Prime Minister Viktor Orbán presented Hungarian Order of Merit distinctions to German MPs at the Hungarian Parliament on Tuesday.

In accordance with the decision of President of the Republic János Áder, the Prime Minister presented the Commander’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit to Bundestag Vice-President Johannes Singhammer, former Minister of Economics and Technology Michael Glos, human rights spokesperson of the CDU/CSU group and President of the Federation of Expellees Erika Steinbach and former Minister of State at the Foreign Office Cornelia Pieper.

The Officer’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit was awarded to Bundestag European affairs committee member Karl Holmeier, President of the Bundestag Committee for German Minorities and Expellees Klaus Braehmig and former Chairman of the Bundestag Hungarian-German Friendship Group Jens Ackerman.

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In his speech, the Prime Minister emphasised that the reunification of Germany was the only guarantee that the Berlin Wall would never be rebuilt. “We think back with gratitude on those German politicians who decided in favour of rapid reunification, and who by doing so also guaranteed our freedom”, he said.

The Hungarians believe that a person is made especially great by his enemies and especially strong by his friends, and this is particularly true in today’s world, in which a new economic, political and military power system is evolving before our very eyes, Mr. Orbán said.

Today, seven German politicians have received high-level awards; they are friends of Hungary, because they have always stood up for our country without self-interest and without considering the consequences, he pointed out.

In Parliament, many MPs also stand up for Germany without considering self-interest, and when the reunification of Germany was on the agenda, Hungarian Members of Parliament stood up for reunification without hesitation in opposition to those who would have liked to slow down the process, he added.

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Friendship is always worth a lot, and is especially valuable in difficult times, the Prime Minister stated. On the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, Europe is yet to provide solutions to the huge challenges we face, he said, quoting German Chancellor Angela Markel.

In the spirit of German-Hungarian friendship, our wish is that there should finally be unity and a European will, so that there may be a common path along which Europe can occupy its rightful place within the new world order, he added.

(Prime Minister's Office)