    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
    [Pages 1209-1210]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany of
    Hungary in Budapest

    June 22, 2006

        Prime Minister Gyurcsany. First of all, I'd like to thank from the
    depth of my heart to the President of the United States for his visit
    today to Hungary, on the 50th anniversary of the '56 Revolution. We
    consider this visit to be a tribute to be a point to perseverance of the
    Hungarian people for freedom.
        We also see this as a confirmation of our joint effort that freedom
    and democracy must not only be preserved but also spread around the
    world in every region and every country, wherever necessary. Now this
    work that we started must not and cannot be completed, but it must be
    continued, because the world is the way how you shape it.
        The alliance of the United States and Hungary is based on values and
    interests at the same time. There are no major unsolved or painful
    issues, open issues in the relations of our two countries. There are
    challenges, and there are tasks to be solved, but that's just how it is.
        As a European country, I believe that we should finally end with
    preconception that Europe represents morality and the United States
    represents efficiency. And if we are democrats, then we believe that
    morale and power must go hand in hand. And we are democrats on both
    sides of the Atlantic. Now in terms of practical matters--of course we
    just cannot avoid talking about the visa issue whenever we meet. We are
    well aware of each other's standpoints. We cannot pose much surprises to
    each other. But because we know that this is a long road, this is a long
    path that we must go down, so we must look for other areas where we can
    be more successful.
        However, an important step on this road is that within a couple of
    months, finally, the building, the Tancsics was captured was kept--the
    building known as the Tancsics prison will return to Hungarian
    ownership. Let me tell you quite frankly that the President showed much
    more understanding for the importance and the meaning of this issue. And
    just within this circle I can say that he promised, and if he did that,
    it will happen.

        So, by and large, this is what we talked about.

        President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you. I'm honored to be
    here. As I recall, this trip started back when you invited me to come
    when you were visiting the Oval Office. I thank you for the invitation.
    I'm proud to be here. I'm impressed by the beauty of this city. I'm
    honored to be able to speak to the people of Hungary tonight when I talk
    about the unbelievable thirst for freedom that was exhibited in 1956.
    And that spirit of freedom still exists in the world today. And I thank
    you for your troops who are working through NATO to help Iraq and the
    PRT that we're working on for Afghanistan. And thank you for your
    commitment to help others be free.

        It is also my pleasure to congratulate you on being reelected. It's
    not easy to win a second opportunity to serve, but you have done so. And
    I appreciate the courage you're showing not only in foreign policy but
    in domestic policy. We have a very good relationship, which means the
    Prime Minister is comfortable in bringing up the visa issue. Look, I
    understand this is a difficult issue, and we have developed a roadmap to
    work through this issue, so the people of your good country will
    understand that you're doing your best and I'm doing my best to meet
    U.S. laws, and you're doing your best to represent the people of Hungary
    to get this issue solved.

        And so thank you for bringing up a lot of issues, and thank you for
    your leadership. And we are very proud of our friendship and alliance
    with Hungary. Thanks for the invitation.

        Prime Minister Gyurcsany. Thank you, Mr. President.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 11:40 a.m. in the Parliament
    Building. Prime Minister Gyurcsany spoke in Hungarian, and his remarks
    were translated by an interpreter.

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