Motions — Hungarian Revolution—50th Anniversary

I move, That this House

(1) commends the Hungarian people as they mark the 50th anniversary of the October 1956 Revolution, which set the stage for the democratic changes which occurred in 1989 in Hungary and other Eastern European countries;

(2) expresses its condolences to the people of Hungary for those who lost their lives fighting for the cause of Hungarian freedom and independence in 1956 as well as those individuals executed by the Soviet and Hungarian authorities in the 5 years following the Revolution, including Prime Minister Imre Nagy;

(3) welcomes the achievement of democracy in Hungary in 1989, and the progress its people have made since then;

(4) reaffirms the friendship and cooperative relations between the Governments of Hungary and New Zealand, and between the Hungarian and New Zealand people;

(5) notes that over 1,000 Hungarian refugees came to New Zealand after the Revolution was crushed by Soviet forces;

(6) recognises the significant contribution of the Hungarian community to the progress of New Zealand over the last 50 years; and

(7) asks the Speaker to convey this motion to the Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament.

Motion agreed to.