Katalin Szili stressed that Hungary bears responsibility for Hungarians living beyond its borders, and recognizes the nationalities living in Hungary as a state-building factor too.Continue reading
After a difficult century, starting the process of cross-border reunification of the Hungarian nation, Hungarians across the Carpathian Basin can once again participate in each other’s lives, László Kövér said at the opening ceremony of the 15th Carpathian Basin Universities Cup (KEK) in Budapest.
The Speaker of the Parliament, who is the main patron of the KEK, pointed out that the Carpathian Basin Universities Cup, which has become a tradition, helps participants to increase their capital of contacts in the Hungarian world of the Carpathian Basin through sport.
It gives them the opportunity to find an increasing number of peers who can help them achieve their personal, generational, and even national goals.
László Kövér thanked the organizers who launched the Cup in 2010 with 100 competitors, and said that today it is a challenge and a test of strength for 2,000 Hungarian students, as well as an opportunity for lifelong friendships.
He recalled that the grandparents and parents of the young Hungarians present – from Szeklerland to Budapest, from the Hungarian regions of Szeklerland to the Hungarian regions of Burgenland (Őrvidék, Austria), from the southern regions of Szeklerland to the Carpathian region of Slovakia (Felvidék) – would have loved to meet and compete with each other, but they could not do so because of the borders of the Treaty of Trianon (1920).
Kövér also pointed out that the new millennium brought new opportunities and new challenges. He said that after a “terribly difficult century,” the process of reunification of the Hungarian nation across borders had been initiated, and the opportunity had been created for Hungarians throughout the Carpathian Basin to participate in each other’s lives once again.
He drew attention to
the need to rebuild, maintain, and strengthen our ties in all areas of life.
This, he said, “…is both a satisfaction for our ancestors and an opportunity and a duty for all of us.”
The patron of the KEK noted that “the experience of competitions fought with honor, of great sporting battles fought with all one’s might, brings people together and prepares them for other struggles in life.” He added: “The aim of this competition is also to build links from university to university, community to community, Hungarian to Hungarian.” He asked the participants to take advantage of this opportunity this year as well.
Via MTI; Featured image via Facebook/Kárpát-medencei Egyetemek Kupája (KEK)