In particular, thinking about patriotism has a special stake nowadays, especially when working on the renewal of the Hungarian defence system, “… and when thinking about the future of Europe what is in a crisis now” – said Csaba Hende Defence Minister of Hungary at the conference “Patriotism in the European Union”, organised by the Association of the Hungarian Graduates of Germany in 21 April.
In his opening speech, Minister Csaba Hende quoted from Ferenc Kölcsey, the author of the national anthem of Hungary: “Humanity is no more than a genus what is divided into many houses; all of them are our relatives, who are interested in our love and duty”.
The Minister pointed out that: “freedom is an important part of togetherness and modern day patriotism. The bottom line of patriotism is laid on the community and moreover on the protection of the freedom and rights of the individuals. Patriotism must not be discriminatory, it needs to be recipient. Like Sándor Petőfi wrote it once: “home is where the rights are” – as he quoted from the great poet.
Csaba Hende analysed the question of patriotism from the perspective of a soldier, he emphasized that the use of force is the very last option for the defence of homeland and the national interest. During the hardest times, the power of togetherness and the ability of resumption led through the Hungarian nation in history.
The Minister characterized our relationship to Europe as, “...we look at Europe as the world that unites for freedom. Europe and Hungary’s future depends on whether there will be a shared life, mutual interests and values what could lead us to success”
The chair and moderator of the conference were jointly Tamás Bornemissza, the president of the association, and Gábor Márki Deputy State Secretary for Defence Economy from the Ministry of Defence, who is also the chair of the association’s supervisory board, and being a graduate of a Germany university. One of the conference speakers were Zoltán Balog reformed pastor, State Secretary for Social Inclusion from the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, who made a speech about the context between migrants and minorities patriotism. Hans Kaiser former provincial minister from Germany, Colonel Alexis Merdaci French attaché, moreover Guido Mathes and Colonel Martin Hofbauer on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Defence of German and the Federal Armed Forces of Germany. Among the speakers was also Wilhelm Droste, professor of the University of ELTE, dr. Michael Zimmerman Ambassador of Austria to Budapest, dr. István Horváth former Hungarian Ambassador to Bonn and Wien, furthermore László Bíró catholic bishop of the Hungarian army who had a speech about ‘globalism and patriotism in the church’.
The association was founded in 1994, and today it has more than a thousand and two hundred members. All Hungarian citizens who completed his/her full study period in Germany and earned a university degree could join the association. For instance, Edward Teller Hungarian-born nuclear physicist was also a member and the dean of the association. The activities of the association are financed from the membership fee. The present 17th annual conference was supported by the Ministry of Defence and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
(Ministry of Defence)