A New Hungary

Introduction:

If any one of us was to travel down that great river of many nations, the Danube, we would pass along the same shores once travelled by Augustus, Napoleon and other great leaders, both famous and infamous. When we reached Budapest, it is highly possible that we would travel no further. Budapest is a romantic city filled with great architecture, with landmarks such as Matthias Church, the Fishermen's Bastion, the domed and spired Parliament Buildings and, of course, the Buda Castle, once the residence of Hungarian kings and of Habsburg royalty.

Steam escapes from the dome of the Rudas Baths, built in the 16th century. In an old article in the National Geographic, I read that it is said that many citizens take mineral water home to drink, filled from a fountain, rather like a soda shop, where any of three warm waters is available by the glass. I don't know whether this is still the case, but the names of the waters are interesting. One is called "Hungaria" and the author of this article said that it tastes something like a rusty pipe but is said to be good for the kidneys and for a nervous stomach. Another is called "Juventas," mildly sulphurous, and recommended for high blood pressure and rheumatism. The third is called °Otilla" (which we pronounce Attila) and they say it tastes like rotten eggs and is recommended for almost everything. One small sip and you know why Attila was the most dreaded Hun of all. Well, we're not serving any of these for lunch today.

This audience is familiar with the great Hungarian family soups and goulashes and, of course, the dripping garlands of paprikas in the lovely countryside. But while it is nice to think of the thermal baths in Budapest which cleanse and refresh weary aches and pains and the wonderful foods and wines, we have to think of the proud and talented people that come from this great country of Hungary with a population of ten and a half million.

In the evening Budapest comes alive with opera and gypsy music. Just think of the great musicians like Erkel, Franz Liszt, Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly; and perhaps one that we are particulalry familiar with, Franz Lehar, because we so often see and hear The Merry Widow.

There's the poetry of Sandor Petofi; pottery; embroideries; porcelain; and great athletes in ice sledding. And we were teased by television when the world ice skating competition was held in Budapest earlier this year because it showed only short moments of the country and the countryside.

Everyone in this room has origins emanating from another land. And so Canada has benefitted by some of the traumatic experiences that have caused people to move house and home. We need look no further than our own Head Table, where we are honoured by the presence of Andy Sarlos. Mr. Sarlos represents the best of entrepreneurship in this country, being one of the great deans of the investment community. And, of course, Dora dePedery-Hunt, who received the Order of Canada for her painting. There are countless prominent Canadians of Hungarian origin and I wish I could mention all of their names - the Reichmanns, Peter Monk, Tom Beck, to name but a few.

In the last four weeks the offices of the Empire Club and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs have received hundreds of telephone calls from interested Canadians of Hungarian origin. They were polite, inter- . ested, challenging - but all very curious - because our guest of honour has filled Hungarians with hope, anticipation and interest. We have all heard the news of Glasnost in Russia, but I am told that Karoly Grosz has been a trail-blazer in bringing about change and reform in his country. The Prime Minister was born in Miskolc, attended university in Budapest, became a printer and edited a newspaper before becoming a prominent politician.

On May the 23rd of this year, Gloria Gerlosy Boyd was visiting her native land and she watched the excitement caused that day as Mr. Grosz became the General Secretary.

We are indeed flattered, sir, that you are able to visit us. We very much look forward to your speech. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Karoly Grosz.

Karoly Grosz:

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished fellow countrymen of mine. First of all I would like to express my sincere thanks to our hosts here who have provided us this opportunity to meet all of you. I would also like to thank the Government of Canada for having enabled us to come on this visit to your country, and I would also like to thank the Government of Ontario for all the hospitality and attention we have experienced here.

I bring you the greetings of a small nation in the middle of Europe. A nation which has seen so many ups and downs, so many successes and failures in 1,100 years of history. A nation which was led by its leaders at times to the forefront of the progress of mankind and at times to the forefront of reaction. A nation with its stormy history could not keep from surviving and doing well. I think all of this is evidence to the viability and creativity of this small nation of ours. A nation that has tried to draw the proper conclusions and lessons from history, and has tried its best to adjust to the changing circumstances. A nation which right now is facing another major challenge of history.

We here today are part of a major change in the world. It seems that mankind's hopes can be realized and come to life. We can see the walls of prejudices and suspicion being torn down, and we can see the ties of friendship and co-operation established. The rapprochement between the two major political, economic, and military powers in the world has created a new spirit - one of co-operation, friendship and peace.

It is a duty of all nations, small and great alike, to make the best use of this opportunity. Therefore, the Hungarian People's Republic thinks it is its duty to share the efforts in bringing along peace and co-operation for the best interest of Hungary and mankind.

We do believe that we see a world emerging in which it is not the military, it is not sheer force but co-operation and friendship that will gain the upper hand.

What do we want in Hungary? In what ways are we seeking our place in a new and changing world? This is the question we have to find an answer to. We envision a Hungary which is more dynamic in growth and which is in the forefront of scientific development. A country whose economy can adjust and re-adjust to the fast changing world economy. A country which makes the best use of its human and material resources with the intellectual capacity of its people. A country in which everyone has his merits according to his performance - to the work he has done. A country in which a gifted and hard working person can make ends meet. A country in which we have pure human relations. A country characterized not by hatred but by respect for each other - in which culture is flourishing, in which we have more freedom and democracy.

We want to see a Hungary whose citizens travel all around the world to gain experience, knowledge and contribute to others' well-being. A Hungary that gladly greets all those who want to come to our country with good intentions and friendship. In this country of ours we want to represent our national interests and at the same time to keep in touch with the interests and progress of mankind as a whole. In these endeavours of creating a new Hungary we count on the support of those fellow countrymen of ours who have left their country but found a new country and integrated into it. The old country wishes to co-operate with all those who want to co-operate with it. We would like to end an era which lasted four decades.

We want to begin a new chapter in our history in which we ' preserve everything that's valuable and we drop everything that's obsolete. Please help us to do so. The Hungarian People's Republic strives to have even broader relations in the field of foreign affairs than it has had so far. And it is this intention and this spirit that led our steps when coming to Canada.

Today when I had the pleasure of meeting the Prime Minister of Canada we agreed that this is the first occasion that the Prime Ministers of our countries met. Therefore we cannot say that our intergovernmental relations have longstanding traditions but we can say that they will have a long future.

We want to co-operate with your wonderful country and with all of its citizens, with its businessmen, with its political leaders - everyone. We do believe that we have something to say to each other, and we do believe that we can find opportunities for co-operation based on mutual benefits.

We've been here 26 hours now and I can say that what we've experienced here goes well beyond all our expectations. It's as if we were home. We can feel friendship and sympathy, and we can hear a lot of Hungarian words.

We'll leave this country of yours richer in impressions, in experience and in knowledge. We do believe that this is not the last occasion we will come to your country and we also trust that the leaders of Canada will find an opportunity to come to Hungary. And so as to be able to reciprocate all the hospitality and warm feelings we have experienced here we would like to see all of you in Hungary. Please come and get to know our country. Please establish contacts with our own country. And please feel free to learn through your own experience that you have a peace loving and hard working nation living in Europe.

The appreciation of the meeting was expressed by Andrew Sarlos, Chairman, Andrew Sarlos and Associates Ltd., and Chairman of Fundraising for the Canadian Institute of International Affairs.