Hungarians Can Always Rely on their Homeland, Says Minister Gulyás in Australia

We must make the 21st century a century of Hungarian prosperity and national unity, said Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Hungarian Cultural & Welfare Association’s renovated building in Marsden, Australia, on Sunday.

The minister stressed that after the consequences of an extremely difficult century, the Hungarian community beyond the borders and in the diaspora should no longer see Hungarian people living scattered around the world as a consequence of historical tragedies, but as a source of strength. He added that there are many people who have preserved their Hungarian identity and cultivated their mother tongue even far away from Hungary. Although they had to look for a new homeland, they still think of themselves as Hungarians.

The minister recalled that after the end of the communist regime in 1989, a free Hungary was able to reach out to well-functioning, self-organizing, mutually committed communities to strengthen the ties that history had broken and tested. He referred to József Antall, who died 30 years ago, and who in one sentence, set out the precise guiding principles of Hungarian national policy after the change of regime. The former prime minister said in June 1990, that he considered himself the prime minister of 15 million Hungarians in spirit and feeling. When he said this, he was confronted with countless criticism in Hungary as well as in neighboring countries and the world,” Gergely Gulyás stated.

The politician thanked the representatives of the diaspora and Hungarian communities beyond the borders, and the families for passing on the knowledge of the Hungarian mother tongue. He stressed that

the fact that we are a global nation is also proven by the 70,000 citizens of Australia, who declared themselves Hungarian in the last census.

As he said, the Hungarian government has two important considerations to bear in mind, from which it has important responsibilities. One is that

Hungary is the homeland of all Hungarians- a home on which they can always rely. If Hungarians face difficulties in the world because of being Hungarian, they can always return home.

As a major achievement of the national policy, he mentioned that anyone who has Hungarian ancestry can acquire Hungarian citizenship.

The other important task that the motherland must contribute to is the survival of the nation as the most important community that unites all other communities. The minister stressed that this is why the Hungarian government also contributes to the maintenance of religious and cultural life, and the building of churches and Hungarian houses. “The 20th century was a time of loss and scattering for Hungarians, we must make the 21st century a century of Hungarian prosperity and national unity,” he concluded.

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Sándor-palota/Bartos Gyula