    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [March 15, 2006]
    [Pages 489-490]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Celebration of Hungarian Contributions to Democracy
    March 15, 2006

        Thank you all. Please be seated. Mr. Speaker, thank you for having me here in this beautiful Capitol
    to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.
        I appreciate being here with the mayor of our city, Mayor
    Williams. Good to see you, Mr. Mayor. I
    appreciate Chairman Hyde. Mr. Chairman, it's
    good to see you. I thank the members of the diplomatic corps, most
    particularly, Ambassador Walker. I've heard
    of him before. [Laughter] Ambassador
    Simonyi--thank you all. Members of Congress, most particularly a beacon
    for--a steadfast beacon for liberty is how I'd like to define my friend
    Tom Lantos.
        I've come today to--not only to thank our strong ally, the
    Government of Hungary and the people of Hungary, but I've come to thank
    my friend Tom Lantos, and his wife,
    Annette, for never letting anybody
    forget that freedom is precious and necessary in our world.
        The Hungarian example is an example of patience and an example of
    the fact that freedom exists in everybody's soul. It's an example that
    tyranny can never stamp out the desire to be free. It's an example
    that--of a country that once becomes free, joins with other freedom-
    loving countries to keep the peace.
        I've come to remind the people of Hungary, they've got a great
    friend in America. I want to thank, by the way, the Hungarian Americans
    who are here with us today. You've made a significant contribution to
    our country.
        You know, it's an interesting world in which we live. There's an
    argument about--in some places--about whether or not freedom is
    universal, whether or not freedom is okay for some parts of the world
    but not others. I believe freedom is universal. I believe the example of
    Hungary proves that freedom is universal. I believe everybody desires to
    live in freedom. I believe there's an Almighty, and I believe the
    Almighty God's gift to each person in this world is liberty. And I
    believe the United States, and I believe Hungary, and I believe other
    free nations have the responsibility to help other people realize their
    freedom as well.
        You know, one of the interesting examples of Europe that I try to
    explain to our people is that for 100 years, there were war, where a lot
    of people lost their lives and a lot of Americans lost their life. But
    today, Europe is at peace. Europe is whole, free, and at peace. And I
    believe the reason why is because democracy has taken hold on that
    continent. And one of the leading lights of democracy has been Hungary.
        We thank the Hungarian people for their example. We thank them for
    their contribution in helping the newly free in Afghanistan and Iraq
    realize the blessings of liberty. We thank them for being allies in
    keeping the peace.
        Mr. Speaker, thanks for letting me
    come by and pay my respects to a strong ally and a good friend but also
    pay my respects to Congressman Tom Lantos,
    a person who

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    understands the difference between freedom and tyranny, and a person who
    is willing to speak his mind all times, all places, everywhere.
        God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:45 p.m. in Statutory Hall at the U.S.
    Capitol. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Anthony A. Williams of
    Washington, DC; U.S. Ambassador to Hungary George H. Walker III; and
    Hungary's Ambassador to the U.S. Andras Simonyi.