The Hungarian community in Transcarpathia – which is an integral and constituent part of the country in which it lives – has proved time and again that it has not only a past and a present, but also a future in its native land, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday in Beregszász (Berehove, Ukraine) where he inaugurated a life-size equestrian statue of Francis II Rákóczi.
In his speech delivered at the inauguration ceremony of the statue erected at one of the city’s central squares named after Budapest, Mr Gulyás stressed, among others, that this is where Francis II Rákóczi entered Hungarian territory and this is where he bid farewell to his supporters who were faithful to him throughout. His example remains with us to this day, and the statue of the great leader stands here not against anyone, but for someone, he pointed out. He recalled that “Francis II Rákóczi is not only a hero of the Hungarian people, not only a hero of all the nations of Transcarpathia that stood up in defence of the community, but a hero of all freedom-loving people, of everyone who believes in human dignity, the possibility of using one’s mother tongue and being educated in one’s mother tongue, the rule of law, and the values of self-esteem and respect”.
“A hero of everyone who knows that we cannot live against one another, only together,” he added. The Minister highlighted that the statue of Rákóczi reminds us that we must stand up for ourselves and for one another. Hungary takes part in international life in this spirit, and would like – also in the best interests of the Hungarians of Transcarpathia – Ukraine to have an open passage to NATO and the European Union, he said. He stressed that “We count on everyone, and everyone can count on us; everyone who wishes to give their allies all that they themselves would like to have, including respect for human rights, the free use of the mother tongue and the right to education in the mother tongue.” Mr Gulyás pointed out that “the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia has proved time and again that it is an integral and constituent part of the country in which it lives. The Hungarian community in Transcarpathia has proved time and again that it has not only a past and a present, but also a future in its native land.” We, too, can hope for that which the great prince had written on his flag: God will not abandon true causes, the Minister said in conclusion.
In his welcome address, Mayor of Beregszász Zoltán Babják highlighted that the statue of Francis II Rákóczi, which is more than six metres tall with the pedestal included and is a work of sculptor Lajos Győrfi from Püspökladány, will be a new symbol of the city and a pilgrimage site. The erection of the statue during the Rákóczi Memorial Year will strengthen the local community, without weakening Ukraine, he underlined. In addition to the sculptor, he thanked the Hungarian government for the support they provided with the erection of the statue and ministerial commissioner István Grezsa for his involvement in the implementation of the initiative.
In his speech, László Brenzovics, President of the Cultural Alliance of Hungarians in Transcarpathia, which initiated the erection of the statue together with the office of the Mayor of Beregszász, said with the erection of the equestrian statue of Francis II Rákóczi, a 126-year-old dream of the people of Beregszász has come true as the city’s population started a collection this many years ago for the immortalisation of the figure of the great prince in a public place; however, due to the twists and turns of history in the region, this noble plan could only be accomplished now. “Rákóczi is clearly a hero of our region; regardless of nationality, his person and his struggle for freedom have lived in the people’s memory for centuries, so his statue is in a deserving place here,” the President of the Cultural Alliance of Hungarians in Transcarpathia pointed out.
(MTI)
