Budapest Mayor: Trianon ‘indelible’ part of Hungarians’ life

While the trauma of Trianon is an “indelible” part of Hungarians’ life, “we must talk about the injustice but refrain from hiding behind our trauma when it comes to facing reality and today’s problems”, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said on Tuesday, marking National Cohesion Day, held on the anniversary of the Trianon Peace Treaties.

Marking the memorial day of the treaties concluding the First World War, which cost Hungary two-thirds of its territory, Karacsony said Budapest had to set an example in tolerance, honesty, and humanity. “Because in this city, everyone is free to love the homeland whichever way they want.”

Speaking in a rose garden planted late last year as a symbol of togetherness, Karacsony said the garden contained a plant for every Hungarian town and cities beyond the border with Hungarian communites. Budapest has been shaped by people coming from every corner of the country, “bringing their customs and cultures”, he said.

“Budapest would not be the same without the artists, architects and workers who came from Transylvania, Slovakia, Vojvodina and Transcarpathia, or the construction material transported from there,” he said.