Németh Zsolt parlamenti államtitkár beszéde a Reagan emlékülésen. Angol nyelven.

If I had to sum up in one phrase the late President Ronald Reagan’s political legacy it would be the same notion that Sándor Petőfi, the young romantic martyr poet of the 1848 Hungarian revolution felt worth dying for: worldwide freedom.

RR – Achiever of idealistic aims through pragmatic means

Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest personalities of American history who used US power to advance the cause of freedom globally and who made it a central part of the foreign policy of the United States to representthe cause of democracy and human rights.

We, Hungarians, remember him especially for the crucial role he played in the collapse of one of the worst dictatorships of the twentieth century by bringing an end to soviet communist tyranny, including the one in Hungary.

Ronald Reagan achieved this historic success by sticking to his principles. In Central-Europe we often have a tendency to over-analyse problems and over-intellectualise them. I remember how inspiring it was to hear President Reagan speak. His message was clear and simple; articulating moral certitudes that we all knew to be self-evident. Amidst the lies of official communist propaganda Reagan’s simple formulations and directness were incredibly refreshing. He reminded us, the generation of Fidesz, in the ‘80s that simple moral choices have clear answers. The choice between freedom and tyranny, between human rights and human rights abuses, between freedom of speech and censorship are clear.

Transatlantic cooperation in the spirit of Reagan

His policies for democracy promotion continue to inspire and shape policy debates on both sides of the Atlantic.

Today the transatlantic alliance is facing a crucial moment in its history: recalibrating our partnership is urgent and will define our common future history.

The rise of emerging new powers is rapidly changing the landscape that we were used to since the end of the cold war. This is accompanied by a new competition of ideas; and the values we hold dear are increasingly being challenged globally. Under these changing circumstances the transatlantic partnership is more relevant than ever. Only together can we defend our values and commitment to the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Reagan’s unwavering belief in personal freedom was closely connected to his belief in individual responsibility. He advocated political systems that give people the freedom -- and also the responsibility -- to shape their future and preserve their dignity through liberty. We are committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies in achieving and defending these goals.

Transatlantic security – military aspects

We had for half a year as the rotating presidency of the EU, the luxury of debating how a common European foreign and security policy might affect transatlantic ties. These debates may have been important, but today I believe they are no longer as relevant. We no longer have an option -- we need both a strong and united Europe and a strong United States, side by side. This is what Hungary is aiming for.

The bedrock of our security is the transatlantic alliance. For over 60 years, NATO has served as the institution where the transatlantic partnership is put into practice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

One of the most visible manifestations of the transatlantic partnership has been the US military presence in Europe, which has guaranteed the security of the continent for well over half a century. We believe that maintaining this presence continues to serve the fundamental security interests of both sides of the Atlantic. In this context, we greatly value the recent results of the US Global Force Posture review, which commits the United States to maintaining sizable land forces in Europe. To Europeans, this is a clear signal that the continued importance of the transatlantic bond is well appreciated in Washington as well.

Let us strengthen the economic ties amongst our allies!

Nonetheless, if Ronald Reagan were among us, he would caution us, that when we provide for our common freedom and security, we shouldn’t only work together on military questions.  Economic cooperation and strong economic links are crucial for our Atlantic future.

The military supremacy of the transatlantic region is still evident; however, its economic advantage is shrinking. This will eventually have security and military consequences, and it already has some! As the countries of the transatlantic region are forced to squeeze their military budgets, other emerging powers are increasing their spending. Many nations, to break loose of this predicament, are forced to form lucrative relationships with them, which sooner or later could even lead to political dependency. This is particularly dangerous in the field of energy, but in other areas of the economy as well.

President Reagan would worry about these developments!

The allies do not only have to be primary military partners of each other, but also primary economic partners. They must strengthen the economic ties binding them together and encourage a united voice outside the transatlantic region in economic issues. This is not a new idea. It was laid down by our forebears 62 years ago in the document at the heart of our alliance: the Washington Treaty. We must not forget Article 2, which clearly refers to this, and whose implementation is most needed today.

Reagan’s legacy: democracy promotion

President Reagan understood the links between security, freedom and stability. Stability based on coercion and suppression – no matter how stable it might appear at first glance – is ultimately illusory. Our security is the security of freedom. Our freedom is both a source of strength and stability. As President Reagan said, “Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women”.  20 years ago exactly this was the key to the freedom of Central Europe, the homeland of Pope II. John Paul.

Ronald Reagan’s deep personal and strong political commitment to the cause of freedom was a source of inspiration to many. He placed the promotion of democracy at the heart of American foreign policy.

The Arab spring has recently proved the universality of people’s yearning for freedom and dignity and highlighted the relevance of Ronald Reagan’s legacy. The tragic self-immolation of the young Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi started events that no one foresaw. Hungary along with our allies has warmly embraced the democratic changes in the Middle East. We see these changes in the region as an opportunity for a new era of stability and cooperation that is not based on suppression, but on the creative dynamism of free societies. We also hope that these changes will bring the region closer to lasting peace.

In his famous 1982 speech before the British Parliament President Reagan set out as a policy goal to "to foster the infrastructure of democracy". Recent events have dramatically highlighted that his message is still relevant concerning North Africa, the Middle East, and even our eastern neighbors.

We, Hungarians, in our recent history successfully negotiated the democratic transition, and we have lived in a democratic country now for over twenty years. We feel obliged, ready and committed to share our experiences of the transition from a dictatorship to a functioning democracy.  Our experience, both our successes and our mistakes, gives us a unique insight and know-how that we can share with the world.  We are proud to be following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan by helping democratic change to include the Arab world today.

Today, the same values that guided Reagan’s values-based foreign policy lead our own foreign policy. That is what we must learn from Ronald Reagan’s optimism today: pragmatism without compromise on values, underpinned by the strong belief in our ability to change the world for the better.

(kormany.hu)