Opening speech of H.E. Mr. Zsolt Németh, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition ”European Cultural Diversity: Serbian religious art in Hungary”. Balassi Institute, Brussels 13th, February 2013

Dear Colleague Minister Petkovic, Your Grace Bishop Lukijan, President Pajtic, Honourable Member of the European Parliament, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
First of all I would like to express my deep appreciation to all of those who contributed to organising this wonderful exhibition we are opening today, both on the Serbian and on the Hungarian sides.
I am delighted that all these efforts made it possible that we may gather today here in Brussels in order to celebrate an extraordinary example of the European cultural diversity. This amazing collection of the Serbian religious art in Hungary carries important messages for us.
1.
This common exhibition strengthens the mutual trust between us. These beautiful pieces of art are evidences that a part of the treasures of the Serbian culture are preserved in our country, Hungary, just as a part of the Hungarian national culture is kept alive in Serbia, especially in Vojvodina. This proves that culture cannot be interpreted within borders: it finds ways to connect communities, minorities, nations and peoples and even countries. And this is what we want to celebrate here tonight. In this, Serbs in Hungary (similarly to Hungarians in Serbia) function as bridges between the two nations.
2.
We can see here how closely our cultures are interlinked with each other in Central Europe. We share a common history and a common Christian faith. One of the unique characteristics of Europe is the presence and co-existence of many cultures on the continent. I am convinced that this reality of cultural diversity makes Europe stronger and we should consider it a unique asset in the global arena. Article 167 of the Lisbon Treaty confirms that “The Union shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore.”  When we make the treasures of the Serbian religious art of Hungary accessible for the wider public today we are acting exactly according to the letter and spirit of the treaty.
Lots of words are spoken today worldwide about the importance of the preservation of the biological diversity of our planet. And it is rightly so. However, in the meantime, we must also pay attention to the preservation of the cultural diversity of the globe as well. When one of the species disappears from our biosphere: it is an irreversible loss. But it is also true that when one ancient icon is lost – it is also something that cannot be restored.
3.
In many instances, especially in the Second World War, relations between Hungary and Serbia were a zero-sum-game and we are about to transform this into a win-win situation. We are proud that Hungary was a home for Serbian cultural and artistic activities during the Ottoman rule and hence we have contributed to preserving the Serbian cultural heritage in literature, arts or theatre. I would like to highlight the role of the Matica Srpska, the engine behind this exhibition, the oldest Serbian cultural and scientific institution, which was founded in 1826 in Budapest and then transferred to Újvidék /Novi Sad in 1864, and I would like also express my appreciation to this organization for their efforts in making this exhibition possible today. We believe that mutual trust provides for practical solutions to preserve the national cultural heritage in our countries. 
We can say that the joint efforts invested to bring this extraordinary collection of the Central European cultural heritage to Brussels, also shows the quality of our relations and is living proof of the attention both Budapest and Belgrade (and also Novi Sad) are paying to the minorities in our respective countries. This exhibition demonstrates that culture creates new areas for deepening cooperation between our countries. This present exhibition is a new phenomenon in the bilateral relations of Hungary and Serbia. It contributes to our aim of increasing the level of cooperation between our states, our governments, and our churches.
Reconciliation is an important precondition of the sustainability of good neighbourly relations by enhancing people-to-people contacts. The recent agreement of our heads of states to overcome the burdensome memory of the Second World War by healing the wounds on both sides will give us a new agenda. And I believe our exhibition today is a living example of this endeavour.
4.
Furthermore, let us remind ourselves that not only the Serbian nation and Hungary is represented by this exhibition but it is also a representation of an important segment of Eastern Orthodox, pravoslav Christianity. Pope John Paul II once stated, referring to Western Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy that "Europe has two lungs, it will never breathe easily until it uses both of them". This exhibition is a testimony to this truth, too. Europe shall only be healthy and united when it shall breath with both lungs of its Christian tradition.
By the membership of Hungary in the European Union, a small part of the Serbian Orthodox world has already entered the EU, and we are convinced that Europe – and Serbia and the whole Western Balkans - shall only find its true self when the centre of the Serbian Orthodoxy shall be an integral part of our Union.
5.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Hungary has been committed to contributing to the progress of Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans region by promoting freedom, liberal democracy and rule of law. We are determined to continue our support and are pleased that Serbia strives to continue on this path to become a full member of the EU-family.
Results are already tangible. We are getting closer to reach the results of EU enlargement process and people in Serbia need to see many positive examples in order maintain their trust in the process. We hope that we can contribute to this also through positive examples like we are witnessing today.
Finally I would like to say that Hungary and Serbia are well-known for our capacity of being hospitable and welcoming. We should turn our cultural and ethnic diversity so characteristic for our region into creativity in order to preserve together the valuable cultural diversity of our continent.
May God help us! (Isten segítsenminket/Da nas Bog pomogne) 

Thank You for your attention.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)