The government office chief hands over state decorations on occasion of August 20

Budapest, August 18 (MTI) – János Lázár, the government office chief, handed over high state decorations at a ceremony in Budapest on Thursday, ahead of Hungary’s upcoming August 20 national holiday.

In his address at the ceremony, Lázár talked about the significance of one’s personal achievement, as a basis for a “healthy national pride”. Personal achievements will make up a “communal experience” and a source for being proud of being Hungarian, he added.

Lázár noted the government’s commitment to “get national culture to everybody”. He said that culture cannot be “a luxury for the elite only” and urged that the term public education “should be filled with new and real content”.

Zsolt Bayer journalist and János Lázár, the government office chief

At the ceremony, Hungary’s Order of Merit (Middle Cross) was handed over to 10 intellectuals, while lower level decorations were given to 190 others in recognition of their outstanding achievements in different walks of life.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI