Ambassador George H. Walker

Statement on the Occasion of the Forty-Ninth Anniversary of the Revolution of 1956

The United States extends its best wishes and congratulations to the people of Hungary on the forty-ninth anniversary of the revolution of 1956.  We recall the sacrifices made during those fateful days a half a century ago.  As President Bush noted during the recent visit of Prime Minister Gyurcsány to Washington, "there are key moments in history when ordinary citizens are willing to defend the right of all to be free."  Hungary in 1956 witnessed one of those moments, and it is fair to say that there is a direct connection between the courage displayed by Hungarians on the streets of their cities that October and the freedoms that Hungary enjoys today. 

The United States is grateful for the government of Hungary's steadfast support in the war on terrorism, and we are delighted at our joint success in building a solid foundation for the further development of our already strong bilateral relations.