Miklos Nemeth-Prime Minister, your excellencies, my lords, ladies and gentlemen.
First can I welcome you, Prime Minister, and all the members of your delegation most warmly to no.10 Downing street.
Your visit is of immense significance at a time when the whole of Eastern Europe is experiencing such breath-taking change. And it is an opportunity for us to express our support and our admiration for all that you are doing in Hungary.
Britain and Hungary
The relationship between Britain and Hungary has become rather special. Hungary was the first Eastern European country which I visited as Prime Minister: and over the last five years a [end p1] number of Hungary's leaders have come here to no.10. We have talked about their plans, and how we both saw the way forward.
In a way the relationship became a model of how two countries with different political systems could deal with each other even when the cold war was still at its height. Neither of us sought to interfere in the other's internal matters or to say things which would cause difficulties, yet by quiet discussion and contact we were able to prepare for the day when the barriers finally came down.
This is now quite normal. Yet only five years ago it was something exceptional—and that underlines how fast change has been. Hungary and Britain can take great credit for their part in bringing that change about and ensuring that it proceeds in an orderly way that does not threaten stability. [end p2]
Hungary's role in promoting change
None of us will forget that Hungary was right at the forefront of change in Eastern Europe. The first to undertake economic reforms. The first to allow freedom of travel to the West. The first to tear down its border fences.
And we particularly honour you, Prime Minister, for the brave decision to allow East Germans to cross into the West—despite all the pressures put on you in a contrary sense.
By doing that, you opened the way to much more far-reaching developments in East Germany itself. Indeed one could say that your decision led ineluctably to the opening of the Berlin wall and all that has since flowed from that historic change. [end p3] We all—and no-one more than the people of East Germany—have cause to be grateful for that, and for Hungary's part in creating this new world.
We know too that Hungary's search for reform is not without cost and you are encountering very real economic difficulties. Your own readiness to take the hard decisions which are required is evidence of your political courage and steadfastness, and we hope you will receive the support you deserve.
Britain's readiness to help
Britain will certainly do its best to help. As you know we took a lead in securing much more favourable trading arrangements for Hungary with the European community. We hope this will lead to even [end p4] closer contacts and relations in the future.
We have established a know-how fund to help provide the necessary skills to enable you to carry out a far reaching transformation of your economy.
We hope very much that British firms—and some of the leading ones are represented here today—will invest in Hungary so that your economic reform can show practical results. Some of our firms have already done so and I congratulate them on that.
And I am pleased to announce that, over the next five years, Britain will contribute substantially to the international Peto institute, which has done such marvellous work in helping seriously ill children, especially those with spinal bifida, to walk. [end p5]
Free elections
Prime Minister, Hungary will soon hold the first entirely free elections in Eastern Europe for over forty years. That will be a step of historic importance and I am glad that once again it is Hungary which is out in front. Every new step towards greater democracy will make it harder for anyone to turn the clock back anywhere in Eastern Europe.
We owe Hungary much, Prime Minister, we owe you much, — for bringing closer the prospect of a Europe without hostility, without fear and without artificial divisions: — for bringing closer the time when we can once again feel that Hungary and other Eastern European countries can play their rightful part in the larger democratic Europe. [end p6]
We honour you for all that you have achieved. And we honour all your countrymen.
These last few years have been a time of great adventure for Hungary which have brought out the best of your people's great courage and spirit—and we wish you well for the future.
May I ask you all to rise and drink a toast to the Prime Minister, to the Hungarian people and to their future success and prosperity.