Mr. President,

It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to attend this High–level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations. At the outset, let me reaffirm Hungary’s unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

In our contemporary world, the United Nations serves with distinction the best aspirations of mankind. In this context, I may safely state without exaggeration that the world today without the United Nations would have been a place with less security and freedom, less social justice and democracy.

On the other hand, today we face unprecedented challenges and grave menaces. Here, I have in mind the tragic consequences of coward terrorist acts, the grave danger of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and devastating internal armed conflicts. Shocking human sufferings from hunger, poverty and diseases, extraordinary natural disasters continue to haunt us. We also have to confront the serious degradation of the environment.

Mr. President,

We fully concur with the comprehensive approach of the Secretary-General’s report that challenges in the field of security, development and human rights are interlinked. Our responses to them should be accordingly.

Terrorism is unacceptable under any circumstances. States are to protect and defend their citizens with all necessary means against terrorist acts. At the same time Mr. President, Member States are under obligations to safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms of all. In this respect, I wish to express my fervent hope that the General Assembly will finalize a counter-terrorist strategy as well as conclude a comprehensive convention on terrorism.

Mr. President,

Since the establishment of the United Nations our world has fundamentally changed. We experience a new era of our civilization, defined by an explosion of communication possibilities, global trade and such other interactions. Nevertheless the fundamental values that motivated the creation of the United Nations are still valid. The core of these values is the dignity of all human beings. States need to find the answers to the new challenges of our time. Yet human dignity and the fundamental rights deriving there from deserve the same respect they have already enjoyed.

The issue of the environment deserves much increased attention. Let me emphasize the responsibility of the international community as a whole. We need a new philosophy that takes due account of the rights of future generations. States shall strive to maintain the level of environment protection they once achieved. Further, along with others, Hungary is in favour of a more coherent institutional framework of international environment governance. Leading to the establishment of a United Nations Environment Organization. This organization could well serve the better protection of our planet and should act as a guardian of future generations.

Hungary also supports the proposals to enhance the cause of human rights, including the creation of an effective UN Human Rights Council. We also highly appreciate the move to establish a Democracy Fund.

I am proud to announce that an International Centre for Democratic Transition has been set up in Budapest. The Centre will promote research and offer assistance for those who seek advise. It will be an open and international institution. The ICDT is the initiative of Hungary, and we do hope that you will find it worthy of support.

By the same token, Hungary is keen to urge further progress in the international promotion and protection of minority rights by the United Nations. We will not spare any efforts to see this happening.

Mr. President,

We need a renewed and reformed organization, we have to rededicate ourselves to the vision of the founding fathers.

Hungary will be a reliable partner toward this end.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Address

September 14, 2005