Address of His Excellency Tamas Toth, Ambassador of Hungary on the reception and exhibition commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Yang Berhormat Dato Kong Cho Ho, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation,
Your Excellencies, colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen

We are here today to commemorate the Hungarian people's journey toward freedom, a journey tested by great suffering and tragedy, but a journey that could not be deterred from victory.

This is an exceptional honor and a privilege to represent my country at this reception, but I will not attempt to give you an account of the 1956 Revolution. Nor will I try to analyze what went on during those historic days. Many of you are familiar with the events, and if you look around, you can find posters hanging on these walls, which certainly give you a fuller historical picture than I could ever do. For movie fans interested in these events, a Hungarian film about 1956 will be shown in the frame of the European Film Festival to be realized in KL in November this year.

For 12 days in 1956, the Hungarian people had a fleeting glimpse of their independence. Armed with little more than love for liberty, Hungarians rose up against a dictatorial regime and against a mighty empire. They imagined a new Hungary, where fellow citizens would determine their own future in freedom, without facing local and foreign oppression, or fearing the midnight knock of the secret police.

In 1956, there was hope for 12 days, but then, helped by narrow-minded Hungarian politicians, foreign troops and tanks rumbled into Hungary, crushing the hopes of becoming an independent and democratic nation.

The Hungarian Revolution in 1956 was an individual sacrifice as the “cold war”, the “status quo,” “international circumstances,” or “fear of the consequences” prevented others to come to our help. As a result foreign invasion terminated with the democratic dreams of the Hungarian people - and the world could only express moral support and sympathy. However many friendly countries helped us after: I must express how grateful we feel for those nations that opened their doors to thousands of refugees and gave them the possibility of a new life. Many of you who are here today, are representing these countries. Thank you.

Despite the failure, the sacrifice and efforts were not in vain. After the revolution Hungarians lived their lives, made some compromises, but most of us never gave up, never surrendered. If - compared to other nations in Central and Eastern Europe - Hungary, the Hungarians were able to carve out small but precious freedoms during the 30 decades that followed, it was, to a large extent, because of the legacy of 1956.

1956 was a year of tragedy for the Hungarian people, but 50 years later we see that it was also the beginning of something greater, something far more promising. The first real crack on communism was caused by Hungary: there is no doubt, the Iron Curtain started falling in 1956. With the Hungarian Revolution, the world saw that hope was alive behind the Iron Curtain. From our experience patriots throughout Eastern Europe drew inspiration for their own struggle for freedom, and their will to resist grew stronger.

After 1956 the hope for democracy and independence was never extinguished in our country. 33 years later Hungary was the first in the region to start the transition to democracy. By the end of the eighties the Hungarian people strongly contributed to the great momentum of freedom that finally swept away the Berlin Wall and helped transforming Europe into one whole continent, free and at peace. Hungary's free government succeeded in realizing the goals that our people had been dreaming: liberty and human rights, democracy, justice, the rule of law, market economy and growing wealth.

With a wonderful transformation to democracy Hungary today is free and democratic. We have achieved more than participants of those revolutionary days in 1956 had ever dreamed of: Hungary is solidly allied with western democracies and their values, she is integrated into the European Union and is a member-state of NATO.

This is a real pleasure for myself, my wife, all the Hungarians around here and at home that you are honoring us with your presence. Thank you all.

And now, finally, may I invite you to join me in a toast for the memory of the Hungarian revolution of 1956, and also for the good health and well being of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

To His Majesty!