Mr. President,

It is an honour and privilege for me to participate in this commemorative session.

During the fifty years of its existence the United Nations has upheld the noble ideals and values embodied in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other important UN instruments. These ideals and values are even now a major driving force behind the momentous changes in our contemporary world.

We should not forget that the strengths and weaknesses or the accomplishments and failures of the Organization are our common responsibility. In this respect, the vision of the founding fathers "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" remains to be pursued vigorously for us all.

For so many in the world, the United Nations is a beacon of hope and help. We, ourselves, have felt the same when in 1956 Hungarians in our revolution and national freedom fight, including myself took courage from the distant but clear voice of solidarity coming from this very hall. We remain deeply grateful for that. The continued attention of the United Nations was instrumental in the bettering of our fate, including those of the prisoners of conscience.

Small countries, like Hungary sought and found in the United Nations a forum, where they could articulate and defend their interests, act in unison with all nations, thus they could contribute to shape a better future. We have learned, maybe well before others that by upholding universal values, supporting the ideals set forth in the Charter fifty years ago and acting for their practical implementation not only we do not lose our specific identity, but enrich the precious political heritage of mankind.

Mr. President,

Today, we live in a time of opportunities and the United Nations is at a crossroads. Only a reformed United Nations could be a catalyst in our endeavours to make the world safe and secure, where freedom, democracy and respect for human rights flourish. We should redouble our efforts to revitalize the United Nations. To this effect, there can be no delay in restructuring and streamlining the costly bureaucracy of the UN system. We have to rationalize the work of the General Assembly. The enlargement of the Security Council, along with enhancing its effectiveness is more than necessary. Financial reform of the United Nations is a must.

The time has come for us to revitalize multilateral mentality to meet effectively and firmly the challenges of new global and inter-connected threats of resurgent nationalism and ethnic strife, international terrorism, illicit drug-trafficking, smuggling of nuclear materials, deliberate degradation of global environment or poverty.

By the same token, international protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including minority rights, sustained economic growth, sustainable development and promotion of prosperity should be our high priorities well into the next century.

It is in this connection that I would like to pay tribute particularly to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as shining examples of multilateral thinking at best.

Mr. President,

At this important juncture of history, our task is to develop and strengthen a genuinely worldwide constituency for the United Nations. We can do this only if we make every effort to involve the young generations, whose confidence must be won by a renewed philosophy of multilateral co-operation. I am confident that for generations to come the promotion and protection of multiethnicity, diversity, tolerance and respect for human dignity will be the major feature of expectations from the United Nations.

The next era of the United Nations is being shaped today by our ideas and actions. I am profoundly convinced that our common wisdom, courage and determination will make the United Nations indeed worthy of the heritage, bequeathed upon us by our forefathers who laid down the foundation of this truly unique organization fifty years ago.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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