Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sent a letter today, in response to questions raised by Chairman András Heisler and Managing Director Gusztáv Zoltai of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ). The full text of the letter can be read below:

Dear Mr. Chairman,
Dear Mr. Managing Director,

I have received your letter dated 20 January 2014.

In view of the fact that my government has always been solicitous with regard to the fate of the much-suffered Hungarian Jewish community, I would like to thank you for turning to me openly and directly with your questions. Having read your letter, my belief that we will be able to work together in the future to ensure the further strengthening of mutual respect and understanding in Hungary and cooperation between the country's communities, has been reinforced. This includes the memorial dedicated to the victims of the German occupation.

It is my firm belief that the respect we have for the victims cannot allow us to ignore the fate of the imprisoned, abducted and murdered without bowing our heads in reverence. And, as you know much better than I, the loss was a terrible one. Hungary's Fundamental Law takes a clear and firm stance on this issue. I am sure that a show of respect for the memory of the victims requires no further explanation. This is a question of humanity, and not one of politics or party affiliation.

There are those who wish to make the memory of the victims and the memorial dedicated to them the subject of daily political speculation. I can assure you that we shall resolutely reject these attempts. I very much hope that the 70th anniversary of the German occupation of Hungary will be a good opportunity for good-hearted people, who acknowledge the loss suffered by your community and share in your grief, to take an important and collective step towards a culture of respect.

22 January 2014, Budapest

Yours Sincerely,

Viktor Orbán

(Prime Minister’s Office)