On Friday, in an address in front of a plaque at Fort Monostor in Komárom/ Komárno commemorating the forced displacement of Hungarians from Felvidék/ Southern Slovakia, Tibor Navracsics called the process a tragedy for individuals and a failure for Central Europe.

On the Memorial Day for those displaced and deported from Felvidék/ Southern Slovakia, the Deputy Prime Minister said that “Two years after the Second World War ended, more than eighty thousand people lived through a new tragedy [...] In international forums Hungary was unable to fight to protect the right of Hungarian citizens to remain in their homeland.”

Mr. Navracsics pointed out that the forced displacements spelt failure for a multinational Central Europe. He said that the process began with the First World War, resulting in a series of ethnic conflicts which for almost one hundred years have made it impossible to achieve the sense of unity necessary to “respect one another and build a happier and more prosperous Central Europe.”

The Deputy Prime Minister said that reconciliation is required, which – based on respect for each other – can take place through uncovering and facing up to the crimes of the past.

After his speech, in response to questions from journalists Mr. Navracsics said that the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice has prepared a concept looking at possible compensation for those displaced from Felvidék/ Southern Slovakia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently examining the draft to determine to what extent it can be incorporated into international treaties, before it is submitted to Parliament.

On 4 December 2012 a proposal from the Mayor of Komárom/ Komárno Attila Molnár (Fidesz- KDNP) to designate 12 April as the Memorial Day to Hungarians forcibly displaced from Felvidék/ Southern Slovakia was adopted by the National Assembly with no opposition. The resolution stated that the National Assembly considers it necessary to ensure dignified commemoration of Hungarians forcibly displaced from the Republic of Czechoslovakia to Hungary by the Beneš Decrees.

Over the past decade Komárom/ Komárno has played the role of memorial city for the deportations. Several years ago the Kecskés László foundation – which is based in the city –took up the cause of those forcibly displaced from Felvidék/ Southern Slovakia, and many books and publications on the subject have been published.

In the morning a ceremonial council meeting was held in the city, followed by readings from family memoirs.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)