[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[Pages 1211-1213]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Budapest

June 22, 2006

    Thank you very much. Jo napot kivanok. Thank you for your warm 
welcome. I first want to thank the President for his gracious 
hospitality and the chance to visit Sandor Palace. It's a beautiful 
site, and I know you're proud of it. I also want to thank your Prime 
Minister for his hospitality and the chance to go to the Parliament 
Building. Laura and I particularly liked to see the Holy Crown of St. 
Stephen. It was beautiful. It's a grand reminder of the great history of 
Hungary.
    I thank the Hungarian people for their gracious reception. Laura and 
I are honored to visit your great nation. Hungary sits at the heart of 
Europe. Hungary represents the triumph of liberty over tyranny, and 
America is proud to call Hungary a friend.
    I appreciate the opportunity to stand here on Gellert Hill, which 
offers a striking view of your beautiful city. Fifty years ago, you 
could watch history being written from this hill. In 1956, the Hungarian 
people suffered under a Communist dictatorship and domination by a 
foreign power. That fall, the Hungarian people decided they had enough 
and demanded change. From this spot, you could see tens of thousands of 
students and workers and other Hungarians marching through the streets. 
They called for an end to dictatorship, to censorship, and to the secret 
police. They called for free elections, a free press, and the release of 
political prisoners. These Hungarian patriots tore down the statue of 
Josef Stalin and defied an empire to proclaim their liberty.
    Twelve days after the Hungarian people stood up for their liberty, 
the Communists in Moscow responded with great brutality. Soon the 
streets of Budapest were filled with Soviet tanks. The Red Army killed 
many who resisted, including women and children. The Soviets threw many 
more into prison. They crushed the Hungarian uprising but not the 
Hungarian people's thirst for freedom.
    Some 200,000 Hungarians fled into exile in search of liberty. Many 
found refuge in the United States. These immigrants have contributed to 
my country in countless ways, and America will always be glad that we 
opened our doors to Hungarians that were seeking freedom. Fifty years 
later, the sacrifice of the Hungarian people inspires all who love 
liberty. Some of those who faced those tanks are here today. I had the 
honor of meeting three such gentlemen at lunch. I was proud to be in 
their presence. America honors your courage. We've learned from your 
example, and we resolve that when people stand up for their freedom, 
America will stand with them.
    In 1989, a new generation of Hungarians returned to the streets to 
demand their liberty and boldly helped others secure their freedom as 
well. By giving shelter to those fleeing tyranny and opening your border 
to the West, you helped bring down the Iron Curtain and gave the hope of 
freedom to millions in Central and Eastern Europe. Because you had the 
courage to lead, Hungary became the first Communist nation in Europe to 
make the transition to democracy.
    Hungary has continued to move forward. You regained your 
independence, held free elections, and established a free economy. 
Hungary is now a valued member of NATO and the European Union. You know 
that the democratic journey is not easy, but you continue to make the 
tough decisions that are necessary to succeed. America admires your 
perseverance; we welcome your progress; and America values our alliance 
with the free people of Hungary.
    You believe that free nations have an obligation to help others 
realize the benefits of freedom. So last year, you launched the

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International Center for Democratic Transition here in Budapest. You set 
that center up to help others learn from your country's experiences. 
Hungary was also an early contributor to the United Nations Democracy 
Fund, which supports emerging democracies with legal and technical and 
financial assistance. And together America and Hungary helped launch the 
Foundation for the Future, which supports democratic reformers, 
independent journalists, women's groups, and human rights advocates 
throughout the Middle East. Hungary is making a difference in our world, 
and I thank you for your leadership in freedom's cause.
    Hungary is also showing courage in freedom's cause. In Kosovo, 
Hungarian soldiers are helping to secure the peace. Your work is aiding 
the rise of democracy in a region that has endured violence and tyranny 
for many decades. By your efforts, you're helping the people of the 
Balkans establish free and democratic societies, and you're paving the 
way for their membership in the institutions of a united Europe.
    Hungarian troops are also defending freedom's cause in the war on 
terror. In Afghanistan, your soldiers have rebuilt schools and a medical 
center. They've helped train Afghan police to enforce the rule of law 
and to protect the Afghan people. In Iraq, Hungarian troops played a 
vital role in Operation Iraqi Freedom by providing security and 
delivering food and medical supplies to coalition forces. Today, 
Hungarian soldiers are helping to train Iraqi security forces. This is 
important work. By supporting these two young democracies, you are 
strengthening two new allies in the war on terror, and you're bringing 
hope to millions of people in a vital region of the world.
    Last week, I traveled to Baghdad. I was impressed by what I saw. 
Americans and Hungarians and other coalition partners can be proud of 
what we have achieved in partnership with the Iraqi people. I met with 
Iraq's new Prime Minister and was able to see firsthand his strong 
character, his commitment to freedom, and his determination to succeed. 
Hungarians will recognize this spirit. Prime Minister Maliki is 
committed to the democratic ideals that also inspired Hungarian patriots 
in 1956 and 1989. He has a sound plan to improve security, to unify his 
people, and to deliver a better life for the citizens of Iraq. The 
success of the new Iraqi Government is vital to the security of all 
nations, and so it deserves the support of the international community. 
We will continue to help the Iraqi Government establish free 
institutions, to achieve its goals, and we will continue to help Iraq 
take its rightful place alongside America and Hungary as beacons of 
liberty in our world.
    Iraq's young democracy still faces determined enemies, people who 
will use violence and brutality to stop the march of freedom. Defeating 
these enemies will require sacrifice and continued patience--the kind of 
patience the good people of Hungary displayed after 1956. We will help 
them rebuild a country destroyed by a tyrant. We'll help the Iraqis 
defeat the enemies of freedom. Our commitment is certain; our objective 
is clear. The new Iraqi Government will show the world the promise of a 
thriving democracy in the heart of the Middle East.
    The Hungarian people know well the promise of freedom. Many of you 
lived through the nightmare of fascism or communism or both. Yet you 
never lost hope. You kept faith in freedom. And 50 years after you 
watched Soviet tanks invade your beloved city, you now watch your 
grandchildren play in the streets of a free Hungary.
    The lesson of the Hungarian experience is clear: Liberty can be 
delayed, but it cannot be denied. The desire for liberty is universal, 
because it is written by our Creator into the hearts of every man, 
woman, and child on this Earth. And as people across the world step 
forward to claim their own freedom, they will take inspiration from your 
example and draw hope from your success.
    Earlier today Laura and I laid a bouquet of flowers at the 1956 
Memorial Monument across the river. It was our privilege to do so. It 
was a moving moment for us. Kossuth Square is named for the father of 
Hungarian democracy and honors more than a century-and-a-half of 
Hungarian sacrifice in freedom's cause. A bust of this great leader 
stands in the United States Capitol. It affirms that those who fight for 
liberty are heroes not only in their own land but of all free

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nations. All who love liberty are linked together across the generations 
and across the world.
    Your great poet, Petofi, said this: ``Here is the time, now or 
never! Shall we be slaves or free? This is the question; answer! By the 
God of the Hungarians we swear: We swear to be slaves no more!''
    These words were addressed to the Hungarian people, yet they speak 
to all people in all times. This is the spirit that we honor today. I 
appreciate the opportunity to come to this great country and to 
celebrate the Hungarian example--the courage, the sacrifice, the 
perseverance that has led to this democracy.
    On behalf of all Americans: Koszonom. May God bless you all. Thank 
you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 4:38 p.m. on Gellert Hill. In his remarks, 
he referred to President Laszlo Solyom and Prime Minister Ferenc 
Gyurcsany of Hungary; and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and former 
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.