Hungary's first post-communist president Goncz celebrates 90th birthday

Thousands of relatives, friends and politicians greeted Arpad Goncz, Hungary's first post-communist president (1990-2000), on his 90th birthday on Friday.

His closest friends and fans gave a serenade to Goncz at his home in Budapest's second district.

Addressing a conference organised in his honour by the Republikon Institute, Goncz, who could not attend for health reasons, sent a video message in which he thanked the organisers but expressed surprise over the event. He said he was surprised because he did not feel "he was still important" today. Goncz said no period of his life had been bad, because even in prison he was among people he respected.

Lajos Kosa, deputy leader of the ruling Fidesz party, greeted Goncz and praised him for always being "an intellectual with civil attitudes" who is a credible personage still today.

Goncz was greeted by one-time politicians of his liberal Alliance of Free Democrats party, as well as other politicians and intellectuals.

President Pal Schmitt congratulated Goncz over the phone from Helsinki, where he attended an informal meeting of the Arraiolos Group, and conveyed greetings from the presidents of all seven countries (Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Slovenia) attending that meeting.