Secretary Supports Hungarian Foreign Minister's Democracy Transition Initiative

In a press conference with American Secretary of State Colin Powell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Budapest, Hungary, on July 27,2004. For the full transcript, you can click here.

Kovacs: "The State Secretary spoke with acknowledgement of the appreciation about the regional process – the democratic changes that have changed the landscape in this region. We are of the opinion that it will be purposeful and well worth using, making use of the experiences that Hungary and other countries of this region have made in the process of democratic transition. We are allies, NATO, the mission of which is to preserve and to defend the security and the stability of the world at large. We are allies, indeed, in the fight against global terrorism. And I am of the position that we must be allies in strengthening democratic trends and tendencies globally, because this is what can prevent terrorism.

I also explained to the Secretary that Hungary herself would be and is ready to collect and summarize her experiences and experiences of other countries in the region along the process of this democratic transition, so that this can be transferred to other countries who might be only at the beginning of this plan. And, I am convinced that this can be an important contribution that would allow us to build a more stable, a more peaceful, and indeed, a more democratic world."

Powell: "One way we might do this is by, I believe the Minister touched on, supporting Hungary in its efforts to create a (inaudible) sometime here in Budapest that might serve as a learning venture as they pass on the lessons of democracy (inaudible) freedom (inaudible). Hungary and a few other nations (inaudible) those nations that are still moving on this path."

Kovacs: "I do feel that there is enough support in the Hungarian public for these (inaudible) against global terrorists. We do understand that it is a global issue. It’s not the problem only of the United States of America, it’s not the problem of Spain, it’s not the problem of Hungary, it’s the problem of the democratic community and it is the problem of the democratic countries. I think that there is strong support to have this kind of institution as a way of projecting democracy, which is a preventative step against terrorists and it addresses the hotbeds of terrorism."