Ambassador Balazs Bokor, consul general of the Republic of Hungary in Los Angeles (pictured right), came to BYU–Hawaii to speak about the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and was welcomed at the McKay foyer with a traditional Hawaiian chant and leis.
Bokor came on Wednesday, May 27, to speak on the role Hungary played up to 1989 as a catalyst for political, economic, and social change that changed the shape of Europe and eventually the world.
The forum was sponsored by a combined effort of the Political Science Department, the History Department, and the Jonathan Nāpela Center for Hawaiian Studies. Vice President for Academics Max Checketts started off the forum in the ballroom by expressing a warm welcome to Ambassador Bokor and his wife and daughter.
Dr. Jon Jonassen, from the Political Science Department, said, "He was very keen to visit our campus. He came especially to talk to the students… This type of activity is ideal to occur on our campus and we are pursuing more of that. We are hoping to have more and more dignitaries come and speak in the future."
Bokor explained how the shape of Europe was "completely different 20 years ago," with Communism still having a huge influence in Eastern Europe. With the relaxing of Hungarian and Austrian borders and the acceptance of Communist-Block refugees, thousands started to flow through Hungary to escape oppression. A total of 75,000 East Germans went through Hungary right after the border was opened. This breakdown of the Communist oppression in the mid-1980s led to the eventual destruction of the Berlin Wall and the re-unification of East and West Germany.
Having lived and traveled through many parts of the world representing the Republic of Hungary and speaking on the very subject of the collapse of Communism and the events that led up to it in 1989, Bokor has come in contact with several key leaders in the world, including the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Pictured: Vice President for Academics Max Checketts & Hungarian Ambassador Balazs Bokor)
After his presentation, he opened the remainder of the time for questions. Several mentioned they knew missionaries who are or who have served in Hungary and asked questions about the religious situation and structure of Hungary. "If you can go to Hungary on your mission, I can promise you that you will enjoy it there. I can't promise you success but you will enjoy it," said Bokor, laughing with the audience.
Students were able to greet and talk to the ambassador after the forum. One student who served her mission in Hungary surprised the ambassador and his family by speaking Hungarian. The Bokors spent the rest of the afternoon Wednesday at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
--Photos by Monique Saenz