Hungary, 2005

Let me start by

extending to the President my sincere congratulations

on his election to the presidency of the sixtieth session

of the General Assembly. I can assure him that in

fulfilling his challenging and responsible duties, he

will have the support and full cooperation of the

delegation of Hungary. Our tribute and thanks are also

due to his predecessor, Mr. Jean Ping, who served us

with exemplary devotion and honour.

Effective multilateralism remains an important

objective of the foreign policy of Hungary. Therefore,

we are pleased to see the United Nations standing

ready to face the emerging threats and challenges by

making efforts to adapt its activities to the realities of

our contemporary world.

The United Nations has served for 60 years as the

core institution for collective security. In our global

and interdependent world we have to acknowledge that

development, peace, security and human rights form an

indispensable foundation for the security and well-

being of our times.

My Government is particularly pleased that issues

such as the fight against terrorism, international

protection of human rights, the proposed Human

Rights Council, the establishment of the Peacebuilding

Commission, the reform of United Nations

management, as well as challenges related to

development, have found proper reflection in the

recommendations of the summit.

International terrorism continues to be a major

threat to our societies. The recently experienced

horrors of terror are sowing the seeds of instability all

over the world. Hungary, along with its partners in the

European Union and NATO, strongly condemns all

forms of terrorism. Measures taken in the course of

combating terrorist forces, however, must always

remain in conformity with basic international

standards, in particular with human rights and refugee

and humanitarian law. We believe that the United

Nations needs to accord top priority to the fight against

the scourge of terrorism. My country is keen to see the

elaboration and adoption by the General Assembly of a

comprehensive convention on terrorism, which would,

among others things, give the proper legal definition of

terrorist acts.

Freedom, democracy and human rights should

constitute the basic framework of life for every

individual. We know from experience that they are not

granted automatically; they must be won and enforced

through hard and persistent efforts. It is of paramount

importance therefore that essential human rights-

related activities, such as servicing the treaty

implementation machinery or monitoring undertaken

by the special procedures, are given their due share in

the funding provisions of the United Nations regular

budget.

Driven by the objective to promote democracy in

the world, the Government of the Republic of Hungary

has established the Budapest International Center for

Democratic Transition. The Center is set to provide

assistance for democratic reforms drawing upon the

experience of countries that have recently undergone

political, economic and social transition. These

nations, having had to face and address the challenges

of transition in the recent past, can probably best serve

as helping hands to countries in need in this regard.

It is in the same spirit that Hungary warmly

welcomes the establishment of the United Nations

Democracy Fund. The Budapest International Center

for Democratic Transition will be eager to coordinate

its activities with the Fund in the framework of a close

cooperative relationship.

Hungary finds the resolution to establish a new

United Nations mechanism dealing with the rights of

persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious and

linguistic minorities to be highly encouraging. The

appointment of an independent expert on minority

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issues is an important step in the right direction. The

United Nations however still has a long way to go in

meeting the full scope of its responsibilities with

regard to the international protection of minority

rights.

Educating young generations about the lessons of

the past is an essential tool to combat discrimination

and intolerance. For this reason a day of Holocaust

remembrance has been introduced into Hungarian

school curriculum. It is in that same spirit that Hungary

supports the proposal to place Holocaust remembrance

on the agenda in the United Nations General Assembly.

Hungary recognizes that development is a central

goal by itself and is ready to reaffirm its commitment

to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable

development and global prosperity for all. As a new

European Union member, Hungary is ready to

gradually increase her official development assistance.

The European Union recently made important

decisions in support of Africa’s development efforts.

We reaffirm our commitment to contribute urgently to

meeting the special needs of that continent.

We are encouraged to see that after so many years

of wars and violence, democratic changes are bearing

fruit for the peoples of the Western Balkans. It is more

than promising that the political and economic

perspectives offered by the European Union and NATO

are the main driving forces today for the countries of

this region.

In order to find lasting solutions to the yet

unresolved challenges of the Western Balkans, it is

crucial to tackle the basic issues of security and

stability in their broader regional dimensions.

Regardless of its future status, it is vital that Kosovo be

transformed into a viable entity, capable of exercising

firm administrative control with a stable law and order

situation and a transparent, dependable economy.

Given the turbulent history of the Balkans, no long-

term solution is conceivable without establishing

harmonious inter-ethnic relationships. Well-defined

and strictly implemented minority rights are the

primary precondition for peace, stability and prosperity

both in Kosovo and in the broader Western Balkans.

The Middle East conflict has wide-ranging

implications on global peace and security, on the

prospects of the world economy and, last but not least,

on the fight against international terrorism. Hungary is

of the firm view that the road map, based on the two-

States principle, still gives us the best chance for

reaching a just and lasting solution.

The implementation of the Gaza disengagement

plan by the Government of Israel has been a step of

truly historic proportions. Thus, the Middle East peace

process has been given a new lease on life, but its

sustainability is subject to further consistent, bold

measures by both sides. In order to maintain the

momentum, Israel needs to return to the road map,

while the Palestinian National Authority has to

demonstrate its own commitment to the peace process

by carrying out the long overdue internal reforms and,

most importantly, by eradicating terrorism and taking

the law and order situation under effective control.

The continued instability in Iraq is a matter of

grave concern. Hungary strongly condemns the acts of

violence and terrorism in Iraq, which aim to undermine

the process of reconstruction and political

normalization. In spite of the alarming security

situation and the obvious internal instability, the

political transition in Iraq is making progress in line

with Security Council resolution 1546 (2004). The

approval of the recently drafted constitution is

indispensable to carry on the political process. Further

consistent efforts are required to properly engage all

Iraqi communities in building a united, stable and

democratic country.

Let me reiterate Hungary’s continued commitment

to provide assistance to the people of Iraq in their

efforts to build a democratic and prosperous country

that will soon take its due place in the family of

democratic nations.

Hungary viewed the successful presidential

elections last October as an important milestone on the

way to political stabilization in Afghanistan. The

parliamentary elections held only days ago marked a

further major step leading to the establishment of

proper democratic institutions in that country. Hungary

is proud of the humanitarian assistance it has provided

to the people of Afghanistan, as well as of the

contribution it has made to facilitate the process of

political stabilization. My country is ready to undertake

further commitments in order to assist the Afghan

people in rebuilding their country in peace and

security.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

along with their means of delivery continues to

undermine international peace and security. The threat

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that terrorist groups and non-State actors will acquire

nuclear, biological and chemical weapons is a major

concern to us all. At the last session of the General

Assembly, Hungary expressed its strong support for the

full implementation of Security Council resolution

1540 (2004), and called on all States to establish

effective national export controls. We have noted with

satisfaction that a great number of Member States had

submitted comprehensive reports on their national

measures serving the aim and purpose of the

resolution.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons (NPT) is still a cornerstone of international

peace, security and stability. The 2005 NPT Review

Conference, however, failed to live up to our

expectations. The international community needs to

fulfil its responsibility in preserving the integrity of the

Treaty while promoting its universal character.

Recognizing the grave threat posed by biological

weapons, Hungary will work together with other

nations in the run-up to the upcoming Biological and

Toxic Weapons Review Conference. Hungary will

strive to explore opportunities to strengthen the

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

My country remains committed to the Ottawa

Convention banning landmines. We will have

destroyed all equipment under the provisions of the

Convention by the end of 2005, well in advance of the

deadline.

At the current session, beyond the wide range of

issues to be tackled, we have to make important

decisions to put on track the implementation of the

outcome document adopted by the High-level Plenary

Meeting of the General Assembly. If we are guided by

a sense of common responsibility and firmly anchored

realism, the momentum for reform will be maintained.

The delegation of Hungary stands ready to work in

partnership with other delegations to make this happen.