[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 23, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1215]]


  SPEECH BY HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER PETER MEDGYESSY MARKING THE 60TH 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUNGARIAN HOLOCAUST OPENING THE HUNGARIAN HOLOCAUST 
                   MEMORIAL AND DOCUMENTATION CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I had the distinct honor to be in Hungary 
just a few weeks ago for the opening of the Holocaust Memorial and 
Documentation Center in Budapest, Hungary. As you know, this year marks 
the 60th Anniversary of the Nazi German occupation of Hungary and the 
Hungarian Holocaust. During these dark days sixty years ago, over half 
a million Hungarian Jews were sent to Nazi extermination camps.
   By establishing an official Holocaust Memorial, the government of 
Hungary has finally acknowledged the responsibility of the Hungarian 
people for atrocities committed during the Hungarian Holocaust. It is 
my hope that this Memorial will teach the present and future 
generations of Hungarians that intolerance and hatred have no place in 
a free and open and democratic society.
   Mr. Speaker, at the dedication of the Hungarian Holocaust Memorial 
and Documentation Center, many dignitaries and elected Hungarian 
officials gave moving and eloquent remarks, but none more so than the 
outstanding address of Hungary's current Prime Minister, Peter 
Medgyessy. The Prime Minister has been a critical voice in fostering 
democracy and respect for democratic principles in Hungary. His 
powerful and poignant remarks made at the opening of the memorial 
further confirmed his deep commitment to the values of political 
democracy.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask that Prime Minister Medgyessy's speech at the 
dedication of the Holocaust Memorial in Budapest be placed in the 
Record, and I urge all of my colleagues to read and think about this 
excellent statement. I am certain they will find it as moving as I do.

  Address by Peter Medgyessy on the 60th Anniversary of the Hungarian 
                               Holocaust

       Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, remembering one of the 
     gravest tragedies of the twentieth century, I would like to 
     share a harrowing story with you. A historian friend of mine 
     showed me a postcard, a few days ago that was written by two 
     Hungarian sisters to their family. The postcard was thrown 
     out of a train at Tatabanya in December 1944. Gyongyi and 
     Erzsi, writers of the postcard try to reassure their loved 
     ones. They write that they are well. The things of their 
     relatives, Lajos and Imre are safe, while the luggage of 
     another relative, Judit did not arrive to the ghetto because 
     the gates were closed. They close the letter by sending many 
     kisses to the children and promising that they would bring 
     presents back from Germany.
        Gyongyi was transported to Ravensbruck; and she survived. 
     Her sister, Erzsebet--transported away with her--perished.
       Ladies and Gentleman, this national tragedy--the murder of 
     six hundred thousand Hungarians of Jewish origin was a 
     terrible, evil, inhumane crime. It happened here, it happened 
     to us. It happened to people who used to have names, families 
     and lives. We can only live with our joint past if we never 
     forget them. Not just the event but also the people: Gyongyi 
     and Erzsebet, Lajos, Imre and Judit.
        We will not forget them because we miss them. We miss them 
     all badly. We have lost them and we have also lost their 
     children and grandchildren. We have lost their dreams, 
     memories, their talents, success and failures. We can see 
     their absence. And we know that we are less in number and 
     less in power without them. This is why this place is so 
     important. We can never give back those many everyday people 
     killed in the Holocaust to their families. However, talking 
     about the past frankly and credibly in their stead is our 
     responsibility. The Holocaust Documentation Center stands 
     here not just for ourselves but rather for them: for Gyongyi 
     and Erzsi.
        As the Prime Minister of this Republic I declare that this 
     heinous crime was committed by Hungarians against Hungarians. 
     There is no excuse or explanation. But there are the 
     memories, the common bereavement and--hopefully--
     reconciliation after sixty years. Reconciliation but no 
     forgetting.
        Because bereavement, my friends, the mourning of the 
     nation is always our common pain. This suffering is common in 
     concentration camps, in Recsk and on the 23rd of October 
     1956. It is the major obligation of every generation after 
     the Holocaust to remember and to make others remember: our 
     children, grandchildren, and all of us. Forgetting is the 
     ally of tyranny. Forgiveness and remembrance are the allies 
     of freedom. We have a task; to search and tell the truth, to 
     correct those who are wrong, and to call to accounts those 
     who lie. And first of all we must bow our heads to those who 
     suffered.
        Never before have we Hungarians had so much confidence in 
     our future. Within a matter of days we will become part of an 
     even larger community. New perspectives open up to Hungary. 
     The shaping of a new European, modern Hungarian republic 
     starts now.
        This is the time to confirm that we believe in the power 
     of learning and teaching. We are not too lazy to learn from 
     our own history and the example of other nations. We remember 
     the past for the future. We must say also here and now and 
     again for our joint future: never again!
        This should be the place of eternal remembrance. 
     Understanding our past is a joint responsibility and a 
     difficult one. Let's bow our heads to all victims of the 
     Holocaust.

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