Cultural Institution of Hungarians in Slovakia Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Slovakian Hungarian Social and Cultural Association, better known as Csemadok, has faithfully served the strengthening of Hungarian identity in Slovakia even in the most difficult historical times, said János Árpád Potápi, Minister of State for National Policy of the Prime Minister’s Office, in Nové Zámky (Érsekújvár), Slovakia, where he gave a speech at the jubilee celebration of the 75th anniversary of the institution’s founding on Saturday.

Speaking at the ceremony of the largest cultural and public organization of Hungarians in Slovakia, the State Secretary for National Policy recalled the complex historical moment of the organization’s foundation. He pointed out that although this period was a time of contempt and persecution for the Hungarian minority, the community reacted to the hardships they faced. They did so not instinctively but with a Christian spirit, and Csemadok helped the community to recover.

Hungarians in Slovakia have carried and are carrying their fate with love and dignity”,

János Árpád Potápi emphasized.

He said that the past 75 years have been about assuming responsibility for the homeland and the nation, and during this period Csemadok has faithfully served to strengthen the Hungarian identity, and the leaders and volunteers of the organization have set an everlasting example for posterity, as is also shown by the fact that the Hungarian minority in the Uplands is still standing its ground today. “If Csemadok had not been founded then, we might not be able to speak Hungarian here today,” said János Árpád Potápi.

Citing the past 75 years of Csemadok as an example, the State Secretary encouraged the participants of the ceremony to draw strength from it to face the challenges of the present. He pointed out that

Csemadok has proven that even the most difficult times can be overcome in ethnic communities, but only by organizing at local and national level. “Politics must be based on Hungarian values and interests”,

János Árpád Potápi said. In connection with the forthcoming presidential elections in Slovakia and the candidacy of the Alliance of Hungarians for the presidency of the Republic, he added that we do not necessarily have to win the elections, but we must prove that we are to be counted and that we must represent our interests at all levels.

Later in the ceremony, János Árpád Potápi received the Zoltán Fábry Award, which Csemadok had awarded him in January on the occasion of Hungarian Culture Day. The award, which is presented by the organization in recognition of the assistance provided to the Hungarian community in the Highlands and Csemadok, was given this year to János Potápi Árpád János, the Prime Minister’s Chief Adviser Katalin Szili and Éva Czimbalmosné Molnár, Head of the Department of the State Secretariat for National Policy.

 

Featured Image: Facebook Árpád János Potápi