Statement

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Statement by the Prime Minister on the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolucion

October 20, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution:

"Fifty years ago, Hungarians rose up spontaneously against their communist government. Following the ensuing Soviet intervention, approximately 200,000 Hungarians fled the country. Canada responded quickly and welcomed almost 40,000 of those refugees.

"We must not take for granted the freedoms that so many Hungarians fought for then, and that so many people around the world have continued to fight for since. Today, we stand with all Hungarian-Canadians in remembering those who died and suffered in the revolution. Hopes may have been crushed in 1956, but they laid the groundwork for the final achievement of freedom three and a half decades later."

On October 21, 22 and 23, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will take part in events in Hungary to commemorate the revolution.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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