Hungary, 2010

As an engaged member of the

United Nations, Hungary wishes to play its part in

international efforts aimed at building our common

future. In this spirit, we do our utmost to contribute to

the crisis-management and peacekeeping operations of

the international community, and we seek to deliver

special added value to international development and

humanitarian activities. I can assure the Assembly that

as a candidate country for Security Council

membership for the period 2012-2013, Hungary stands

ready to work vigorously to overcome divisions and to

strengthen global partnerships in today’s interdependent

international environment.

The Preamble of the Charter states that we the

peoples of the United Nations are determined,

inter alia, “to promote social progress and better

standards of life in larger freedom” and, for this end,

“to employ international machinery for the promotion

of the economic and social advancement of all

peoples”.

In the year 2000, the United Nations exhibited

leadership in the articulation and adoption of the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Contributions

made at the MDG summit a few days ago reassured me

that, although most of us are suffering from the fallout

of the recent global crises, none of us would readily

accept the vision of a bleak future that would result

from slowing down the concrete actions we take.

Hungary remains determined to take on its share of

responsibility in realizing the MDGs on a global scale,

and we will continue to implement donor programmes

in various parts of the world.

The effects of the recent global financial and

economic crisis have thrown millions of people into

poverty, especially those who are most vulnerable in

the developing world. The food, water and energy

crises and humanitarian disasters such as the

earthquake in Haiti and floods in Pakistan have also

taken their toll on the lives of people. The growing

number of disasters emphasizes the great need for

prevention, preparedness and disaster risk reduction, as

well as for development activities centred on the

promotion of sustainable economic growth. Hungary

believes that, in order to achieve success and

effectively meet the needs of vulnerable or

disadvantaged groups in these turbulent times, a

10-54959 2

partnership-based approach needs to be adopted in this

regard.

Similarly, climate change figures high among the

pre-eminent challenges of the twenty-first century that

threaten our well-being, security and economic

development. The international community should pay

particular attention to the well-founded and legitimate

concerns of the small island States of the Caribbean

and the Pacific in this regard. Our primary goal should

now be the adoption of a series of ambitious, action-

oriented decisions at the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change negotiations to be held

in Cancún, Mexico, later this year. Such decisions

would prepare the ground for the adoption of a

comprehensive and legally binding global framework

next year in South Africa.

As a State member of the European Union,

Hungary is committed to reducing greenhouse gas

emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. Moreover, we are

also ready to undertake further emissions reductions if

our partners make similar commitments, taking into

account their different capabilities.

The promotion and protection of human rights

constitute the cornerstone of Hungary’s foreign policy.

Hungary acts at the forefront of international efforts to

fight all forms of discrimination, including

discrimination based on national or ethnic origin. We

are of the view that the rights of minorities, with

special regard for the preservation of their cultural

identities and linguistic heritage, should be high on the

agenda of the international community. We believe that

flourishing minority communities do not weaken a

society but, on the contrary, contribute to the cultural

enrichment of a country. Fruitful relationships between

the majority and minorities can only be pursued if

human rights are not being infringed and if tolerance

prevails at all levels of society. This is one of the

reasons that Hungary has decided to establish the

Budapest-based Tom Lantos Institute, an international

centre for promoting human rights and spreading the

value of tolerance.

Hungary also feels compelled to raise the issue of

women worldwide. The possible role played by women

in accelerating the achievement of the MDGs and in

reducing tensions and hostilities around the world

should not be neglected. We are confident that the

recent establishment of the United Nations Entity for

Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

(UN Women) marks significant progress in this regard

and will make a great contribution to the elimination of

the disadvantages facing women.

Let me express Hungary’s sincere gratitude to the

Secretary-General for convening, on this very day, a

High-level Meeting on the disarmament machinery.

New dynamism in this area was also clearly

demonstrated at the Review Conference of the Parties

to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons earlier this year, and we are hopeful that the

renewed international commitment to nuclear

disarmament and non-proliferation will lead to success.

We note with great concern, however, that the

growing consensus around the ultimate goal of a

so-called global zero of nuclear weapons is being

offset by overt and covert attempts at the proliferation

of weapons of mass destruction and missiles by certain

countries. Hungary fully supports the statement made

in New York on 22 September by the High

Representative of the European Union, Catherine

Ashton, on the negotiations conducted between the

E3+3 Governments and Iran.

International terrorism is another of the most

serious threats to international peace and security.

Hungary strongly condemns this phenomenon in all its

forms and manifestations and underscores the pivotal

role of the United Nations in counter-terrorism. We

welcome the fact that the recently concluded second

review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism

Strategy reinforced the consensus among Member

States to foster a global counter-terrorism alliance.

And, expressing our full solidarity with the victims of

terrorism, we lend our unequivocal support to all

United Nations efforts in this regard.

Almost a decade ago, this city of New York

suffered one of the most horrendous terrorist attacks in

human history. The appalling statement made by one of

the speakers yesterday concerning this tragic event is

unacceptable and is detrimental to the noble cause of

promoting mutual understanding and dialogue among

religions and civilizations.

The United Nations was created, and I shall again

quote from the Preamble of the Charter, in order to

“practice tolerance and live together in peace with one

another as good neighbours”. Coexistence and

cooperation would serve regional stability in the

Western Balkans, a region which, due to its proximity

3 10-54959

to Hungary’s borders, has great importance in our

foreign policy.

In our view, progress towards the stabilization of

the region and resolution of its persisting problems

should be the result of an essentially internally driven

process, with the unwavering support of the

international community.

Hungary respects the recently issued advisory

opinion of the International Court of Justice on

Kosovo, and our country remains strongly committed

to encouraging direct dialogue between the countries

and communities of the region.

In Afghanistan, the international community in

general, and the countries in the region in particular,

should assist efforts towards reconciliation, good

governance and sustainable development. Strengthening

State institutions at all levels, improving the security

situation and effectively implementing civilian

development programmes are all essential for

decreasing tensions and transferring responsibility and

leadership to the Afghan Government. Hungary

remains committed to supporting Afghanistan

politically, and we will do our best to provide

assistance to the country through both bilateral and

multilateral channels.

We envisage the establishment of an independent,

democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by

side in peace and security with Israel and its other

neighbours. We also believe that the Middle East peace

process should and can lead to overall Arab-Israeli

reconciliation. We all know that it takes brave men to

start a war, but it takes statesmen to finish it. In this

spirit, Hungary welcomes and strongly supports the

fact that the proximity talks have recently transformed

into direct talks between the Government of Israel and

the Palestinian Authority. We commend the personal

commitment of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and

the efforts made by the Quartet, including the

European Union, as well as the valuable contributions

made by a number of outstanding Arab statesmen in

this regard.

Acting on its own, as well as within the United

Nations framework, Hungary is a partner of African

countries in enhancing development and establishing

peace and security on the continent. We also encourage

Africa’s voice to be heard in relation to compelling

global questions such as water management, poverty

eradication and the empowerment of women. Still, we

once again emphasize the significance of the role of

African countries themselves and the importance of

dialogue and negotiations in this process.

In conclusion, let me, on a personal note as the

only Olympic champion in the Hall, emphasize my

strong belief that multilateral partnerships can only be

enhanced by respecting the jointly established rules,

with special regard to the rules of fair play with other

teams and players on the field. I am confident that,

during the coming session of work, the noble principles

of the United Nations will continue to guide all

delegations in strengthening the kind of global

cooperation within the United Nations machinery that

is so strongly needed to tackle the challenges facing us

today. I wish to assure the Assembly that Hungary

stands ready to do its utmost to contribute to those

noble goals.