Commemoration of the 1956 Revolution in Hungary

Hír TV's Washington correspondent Judit Csonka interviewed Kurt Volker, the U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, for "Hírvilág" on October 20, 2006. The interview aired on October 29.

HIR TV: I'm grateful that you agreed to give this interview.

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: Thank You.

HIR TV: And thanks for being willing to speak in Hungarian.

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: Pleasure is mine.

HIR TV: Why is it so important that such a high-level delegation should represent the U.S. administration at the commemoration of the 1956 revolution in Hungary? Why is it so important for the United States that Hungary carried out this revolution in 1956?

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: What happened in Hungary in 1956 was very important for the American people. There is a generation here that remembers the revolution, and there is a younger generation that does not. So it is very important that we officially acknowledge and remember what happened in the country and the importance it carried for freedom in the world. It was important at that time as the first example where a Central European country revolted against the Soviet dictatorship, and everybody wanted Hungary's freedom fight to succeed. Its failure was a great loss for Hungary and for all of us, thus it is very important to remember it.

HIR TV: How can Hungary be an inspiration for such countries seeking democratic transition as Belarus, Cuba and countries of the Middle East? What sort of cooperation is carried out between the U.S. and Hungary in this respect?

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: I think it is a great inspiration, as Hungary is a successful democracy. As a result of a successful transition in 1989, Hungary became a stable democracy with a growing market economy, a member of the European Union and of NATO, transferring its experience and helping other countries and nations of the world in their quest for freedom. As you mentioned, for example, there is a Soviet-type dictatorship in Cuba where transfer of power from one hand to another is now taking place. Hungary can speak with a credible voice in the interest of stopping this process and saying that the Cuban people have the right to the same democratic transition as that which took place in Hungary or in any other democratic country of the world.

HIR TV: A number of Hungarians in Hungary, as well as Hungarian Americans, feel that the Eisenhower administration let the Hungarian freedom fighters down in 1956. What is your view? Should the U.S. apologize for it or not?

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: What happened in Hungary in 1956 was very important for all of us, as the loss of freedom was also a great loss for us in the United States, and we draw a very important conclusion that it is essential to support all those who seek their own freedom in the world. The United States, for that matter, was very supportive of the Hungarian transition in 1989, and, now that Hungary is a stable democracy, the U.S. and Hungary are working together in assisting freedom seekers in Belarus or in Afghanistan.

HIR TV: Can you give us concrete examples of such cooperation?

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: I spoke of Cuba as an example. There is cooperation on the Balkans such as finalizing the status of Kosovo and integration of this region into Europe. In Belarus we cooperate in the framework of the European Union, whereas in Afghanistan we cooperate within the NATO's framework in the interest of achieving stabilization, security and economic transformation of that country.

HIR TV: Recently a foreign affairs committee delegation of the Hungarian Parliament visited the United States. What was on the agenda of your talks?

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: We had very good talks. It has been a long time since I visited Hungary and it was very good to hear what was going on and their views on it. It was good to hear that there was consensus on the foreign policy agenda in Hungary. We also discussed how it could be transferred into a mutual cooperation in the framework of NATO or the European Union for Hungary to be the leading force in such issues as Cuba.

HIR TV: In light of recent domestic events in Hungary a certain controversy has been expressed over the stability of democracy in Hungary. There are certain views stating that democracy in Hungary is fragile, and there are others that state this democracy is strong and stable. What is your view on this?

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: I’ve gotten used to hearing in Hungary that when asked if the glass is half-full or half-empty, a Hungarian says "You call that a glass?" Hungary is certainly a democracy as a result of a successful transition in 1989. It is certainly true that the situation in the country is not perfect, but it is not perfect in any other country. There is no country in the world where all the problems have already been resolved. Democratic means have to be used in Hungary to amend the arising problems. Of course, it is unfortunate that Hungary, following such a historic past, the transfer of the Crown of St. Stephen, a successful transition of 1989 would have such a divided society. But I am sure the country has a very positive future, the vision of which has to be shared by all political forces.

HIR TV: Thanks for the interview.

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY VOLKER: Thank you and all the best for the '56 commemoration.

HIR TV: Thank you very much.