Hungary is aware that there is no strong Europe, there is no strong Central-Europe and above all, there is no strong Hungary without a strong Germany, Bence Tuzson stated.
The State Secretary of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister responsible for government communication spoke about this at the international symposium “Europe’s political challenges – Central-European prospects” organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the Foundation for a Civic Hungary.
“A united Europe will be Christian, or not at all.” In this short sentence, Robert Schuman – one of the founding fathers of united Europe – designated the framework for all of us in which we should perceive ourselves and should experience our European roots.
The State Secretary highlighted that the shocking terrorist attacks which occurred last Friday were directed not only against the French capital, but against the ideal of free Europe and the European way of life.
There are problems to be resolved towering over the European community, with our Central-European region in it, which we can only successfully tackle if we stand up for our common values, firmly relying on our identity, on the foundations of which we built our home, he said.
We can only be successful if we always preserve ourselves. As our excellent Transylvanian Hungarian dramatist András Sütő said: if “we are who we were, and will be what we are”.
The West has reached a crossroads and must make a choice: it will either recognise the loss that its culture and form of life sustained, and will shape its policies accordingly, or will fail in the long run, the State Secretary said.
What the Hungarian, Slovak, Polish and Czech people think about the current challenges is not contrary to Europe’s core values. Furthermore, all we do is attempt to preserve the environment which our ancestors created with a great deal of hard work, which they left to us as our inheritance. The Hungarian people believe that our continent does not need a change of culture, there is no need for Europe to change beyond recognition.
We would like to live in the Europe of József Antalls, Helmut Kohls and Robert Schumans where we build the peoples’ Europe on the firm foundations of the sovereignty of nations.
The politicians of our times must know “what is what”. They must mutually know and respect each other, in order to reach a common denominator which creates a Europe that provides equal rights and advancement for everyone.
There is a sign at the northern entrance of the Reichstag building in Berlin with the following inscription: “10 September 1989, a sign of friendship between the Hungarian and German peoples. For a united Germany. For an independent Hungary. For a democratic Europe.”
We, Hungarians are turning to the German nation in 2015 with the same respect and friendship as we did in 1989.
We have received a great deal of help from Germany so that we may return to the ranks of the free nations of Europe within the shortest possible time after the inhumane decades of socialism. We shall always be grateful for this support.
The economic trends of recent years show that closer cooperation between Germany and the Visegrád Four, including Hungary, may be the source of the improvement of European competitiveness.
Some 6,000 German companies provide jobs for 300,000 people in Hungary, and one quarter of the total foreign working capital invested in Hungary originates from German businesses. Trade between the two countries amounts to some EUR 40 billion.
I wish the Hungarian and German peoples that we find solutions to the challenges we are facing together, further intensify our economic and social relations, and concentrate on the joyful experiences which tie us together.
We wish to thank Germany for honouring us with its friendship. We shall do our best also in the future to make Konrad Adenauer’s vision come true, Mr Tuzson closed his speech.
(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)
