On the sixteenth of December – the twenty-fifth anniversary of the outbreak of the 1989 Romanian Revolution – we commemorate the sacrifices of those revolutionaries, heroes and martyrs whose courage and perseverance in the face of death led to the fall of the communist dictatorship.
We consider it important to highlight the role in the Romanian Revolution of the inhabitants of Temesvár (Timisoara), as their heroic opposition to dictatorship gave impetus to protest movements formed in Bucharest and other large cities. In those dramatic days the citizens of Romania declared their faith in the democratic transition, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Hungary, which had also suffered for decades under communism, watched these events with hopeful anticipation and contributed to the Revolution’s success with supportive intent.
When paying our respects to the heroes we should not forget László Tőkés, whose unwavering stand for his community and his faith became the catalyst for changes which transformed Romania. The shared Hungarian-Romanian nature of the struggle for freedom and the solidarity between the two peoples played a key role in the success of the revolution. Romania’s citizens of differing ethnicities and religions were as one in sharing in the acts of revolution, setting an example of solidarity between nations, and showing that freedom is a universal value which can only be won through strength in unity.
On today's anniversary we would like to express our conviction that Romania and Hungary will continue their shared path as members of Europe’s democratic communities and as strategic partners, and that this can open up new horizons to the two nations. We see one of our most important tasks, and also our shared responsibility, as fully utilizing the opportunities – offered by the membership of the EU and arising from close bilateral cooperation – for improving the situations of both the Hungarian minority in Romania and the Romanian minority in Hungary.