Extremists who ride on tensions present in Hungarian society should be rejected, Zoltan Kovacs, the state secretary in charge of social cohesion, told a conference on Wednesday.

Addressing an equal opportunities conference organised by the national police ORFK and a European Roma law enforcement organisation, Kovacs urged more Roma to take part in law enforcement work, as this would help cohesion in society, too.

A change of attitudes has emerged over the past three years, bringing important changes in the relationship between citizens and authorities, he insisted.

He said a sober solution was necessary where sides treat each other as partners.

Addressing the conference, Karoly Papp, the national chief of police, said the work of police to help Roma integration had been exemplary. He said the ranks of the police force offer ample opportunities to anyone with a sense of duty and will to work in line with the law and requirements.

"Everyone is a brother in arms, whether they are women or men or members of one nationality, religion, or another. We work for the same goal and look out for each other while serving the country," he said.

Papp said the police offers a scholarship programme to young Roma if they choose a police career. Last year, 41 secondary school students and 3 college-level students received the scholarship, he added.

(Ministry of Human Resources)