William Penn Life, 1999 (34. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)

1999-07-01 / 7. szám

A Meeting of Allies

Kosovo and Hungary ’s role in new alliance top state visit agenda

TI he situation in Kosovo dominated discussions between President Clinton and Hungary's President Árpád Göncz when the two met at the White House June 8. The meeting occurred during Göncz's official state visit to Washington that week.

"The primary focus of those discussions was on Kosovo, was on ensuring a Serb compliance with the Ahtisaari-Chernomyrdin agreement," said White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart. "There was some discussion of what Hungary can do as far as their commitment to helping KFOR. They made some commitments as far as police and engineering units for their commitment to this effort."

Göncz Stresses Alliance

For his part, Göncz focused on the new alliance between Hungary and the West, its importance to Hungary and Europe, and Hungary's willingness to be a good ally.

During a welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Göncz said "it is the most significant event in my political career and life as a Central European intellectual that my country, as an ally of the United States, is now able to write the first chapter [of the 21st century] together with [the United States]."

The meetings were followed by an official state dinner in honor of Göncz at the White House. The Hungarian president used the occasion to again focus on the two countries' new alliance.

"This was the first time I really felt, genuinely, that the two countries

are allies," Göncz said through a translator during his dinner remarks. Göncz and Clinton have met "four or five times, but we never had a chance before to think together about the course of the world. We did that today."

Göncz also expressed Hungary's willingness and eagerness to be an integral part of NATO's plans for Serbia. "If one day the Democratic leadership in Serbia is created, we Hungarians are ready to share our experience in building democracy with the Serbian people, and the Serbian leadership," he said.

"We are prepared to extend a helping hand to a democratic Serbian government, to the Serbian people, because we know what bombing means from our own experience. We know what has to be restored— bridges, oil refineries, infrastructure, but primarily and foremost, the belief of the people in the future."

Presidential Praise

Clinton praised Hungary and Göncz for their achievements. "Hungary is leading the way toward what people dreamed of throughout the long Cold War," Clinton said. He noted Hungary's fast-growing economy and its record of promoting minority rights both at home and in other nations.

He also praised Göncz. Quoting from the American author E. L. Doctorow, Clinton said "the devastating history of 20th century Europe ... is housed in the being of Árpád Göncz."

He also compared Göncz to Kim Dae Jung of South Korea, Vaclav

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Havel of the Czech Republic and Nelson Mandela of South Africa. All four men "were imprisoned for their beliefs and activism, and now have emerged in freedom's sunlight as the presidents of their nations," Clinton said.

Göncz fought in the Hungarian resistance during World War II and was wounded by the Nazis. In 1956, he fought Stalinist oppression and was sentenced to life in prison.

While in prison he taught himself English. After being released six years later, he began translating the works of American writers—including Doctorow—into Hungarian. He also authored his own plays and stories which "challenged Hungarians to think about the nature of tyranny and the meaning of freedom," Clinton said.

Göncz, 77, led a 15-member delegation for the official state visit. Among those making the visit were Foreign Minister János Martonyi, Minister of Economic Affairs Attila Chikán, Army Commander Ferenc Végh Göncz and György Surány, president of the National Bank of Hungary.

The delegation arrived in Washington Sunday, June 6. They met with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.They also met with representatives of the Hungarian community in the U.S., thanking them for their help in securing Hungary's recent ascension into NATO.

William Fen Life, July 1999

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