Hungarian deputies in Carpathian Basin meet in Budapest – UPDATE

Budapest, March 24 (MTI) – The democratic legitimation of nation states has no acceptable alternative anywhere in the world, Parliamentary Speaker László Kövér told a plenary meeting of Hungarian lawmakers from the Carpathian Basin in Budapest on Friday.

All the existing alternatives are anti-democratic because they lack legitimacy, Kövér said. There are “faceless and ruthless” global interest groups that want to take over the role of sovereign, democratic and internationally cooperative nation states in Europe, he insisted.

As the decline of a unipolar world is unavoidable, Pax Americana will need to be replaced in eastern-central Europe by Pax Europae Mediae or Pax Danubia or Pax Carpatica, he said. This will strengthen cooperation in the region, put an end to the ethnic rivalry of the 20th century and open new prospects for Hungary’s nation policy, he added.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó highlighted the importance of trust between neighbouring countries to resolve issues.

“We could have opted for a strategy that we will not cooperate as long as we do not see eye to eye over problematic issues; instead, the (Hungarian) government has chosen to work together with them for shared success, to ensure an opportunity for resolving issues that most impact the life of ethnic Hungarians,” he said.

Concerning Hungary’s position on the United States’ patriotic economy policy, Szijjártó said that it should be considered “positive” and added that Hungary pursued similar policies. “Contrary to the internation mainstream we are not frustrated because the US presidents puts America first; this is natural… and we totally agree,” he said.

UPDATE

In a closing statement, the deputies welcomed the increasing number of election alliances formed by local Hungarian parties in the neighbouring countries over the past few years. They expressed the firm belief that that through closer cooperation the Hungarian organisations in the region could more strongly press for the interests of Hungarian communities with weaker representation.

The participants called it important that a dialogue about the autonomy endeavours of Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin should be kept on the EU’s agenda with references made to other member states with successful autonomy models.

The deputies urged the Hungarian government to protect by every possible means the currently existing rights of the Hungarian communities in the region with a particular focus on the use of their mother tongue.

They welcomed the Hungarian government’s programme of significantly improving and increasing the number of border crossing points to cater for smoother connection with neighbouring countries. They also welcomed the government’s programme of developing the network of Hungarian kindergartens that allow education in the mother tongue.

The participants expressed support for all endeavours to halt the decline in the number and proportion of ethnic Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin.

The deputies expressed concern and condemned discriminatory acts against the Hungarian community in Romania and called on the Hungarian parliament and government to address the issue in the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the OSCE, and inform the US government.

Regarding Slovakia, the participants proposed bilateral talks with the Hungarian government on still standing “sensitive issues” such as dual citizenship, the post-WWII Benes decrees, minority self-governments and Hungarian education.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI