The Global Round Table June 2011 [antikvár]

The Global Round Table Hungárián people remember Ferenc Mádl with warm love and respect. Nowadays, when there are less and less values equally shared by many, it is a speciai honour ifsomeone is remembered with gratitude by a whole nation. The passing of Ferenc Mádl is not only a personaI, a humán loss but alsó a farewell to a way of thinking that strengthened the spirit and the morals of a whole community. As a scholar he always advocated the primacy ofprecision, ofprinciples underpinned by facts and of an analytic approach. He sensed that uncertainty, doubt and inability stem from the lack of knowledge. Ferenc Mádl wanted to know as much as possible about the world and in every office he took; in his community service he alsó encouraged others to be informed, to be aware of the processes that influence their lives. He was a European politician in every sense. Even in Hungary, which was then held captive and isolated by socialism, he considered the dependence of Europeans on each other and the common cultural heritage to be his points ofreference. He saw precisely the necessity ofeconomic cooperation. He beHeved in the power of European integration and the cardinal importance of the legal order it was built on. He became a lawyer so that he could study and articulate how laws shape society. He considered it a huge achievement that by the end of the twentieth century the rule oflaw and order had regained their credibility in Hungary and that Hungary became a member of the European Union during his term in office as the President of the Republic. He knew however that external links, grand declarations will not by themselves solve the problems ofthe community. He honestly believed that solidarity was not a mere political slogan but an important quality measure oflife, to which everyone had to contribute their own. It was owing to this natural born humanism that he warmly welcomed the formation of the Global Round Table, after the expiry of his term in office he continued to support its efforts aimed at dialogue and its work to promote sustainable development. "There are those who want to be »someone« and those who want to do something."- said Jean Monnet, one ofthe fathers ofthe European idea. Ferenc Mádl always wanted to do something. He was a quiet, dignified, reserved, scholarly person, who felt best in the university environment. Yet he was always ready to serve, because this was what his patriotism, his Europeanism, his Christian morals and his conscience dictated. Hungary mourns him, Europe bows in respect. Pál Schmitt President ofthe Republic of Hungary