US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the strong partnership between the United States and Hungary in a message marking Hungary’s national holiday, published on the State Department’s website on Thursday.
Rubio noted that 20 August was a reminder “of the historic ties between our peoples”. “The friendship between the United States and Hungary rests on the foundation of a mutual respect for sovereignty, proud heritage, and the hard-won liberties that define our two republics,” he added.
“Today, the United States reaffirms its strong and forward-looking partnership with Hungary, one sustained by deep economic ties, shared security interests, and a commitment to the values that have long united the West,” Rubio wrote.
Karácsony wishes Hungary happy ‘rebirthday’ on national holiday
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony marked the 20 August national holiday on Thursday by wishing Hungary a “happy rebirthday” and highlighted the need to strengthen the resilience of Hungary and Budapest.
“Happy birthday, Hungary! But perhaps, here and now, it would be more accurate to say: happy rebirthday, Hungary!’ Karácsony said in a video on his YouTube channel, noting that an overwhelming majority had voted for a “European Hungary” in the April election.
Speaking about the challenges facing the country, Karácsony noted that the water level of the Danube had never been so low, the summer had never been so hot or so dry, and the country’s water and electricity supplies had never been so close to collapse as during this summer.
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The heat, the drought and their serious consequences will not be exceptions, but the new norm in Hungary, and in Budapest in particular, he said. The number of hot days is steadily rising, and “we are having to contend with prolonged droughts or sudden floods”, which are affecting agriculture, housing, transport, health and the social situation, he said.
The sight of the Danube, Lake Velence, Lake Balaton, the rivers and streams, the arable fields and the parks had perhaps made it clear to everyone that this was not merely a scientific prediction, nor was it scaremongering, he said. Constant adaptation, as well as strengthening the resilience of the country and of Budapest – which is particularly vulnerable to climate change – is the responsibility of the government, the capital, all Hungarian local authorities and every Hungarian citizen, he added.
If you missed it: Hungary celebrates 20 August, PM Magyar sends unusual message to military, air parade over Budapest — Video
Orbán: ‘We were, we are, we will be’
“We were, we are, we will be. Happy birthday, Hungary!” opposition Fidesz leader Viktor Orbán said in a post on Facebook on Thursday to mark the 20 August national holiday. In his post, the former prime minister shared a music video for the song Megmaradni magyarnak (To Remain Hungarian) by the band Kiss Kata, commenting: “It’s a beautiful song, thank you!”
Meanwhile, János Bóka, Fidesz’s parliamentary group leader, pledged to uphold Hungary’s cross-border community, the family, sovereignty, and a self-sustaining economy, and to resist “autocracy” and the “selling out of the country”. “St Stephen’s work holds timeless lessons,” Bóka said in a video posted on Facebook, marking the national holiday. “I believe that our cross-border community is an asset which survived the 20th century and must be preserved in the 21st century as well.”
He called for resistance against “autocracy”, defence of Hungarian families and values, and solidarity with Hungarians beyond the borders. “We must distinguish truth from falsehood, appearance from reality… Hungary and its people can count on us,” he said. Bóka stressed that Hungary’s fate is tied to Christian Europe, where its peace and prosperity must be secured.
