Szijjarto receives Vasvari Award

Accepting the award, named after Pal Vasvari (1827-1849), a leading personality in the 1848 revolution, Szijjarto said it was a great honour and pride to receive the award which “illustrates that Hungary is still an exceptional place in the world where one can be honoured for loving their homeland and for the courage to talk openly about Christianity, family, traditions, history and a proud nation”.

“Today, such a thing cannot be performed without getting stigmatised for it in very many places in the world,” he said.

The foreign minister gave an outline of challenges and the serious tasks that were facing Hungary in foreign affairs and diplomacy, highlighting the importance of valuing achievements.

“The government’s foreign policy is Hungarian and stands for sovereignty, it rests on promoting national interests along the lines of rationality and mutual respect,” Szijjarto said. He said the main foreign policy goals included maintaining Hungary’s freedom, independence, security and its national “Hungarian characteristic”.