Commemorative events related to the foundation of the Hungarian state proved extremely popular, both across the country and among Hungarian communities abroad.

In Lendva/ Lendava in Slovenia, Minister for Human Resources Zoltán Balog declared that both the kin state and the home state must be good states for Hungarians living abroad, because the reforms necessitated by the crisis in Hungary and Europe can be implemented by good states. Mr. Balog participated in the Procession of the Holy Crown, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Saint Stephen. He also met Ziga Turk, Slovenian Minister for Culture and representatives of the Hungarian community.

At an event organised by the Hungarian Coalition Party in Slovakia, its leader József Berényi stated that Saint Stephen secured the existence of the Hungarian nation, and now a similar task faces representatives of Hungarians in Slovakia. Béla Bugár, leader of the Slovakian-Hungarian party Most-Híd, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Saint Stephen in Somorja/ Šamorín, and declared that Saint Stephen established a modern state with a foundation that still exists today.

In the commemorative event in Aknaszlatina/ Solotvyno organised by the Cultural Association of Hungarians in Subcarpathia, the association’s director Miklós Kovács emphasised that there are few saint kings in Western European history, although leaders were raised to be devout and moral. Events were also held in Beregszász / Berehove and Ungvár / Uzshorod in honour of King Saint Stephen.

In Romania, at the end of the Hungarian Days in Kolozsvár/ Cluj-Napoca, Deputy Mayor Anna Horváth pointed out that the strength shown during the festival every evening must be maintained by the community in the future.
In Serbia, István Pásztor, leader of the Hungarian Association in Vajdaság / Vojvodina, pointed out in his speech that the party continues to work for the Hungarian communities; he added that each and every person cooperates to realise their interests. During the celebrations consul-general Tamás Korsós handed over a gift from Viktor Orbán – the Prime Minister’s millennium flag – to the priest of the Saint George church in Szabadka/ Subotica, with the message that our Hungarian identity is about more than those places where Hungarians live in the Carpathian Basin, more than our legacy and more than our common past: the Hungarian nation is a great joint endeavour, and the flag is a sign of collaboration.

In the Czech Republic, representatives from Hungarian organisations emphasised that national cooperation and collaboration is extraordinarily important. Various Hungarian organisations participated in the commemorative event initiated by the Political Movement for Co-existence, including the largest one: the Association of Hungarians in the Czech Republic and Moravia.

In addition, many local Hungarian communities around the globe also held events linked to the foundation of the Hungarian state.

(Prime Minister’s Office)