Hungary, 2006

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

06-53329 28

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

29 06-53329

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.