dr. Pascal Hector német ügyvivő beszéde

Ladies and Gentlemen

• First of all I would like to thank for inviting me to today’s event. Freedom and Democracy and the fall of the Iron Curtain represent key words and key milestones also for the development of current Germany.
  
  
• The exhibition rightly honours the brave and successful way Hungary went since 1989. At the end of the second World War Hungary came under the influence of Communism and, for a long time, was hindered to decide its own fate.
  
  
• However: Hungary remained itself and created what was called „Gulasch-Communism“, that means a proper and more liberal form of communism, leading to the first differenciations in this apparently monolitic bloc.
  
  
• So it was no surprise, that Hungary was one of the first countries to make use of the new opportunities offered by „Glasnost“ and Perestroika“, beginning in 1986. It opened itself: Already in August 1989 Hungary and Austria permitted the so called „pan-European breakfast in Sopron“, opening briefly the frontier and allowing 600 GDR citizens to enter Austrian territory. And finally, on the 1st of September it was courageous enough to tear down the frontier to the West. Thus Hungary, helped by Austria, seized the historic opportunity and became a catalyst in the framework of the transformation of Eastern Europe.
  Let me be clear on this: Hungary was a pioneer in defying the former order and powers. It is difficult to overestimate what Hungary, at that time still under the influence of Communism, did for Europe. Many other countries did not dare what Hungary did. Hungary seized the historic opportunity to change its own fate and the fate of many other European nations, thus proposing a new European order. In three words: Hungary made history.
  
  
• Germany is extremely grateful to Hungary for initiating a process that led to the abolishment of the Iron Curtain, that separated Europe for almost 40 years in an inhuman manner and to the Reunification of two German states.
  
  
• The ensuing success story is known. Hungary became a NATO member state in March 1999 and in May 2004 joined the European Union, which has definitively abolished its internal borders.

• In 1992 Germany and Hungary signed a contract on friendship in order to demonstrate and strengthen cooperation between our two countries. By the way: the second largest minority in Hungary stems from Germany being called Ungarndeutsche and even more links both countries.

• I am convinced we can learn a lot from Hungary. Its vision led to a fundamental change in Eastern Europe bringing countries together for mutual benefit. The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 had not been possible without Hungary. And I may add: the enlargement only produced winners. Everybody could benefit, therefore personally I would like to express my hope that further enlargements will take place.
  
  
• Lastly I wish utmost success to the exhibition. May the Hungarian courageous way be honoured. Thank you very much for your attention.