In his letter, signed on behalf of the Hungarian government, Semjén called Alliance’s success “the fruit of cooperation” between Slovakia Hungarians.

Semjén said he trusted that Alliance representatives would “build a strong representation for [ethnic] Hungarians” in Slovakia.

'Hungarian Communities Successful If They Are Politically Organised', Says Potápi

Hungarian communities are successful if they are politically organised as the example of ethnic Hungarians in Croatia shows, Árpád János Potápi, the state secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad at the prime minister’s office, said in Kopacevo (Kopács), in north-eastern Croatia, on Saturday.

If they are politically organised and “the ethnic Hungarians can get representation in parliament, then the majority nation and politicians will also pay attention to them and, for various interests, they will work together, and can work together well,” he said at the annual meeting of the Hungarian Democratic Community of Croatian Hungarians (HMDK).

“Strengthening the system of political institutions is always in the interest of Hungarians, in order to be able to support and strengthen our nation and parts of our nation,” he added. Potápi extended his congratulations to HMDK on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and described the party as the most important political organisation and interest representation of ethnic Hungarians in Croatia.

President Novák: Hungary, Diaspora Have Mutual Responsibility

Hungary and the Hungarian diaspora have a mutual responsibility, President Katalin Novák said in Toronto on Sunday, at the inauguration of a new church and community centre to the First Hungarian Reformed Church.

Ties between the mother country and the diaspora form an “umbilical cord” which ensures “spiritual, intellectual, and cultural connection” even through long distances. It “nurtures and connects us for good, in an inseparable way”, the president said.

Hungary has an obligation to “listen to and take responsibility for” diaspora communities, while Hungarian communities have the obligation to retain their Hungarian identity and their language, she said. Hungarians in other parts of the world should also take responsibility for Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin, the president said.

“Those in need, whether in Hungary or in former parts of Hungary, are looking for help,” she said, noting Canadian Hungarians’ aid to Transcarpathia Hungarians after the Ukraine war had broken out. The new church was inaugurated by Bishop Zoltán Balog, head of the Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church.

The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Toronto left its previous church in January 2019. The new church is part of a complex including the Hungarian Diaspora Mission Centre complete with halls and other facilities to serve Hungarians in Canada. The complex was built with a contribution from the Hungarian state.


Photo courtesy: Hungarian Human Rights