Orbán greets ethnic Hungarians ahead of national holiday

“We will not give up any of our national independence either for the friendship or the threats of anyone,” Bertalan Havasi quoted the prime minister’s letter as saying.

“The Hungarian nation became a flag-bearer of freedom in 1848,” Orbán said. “The young rebels of March demanded not only a responsible government, the abolishment of censorship, and equality before the law, but they also wanted to live in a Europe where nations work together to prosper side-by-side, and not on the ruins of others.”

“They believed that freedom is not an end in itself and it is not the freedom of the strong above the weak, nor the freedom of the majority above the minority, but above all, its purpose is to bring peace, security and wellbeing to all people,” he said.

“The spiritual heritage they left behind, stamped with their personal sacrifice, is that we will not give up any of our national independence either for the friendship or the threats of anyone,” the letter said.

Orbán added that “the lights of the watch fires of Hungarian freedom” could be seen from afar. “They advocate that we Hungarians ask and demand the return of a free, dignified and strong Europe, one that could maintain peace in its territory, and resolutely stood up against all open or concealed attempts to abolish the language and culture of indigenous minorities,” he said.

“Let there be peace, freedom and consensus,” he concluded.