Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén Presents Nationalities Awards

The nationalities of Hungary are the bearers of values that only they can give to the mother nation, to the Hungarian nation and ultimately to the whole of humanity, said Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén on Thursday in Budapest at the presentation of the Nationalities Awards.

Speaking at the ceremony held on the occasion of the Day of Nationalities, Mr. Semjén pointed out that in the history of mankind there has always been some visible sign that rewards extraordinary merits and achievements. It is a confirmation that one’s efforts are also important to others. The award is most important to the community of which it is a member, because it confirms that it is a source of honor to belong to a community whose members are capable of extraordinary achievements. The Deputy Prime Minister said at the award ceremony that

the prize is a confirmation for the community of the nationality in question and a confirmation for the whole of Hungarian society.

“If the 13 nationalities living in Hungary were to disappear from history, no one would ever be able to preserve this wealth of values. This is the responsibility and mission that the Hungarian state values, recognizes and acknowledges. This prize is an expression of this”, the politician said. The award is given to people and organizations who have performed exemplary activities in the interests of the national minorities in Hungary in the fields of

public life, education, culture, church life, science, mass media and economic self-organization.

The honors were presented on behalf of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán by Zsolt Semjén together with Miklós Soltész, Secretary of State for Church and Nationality Relations of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The UN adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities on 18 December 1992. On 21 September 1995, the Hungarian government decided that 18 December would be Minorities’ Day, and the Award for Minorities was established on that date; in 2012, the Parliament declared the day the Day of Nationalities and the award given on that occasion the Award for Nationalities.

Via MTI; Featured Image: MTI / Bruzák Noémi