President Sulyok: ‘Valour’ of sovereignty has often saved Hungarians from misfortune

In a speech at the Liszt Institute, marking the start of Hungary’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, Sulyok said Brussels was a place to “learn the art of compromise”. He said that like Belgians, Europeans often had trouble understanding each other.

“But in the end we must always strive for compromise, because without it no people or nation is viable,” the president said.

He said Hungarians were not confined to Hungary, noting the times throughout history when they were forced to leave their homeland. “But as Hungarians, we can live anywhere, that is, we find our people everywhere and form close bonds and tight-knit communities with our compatriots,” he added.

Sulyok said there were Hungarians living all over the world and their talent was also world-renowned.

Noting the accomplishments of 2023 Nobel Laureates Katalin Kariko and Ferenc Krausz, Sulyok said that though they had left Hungary to pursue their academic careers, they had never forgotten their home country and had preserved their Hungarian identity.

“They are wonderful examples of how one can find the way to one’s personal success abroad without forgetting the way home,” Sulyok said, adding that this also meant returning home in the intellectual and spiritual sense.