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Skriven 2006-03-15 23:33:30 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0603154) for Wed, 2006 Mar 15
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President Attends Celebration of Hungarian Contributions to Democracy
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 15, 2006

President Attends Celebration of Hungarian Contributions to Democracy
Statutory Hall
United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.



5:45 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: 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 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 a hundred 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 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. (Applause.)

END 5:49 P.M. EST

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