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Hungary seeks stronger ties with Indonesia

Showcase: Hungarian Ambassador to Indonesia Judit Pach (center) talks with guests before the screening of documentary film I was 12 in '56 during a commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in South Jakarta on Tuesday

Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, October 24, 2019

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Hungary seeks stronger ties with Indonesia

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howcase: Hungarian Ambassador to Indonesia Judit Pach (center) talks with guests before the screening of documentary film I was 12 in '56 during a commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in South Jakarta on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Hungarian Embassy)

As Hungary commemorated on Wednesday the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the Hungarian Embassy in Jakarta wanted to take the opportunity to strengthen the country’s relations with Indonesia, saying that both nations had similarities in history and spirit.

Hungarian Ambassador to Indonesia Judit Pach said Indonesians and the Hungarian people shared a similar mindset of freedom and rights and, therefore, it could serve as an excellent basis for stronger bilateral relations.

"Without a doubt, we would not be standing here and enjoying the benefits of this friendly and flourishing partnership without overcoming all the difficulties our nation went through in the past,” Pach said in a cultural event to commemorate the youth-led revolution held by the Hungarian Embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday.

With its status as one of the most stable economies in Europe, Hungary views its 1956 revolution and the political transformation in 1989 as significant parts of its history that shaped modern-day Hungary, which according to Pach, is now “a more democratic and prosperous nation”.

Hungary is considered one of the fastest-growing European Union economies in 2019, along with Poland and Slovakia, amid the economic slowdown faced by many countries in the bloc.

With the European Commission having in May forecast a 3.7 percent growth this year for the country, Hungary ranks as the fifth fastest-growing economy in the EU.

“Luckily, right now, we do not need [another] revolution [...] but we often forget that we needed to fight to get to our freedom. That’s why it [Tuesday's commemoration event] is very important,” Pach told The Jakarta Post after the event.

When asked about what the commemoration meant for Indonesia-Hungary relations, Pach said it signified closer ties between the two nations.

She said it was a reminder of the similar traits the two countries had — which were the spirit of revolution, especially among the younger generation, which could lead to future collaboration in many sectors, such as technology and innovation.

Tuesday's event showcased a musical performance by Indonesian students and a screening of a Hungarian animated documentary film about the 1956 revolution directed by Yogyakarta-based Hungarian director Boglarka Edvy.

The event was attended by Hungarians, expatriates from other countries and several Indonesians.

Among them was Muhammad Kontawa, 30, from Depok, West Java, who said he was interested in learning the history of Eastern European countries, particularly Hungary during the uprising to free themselves from the so-called iron curtain regime.

According to him, the documentary film, in particular, made him realize how freedom should not be taken for granted.

“Surely, there is this kind of similarity on historical perspective [between Indonesia and Hungary], especially the spirit of freedom and revolution,” Muhammad said referring to Indonesia during the colonial era.

Occurring later than Indonesia’s Independence in 1945, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was a nationwide revolution against the Hungarian People’s Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from Oct. 23 to Nov. 10, 1956. The revolt began as a student protest, which attracted thousands marching through central Budapest to the Hungarian Parliament complex.

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