing countries, by the
donor community and here at the United Nations. We
need to make sure that development, in rich and poor
countries alike, is sustainable. As a new EU member,
Hungary is gradually increasing its official
development assistance and recognizes the special
development needs of the world’s poorest regions.
In conclusion, I would like to thank and
commend the outgoing Secretary-General for his
tireless efforts during the past 10 years, often under
difficult and challenging circumstances, to promote the
principles of the Charter. His devotion, diplomatic
skills and vision have earned him profound respect all
over the world.