30 June 2013

A respectful welcome to the leaders and representatives of the Government and state institutions. My warm greetings to the tutors and employees of the National University of Public Service's Faculty of Law Enforcement. It is with special respect that I greet the freshly graduated students, their teachers, parents, family members and friends.Dear Oath Takers,

When you swore your oaths as officers today, you undertook to be loyal to our homeland and to our Fundamental Law, to abide by the law and ensure others also abide by it. You also swore to perform your duty at the risk of your lives, if necessary. You deserve recognition, because you are devoting your lives to serving your country and protecting public order, safety and our common values. Decisions such as this can only be made by brave and determined people. Your profession is the profession of the brave. Bravery is nothing less than victory over fear. Fear is an inherent part of life-threatening situations, but the brave do not let themselves be controlled by fear. The brave overcome their fears, because their soul, their commitment and their faith is strong enough to allow them to. And those who have faith have a future. Your brave decision shows that you have faith in yourselves, faith in your comrades, and faith in Hungary. And for this reason I believe you have a bright and successful future ahead of you. However, in addition to bravery, the law enforcement profession also requires competence, discipline, resolve, and not least humility and a willingness to help others. Only very few people are in possession of all of these virtues and so are suitable for this field. I ask that you be proud that you have met the requirements and from today, have been sworn in as permanent officers. From today, it is also depends on you if we are to live in a country in which honest Hungarian people can feel safe, and can know that their loved ones, their property and public property are safe. Today's fresh graduates are lucky, because this is the first graduating class to have spent a whole academic year at the University of Public Service, which began operations last year. May I remind you that from as early as the 1830s the Ludovica Academy fulfilled the noble goal of training young people who followed the call to serve in the nation's armed services.

Dear Oath Takers,

The best laws, the best organisational background and the best regulations aren't worth a penny if order has no people who love their country and serve it with dedication to police it. During the past three years, the citizens of Hungary have had no cause to be disappointed in their police. As a result of the restructuring we have performed, the police have become capable of protecting the country's citizens. We no longer have to fear that uniform-clad paramilitary organisations might begin marching in the streets. These reforms have affected not only the police, but also organisations that perform tax authority, customs and excise investigation activities, as well as disaster management.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Hungary has become strong and is also performing better within the field of law enforcement and public safety. It is capable of protecting itself and its citizens from criminals, natural disasters and environmental catastrophes. In recent months we have experienced this on several occasions, most recently during the flood wave that passed along the Danube. During these severe tests of strength, the reorganised and renewed Hungarian armed forces and law enforcement bodies performed exceptionally. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you in person for the conscientious work you performed during flood protection activities to protect the country as law enforcement employees and prospective officers. Hungarians – police, soldiers, firemen, disaster management and volunteers – stood their ground together on the dykes. The whole world, and all of Hungary, could clearly see that we take it seriously when we say, every Hungarian is responsible for every Hungarian.

Dear Graduate Students,

You have today sworn your oaths before our historical flags. Our more than one-thousand year old history, one thousand years of the Hungarian state, law and constitutionality, look upon you here today. The past is an obligation. One thousand years is one thousand times the obligation. And I would therefore ask that in all situations, you consider your actions both with your heads and with your hearts. I ask that you remain steadfast to the Fundamental Law, to the laws that are derived from it; to your homeland and your nation. Be proud that you completed your studies at the Faculty of Law Enforcement and that you have chosen this profession. Please behave in an exemplary way, irreproachably, and feel your work to be your vocation. Never forget: Hungary is counting on you. Serve you country always in a manner that is worthy of your ancestors, your profession and your uniform. Today, you are worthy of respect and acknowledgement. I ask that you preserve and nurture this feeling. If respect and regard are lost, the work you have performed so far may come to nothing and your vocation may become meaningless.

In closing, let me thank your tutors for helping you not only with their high level professional knowledge, but also through their commitment and fine example. I would like to thank your parents and grandparents for having raised such fine, upstanding and ready to serve young people for our homeland. In the name of the Government of Hungary, I wish the young officers who have taken their oaths today a successful career and a happy family life. I wish your family members and loved ones good health and God's blessing.

Thank you for your kind attention.

(Prime Minister’s Office)