Every Hungarian is born with the mission of serving the survival of the nation and preserving its values for the whole of humanity, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén stressed at the gala Talent Without Borders held on Friday at the National Theatre in Budapest.

At the event, held in conjunction with the Day of National Unity, which celebrated the winners of the „Varázscsepp” National Talent Competition organised for children raised in child care homes and showcasing the productions of children from beyond the borders, Mr Semjén said: it is the duty of the Hungarian State to create a framework for the survival of the nation, for instance, by granting dual citizenship and supporting Hungarian communities, cultural and educational institutions beyond the borders. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the members of the nation to thread the Carpathian Basin „with a multitude of roots”, with personal relations.

To this end, we need initiatives similar to that celebrated by the Friday gala and institutions which provide a platform for children to unfold their talent in the field of sciences, the arts or sports, and to create personal relations with our fellow-Hungarians living in other parts of the Carpathian Basin, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted. He added: the gala is a good opportunity for us to demonstrate our openness to the values of neighbouring nations.

Attila Vidnyánszky, Director of the National Theatre, pointed out in his opening speech: some bright talents will introduce themselves at the Friday gala. The National Theatre sees it as its responsibility to foster young people, he added.

At the press conference held after the opening of the event, the Honorary President of the Niké Sports Association – Hungarian Sports Academy organising the gala in cooperation with the Directorate General for Social Affairs and Child Protection, Győző Orbán said: the ten-year experience of the Association shows that sports pursued within regulated boundaries are capable of improving the chances of children raised in disadvantaged circumstances.

The event was attended by Szilárd Németh, Vice-President of Fidesz and President of the Hungarian Wrestling Association, Ágnes Hornung, State Secretary for Finances, and Tamás Vargha, Minister of State at the Defence Ministry, and a welcome speech was delivered by Ildikó Orosz, President of the Transcarpathian Teachers’ Association and Rector of the II. Rákóczi Ferenc Hungarian College in Transcarpathia.

(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)