The Minister of Human Resources called the fact that hundreds of thousands of people of German descent were deported from Hungary following the Second World War a great loss. Zoltán Balog held a speech in Berlin on Saturday at the human rights event entitled "Day of the Fatherland" before organisations representing Germans who were expelled from various countries and representatives of the German federal government.

The Minister told those present that Hungary had declared 1ö January as the day of remembrance for Germans deported from Hungary, in view of which the host of the event, German Democratic Union (CDU) politician Erika Steinbach expressed her sincere thanks. The German politician, who is also President of the Union of Expellees (BdV), has been demanding that there be a similar day of remembrance in Germany, but for the moment such events are only held in a couple of German states. A national memorial day for expelled Germans is at present only in the planning stage in Germany, the Minister of Human Resources said.

In his speech, Zoltán Balog stressed that "We believe in the diversity of Europe, in the sovereignty of nation states and in cooperation as equals based on equal rights and responsibilities." He also mentioned that from the spring of 2014, Hungarian minorities will have the opportunity to elect their own Member of Parliament.

The Minister also emphasised that it remains our duty even today to stand up for all people and groups of people who are being persecuted because of their race. Accordingly, he told the audience what is going on in Hungary to support the Roma ethnic group and that the Government is planning to pay compensation to the families of the victims of the series of Roma murders that occurred during the previous, socialist government.

Erika Steinbach pointed out that "What is happening in Hungary is exactly the opposite of what is often claimed", stressing that Hungary has an exemplary minorities policy and emphasising the great importance of the European Roma Strategy, which was launched at the proposal of Hungary during the country's Presidency of the European Union.

(Ministry of Human Resources)