Hungary was the first Eastern European nation to renew diplomatic ties with Israel after their suspension in June 1967. Since 1989 Prime Minister Shamir visited Budapest twice, the Hungarian premier was in Israel in 1990 and President Herzog paid an official visit to Hungary in June 1991. The visit of President Goncz was in response to an invitation extended by President Herzog. Mr. Rabin paid special tribute to the Hungarian government assistance to tens of thousands of Russian Jews who used the Jewish Agency transit station near Budapest on their way to Israel, before the introduction of direct flights from Russia to Israel. Text:
Mr. President, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure, Mr. President, to welcome you to Jerusalem. Your visit to our country marks an important milestone on the road to the expansion and development of the relations between our two countries, a road on which we have already made some significant forward strides:
Mr. President,
We are keenly aware of the fact that Hungary was the first among the states of Eastern Europe to renew its diplomatic relations with Israel. We feel that this act represents the correction of an injustice that had been a stain on the long, common history of our two peoples. We thank you and your people for taking this step, and we feel confident that the ties of cooperation and friendship between our nations will continue to grow stronger.
The dramatic changes we have witnessed in the world bring promise of more democracy - in Eastern Europe as elsewhere - of greater control over flashpoints of tension and of a slowdown of the arms race. Of course, there are dangers too: civil strife caused by the flare-up of old ethnic rivalries, a rise in fundamentalism, including the Islamic brand, and international terrorism. All of this - against the background of economic and social crises and a dangerous upsurge of extremist nationalism which, in some areas, threatens to replace Communism,
We here in Israel are following with great interest the process of democratization and economic renewal currently taking place in Eastern Europe, and we are gratified at the accelerated development of our bilateral links with the countries of that region, in such fields as trade, health, tourism and cultural exchanges. These links, I am happy to note, are being reinforced by close governmental contacts at the highest level.
I wish, in particular, to extend my Government's and my people's gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Hungary for having made possible the establishment of a transit station for Jews immigrating to Israel from the former Soviet Union, at a time when these immigrants were prevented from coming to Israel by direct flights from the Soviet Union, In doing this, you displayed great courage, and you were not deterred by threats and acts of terror from carrying out this eminently humanitarian act.
Mr. President,
We express to you our thanks, as well, for the opportunity for rehabilitation that has been granted to the Jewish community in your country, with the termination of the Communist era, in the democratic atmosphere that characterizes the Hungary of today.
A special word of thanks to you, Mr. President, and this comes from the heart, for your relentless fight against manifestations of anti-Semitism in your country. I will not hide from you our real concern regarding expression and acts of anti-semitism in Hungary. But we are confident that democratic Hungary will continue to do everything in its power to prevent such outbreaks - by legal, administrative and educational means.
Again, sir, - welcome to our shores! Together, let us raise our glasses in a toast to your good health, to the welfare and prosperity of your country and to ever-greater friendship and good will between our peoples!