Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog handed over the Award for Nationalities to four organizations and seven individuals on Monday, in the National Museum.
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The acknowledgement was received by the Alternative Art Foundation (Alternatív Művészeti Alapítvány) - Malko Teatro, by surgeon János Csotye, by Lutheran pastor Mihály Győrfi, by teacher Tibor Kedves, by Erzsébet Kovács Józsefné Bornemissza, member of a Roma self-government, by the Museum and Archives of the Poles in Hungary, by the editors of the journal Ruszin Világ, by Roman Catholic parish priest László Somos, by Mária Tarnóczi Istvánné Kaszap, colleague of the charitable foundation Szeretet Földje, by Géza Váradi, solo clarinettist of the Hungarian National Roma Orchestra, and by the German Nationality Dance Ensemble of Véménd.
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Before handing over the awards, Mr Balog stressed that there had been periods during history when nationalities only coexisted. The task is to find the points when ”peaceful existence for each other” is the guiding principle.
He highlighted the dual identity and said that the goal is to be enriched through this, rather than become poor; that it would not be needed to be hidden or denied, and that it would not be a "negligible, incidental circumstance ", but a source of richness.
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The Minister recalled the circumstances of passing the Minority Act of 1993. According to him, the Act is the joint success of the entire Hungarian political elite, and there is a consensus among political parties in nationality policy, which is rare in Hungarian public life. The Minister considered it a success that the number of those declaring themselves to have a nationality identity increased to one and a half its amount during the most recent census. This shows that the roots could not only be preserved, but these are declared as well.
The Award for Nationalities can be received by those individuals, organizations or nationality self-governments, who or that have done exemplary work for the sake of the nationalities living in Hungary, in the field of public life, education, culture, religion, science, in the mass media, or in economic self-organizations.
(Ministry of Human Resources)
