Minister marks Day of German Unity

The reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990, when the former Communist German Democratic Republic merged with the Republic of Germany, was a “pivotal” event that changed the course of events in Europe, he said.

Szijjarto condemned the “blocks” built in the 20th century, which “separated families and friends, Germans from Germans, Hungarians from Hungarians, even Hungary from Europe,” he said.

Hungary and Germany both grasped the opportunities after the fall of the Iron Curtain, and forged a “rich and colourful cooperation” over the decades since then, he said.

“Of course, we don’t agree on everything … but accepting that Europe is a community of varied political views and traditions can help in cooperation as we go on our own way in sectors that are a national competence,” he said.

Interdependency has increased due to the recent crises, and so the closest possible cooperation is necessary in strategic goals such as improving European competitiveness, defence, international development, and the EU integration of the Western Balkans, he said.

Germany is Hungary’s most important economic partner, with bilateral trade coming to nearly 70 billion euros last year. That record is expected to be topped this year, he said. German investors are the largest group in Hungary, employing some 300,000 people, he said.

The Hungarian government supported the investments of 187 German companies over the past nine years, he said.

The ethnic German community living in Hungary is an important link between the two countries, he said.

“The Pan-European Picnic, opening the borders, and the reunification of Germany have become a symbol of freedom movements. It showed that the people’s wish for freedom cannot be suppressed. That gives us a strong foundation to go further on the path of freedom and cooperation, to make Europe strong and successful,” he said.