A glimpse at Megawati's visit to Hungary<\/p>\n
Gyvrgy Busztina, Ambassador of Hungary, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In the course of her whirlwind tour following the Johannesburg
\nSummit, President Megawati Soekarnoputri arrived to the Hungarian
\ncapital on Sept. 8. Her visit, at the invitation of President
\nFerenc Madl, finally materialized after it was postponed several
\ntimes due to unforeseen events like sudden developments on the
\ndomestic scene or natural calamities befalling Indonesia.<\/p>\n
No wonder it met with so high expectations. Many in Hungary
\nstill recall how Indonesia sent a leader -- the late president
\nSukarno -- to Budapest in 1960. He was one of the first statesmen
\nof international standing to visit Hungary at a time of great
\nagony, just four years after the revolution of 1956, Hungary's
\nfailed attempt to achieve liberty, ended in defeat and
\nfrustration.<\/p>\n
No wonder many saw the advent of the outspoken, independence
\nloving founder of Indonesia -- a preacher and world symbol of
\nnon-alliance -- as a concealed sign of solidarity and a glimmer
\nof hope.<\/p>\n
Times have changed indeed. Arriving in Budapest, President
\nMegawati set foot in a country that by now is an established
\ndemocracy and a market economy, a place very different from the
\none her father visited. As the representative of a major new
\ndemocracy of Asia, she met much sympathy and high expectations.<\/p>\n
All this transpired in her talks with her host, President Madl
\n-- a former lecturer of international law, and as such, a
\nstatesman particularly sensitive to problems of democratic
\ntransition -- and with Prime Minister Medgyessy, both of whom
\nexpressed a keen willingness to be partners in realising
\nIndonesia's development plans.<\/p>\n
The areas of energy, transport, communication, information
\ntechnology and agribusiness were defined as most promising for
\nworking together. President Megawati got a detailed briefing
\nabout what is believed to be Hungary's ultimate phase in her
\nEuropean Union accession process, to be achieved in roughly a
\nyear's time. Much was said about the experience of both country's
\ntransition from dictatorship to democracy, and the review of
\nissues like decentralization, administrative and electoral reform
\nwere high on the agenda.<\/p>\n
President Megawati later addressed an audience of business
\nleaders at a lunch hosted in her honor, delivering a speech at
\nthe Hungarian Academy of Science. Flanked by ministers Hassan
\nWirayuda and Rini MS Soewandi, she called on the scientific and
\nthe business community to put wisdom and prudence in front of
\nnarrow commercial interests when shaping the future of our globe.
\nThe event generated high interest in Hungary's dynamic business
\ncommunity, as it got acquainted with the advantages of working in
\none of the world's biggest single markets.<\/p>\n
In fact listening to Madame President, the Hungarian and
\ninternational audience got the right message about a distant
\ncountry whose realities are not infrequently rather distorted by
\na world media thriving on negative sensationalism. All this will,
\nno doubt, be followed by more Hungarian business people deciding
\nto take the long flight to Jakarta and to see for themselves.<\/p>\n
A meaningful presidential visit is far more than empty
\nformalities and travel for the sake of travel. In the case of
\nPresident Megawati's visit to Hungary, a short and busy agenda
\nyielded what is the most prised item in the relationship of both
\nstates and individuals -- mutual trust and understanding.<\/p>\n
Hungary is a small country in Europe, but with much potential
\nand a clear intention to be Indonesia's useful partner in
\nbusiness, her carefully listening partner in international
\npolitics, and her committed partner in seeking solutions to world
\nproblems like the issue of the environment. In all these areas of
\ncooperation, President Megawati laid the foundations of a new
\nunderstanding on the banks of the Blue Danube.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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