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Katalin Novák's speech at the UN Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction

Europe seemed to be a calm, peaceful continent in the last 70 years.

What do we see now? Pandemics, catastrophes, floods, fires and a brutal war in Ukraine. Our European world is not the same as we thought it would be by now.
On top of it, we suffer from the sad picture of empty cradles, and we’re facing a serious demographic crisis in our Western world.

Mr. President! Ladies and Gentlemen! 

Speech by Katalin Novák at the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavík

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Secretary General, Colleagues,

 At first, thank you. Thank you to the hosts, the government and the people of Iceland for welcoming here. I think we normally don't sleep much so we very much appreciate and take advantage of this short night. So thank you for your hospitality and also thank you, the Council of Europe for putting together this leading and this very deciding moment. The setting could not be better for such an important meeting that takes place almost two decades after the summit in Poland.

Address by Katalin Novák at the welcome ceremony for Pope Francis

Santo Padre,
¡Dios nos ha traído a Usted, el Hombre de la Paz, a Hungría!
¡Bienvenido! En húngaro se dice: "Isten hozta" y literalmente significa: Dios nos ha traído a Usted para estar con nosotros.

Most Holy Father!
Most Holy Father, Man of Peace!
A warm welcome to Hungary! 

Releases

Address by President of Hungary Katalin Novák on Hungarian Defence Day

This year, the Hungarian Defence Forces celebrate their 175th anniversary. On Hungarian Defence Day, as Commander-in-Chief, I salute our forces and our servicemen!

Archaeological excavations and resurfacing works in Szent György Square

Commissioned by the Castle Captaincy, archaeological excavations and landscaping works will begin in the green areas in front of Sándor Palace, and are expected to last until the end of the summer. 
Pedestrians will be able to use a detoured route and as well as continue to use the designated pedestrian routes from Dísz Square to the upper station of the Buda Castle Cable Car and Hunyadi Courtyard. Free, comfortable and barrier-free access to the level of Sándor Palace is also provided by the fast lifts located in Palota street. 

Ordering the promulgation of a law

Last week, the Parliament adopted, without dissenting votes, the law amending certain laws on justice related to the Hungarian Recovery and Resilience Plan.
I have some reservations about the law, but at this stage I do not want to put obstacles in the way of the Government's agreement with the European Commission.
I have therefore ordered its promulgation today.
 

Events

Open days at Sándor Palace

A year ago, at my inauguration, I promised to „open doors” for Hungary in the international arena, as well as at home, between Hungarians. 

This is also why on the anniversary, Sándor Palace welcomed those interested with open gates. Thus, thousands have seen the palace this year as well.

I thank all those who came to visit, young and old, residents of the countryside and the capital, supporters of the opposition or the government, people from all walks of life.

This day proved again that Sándor Palace is open to all.
 

My presidency is about the Hungarian people

My presidency is about the Hungarian people, and I would like them to feel that I am working as the President of all Hungarians. My next four years will also be about them. - said President of Hungary Katalin Novák on the occasion of the first anniversary of her inauguration at Sándor Palace in Budapest on Wednesday. 

Diplomacy power house at Sándor Palace

President of Hungary Katalin Novák received the credentials of Dr. Haitham Saleh Elayyan Abu Alfoul, Jordan’s new ambassador to Budapest. 

The Head of State also appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Antal Heizer to head Hungary's Embassy in Kiev, Dr György Urkuti to head Hungary's Embassy in Riga, and Mrs Szilágyi née Edit Bátorfi to head the Embassy in Vienna. 
 

Interviews

The future belongs to the Man of Peace – Interview with President of Hungary Katalin Novák in the Catholic Weekly Új Ember (New Man)

Pope Francis, accepting the invitation of state and church authorities, will pay an apostolic visit to Hungary from 28 April to 30 April. On this occasion, we visited President of Hungary Katalin Novák in her office, asking her about family, faith, education, the protection of Divine Creation, and the upcoming visit of the Holy Father.

Interview with Katalin Novák in the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera

Almost a year has gone since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Hungary is against sanctions on Russia and sending military aid to Kiev, but it does not veto EU decisions. What are Hungary’s goals and what does Budapest propose?

Previous News

Appointments of ambassadors at Sándor Palace

President of Hungary Katalin Novák appointed Dr. Gergely Bánhegyi ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to head Hungary’s embassy in Dublin, and Dr. András Beck as head of Hungary’s foreign mission in Lima.
 

"Archives preserve the memory of Hungarian families and, through them, of the whole nation"

Archives preserve the memory of Hungarian families, and through them, the memory of the whole nation – said President Katalin Novák on Tuesday at the Hungarian National Archives in Budapest, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the institution.

The President of Hungary underlined: we can get closer to knowing and understanding Hungarian history by learning the stories of Hungarian families.

The national flag was raised in front of the Parliament 

The honour guard of the Hungarian Defence Forces raised the national flag with military honours, to the sound of the National Anthem in front of the Parliament on Hungary’s national holiday on 15 March, in the presence of President of Hungary Katalin Novák and Speaker of the National Assembly László Kövér. 

The ceremony was attended by several members of the government, as well as representatives of state and military organisations and the diplomatic corps. 

The Central Military Band played and the National Cavalry Parade performed a show at the flag raising ceremony.

On the occasion of the national holiday of 15 March, Katalin Novák presented Kossuth- and Széchenyi-Awards and Hungarian Order of Merit honours

Our commitment to free and independent Hungary and the Hungarian nation has united us, Hungarians, generation after generation, for over a thousand years – President of Hungary Katalin Novák emphasized at the ceremony for Kossuth- and Széchenyi-Award winners and the recipients of the Hungarian Order of Merit honours.

She recalled: history taught the Hungarians that they must never lose sight of the interests of their country. Only we can see life and the world with the particular Hungarian eyes – she said.

"We must never lose sight of the interests of our country!" – Speech by Katalin Novák at the Kossuth- and Széchenyi-Awards Ceremony

"I am Hungarian. My motherland is the most beautiful country across the five continents.
A small world in itself.”
 
Mr Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, Honourable Winners of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Awards and Recipients of the Order of Merit, Dear Guests!

President of Hungary Katalin Novák presented her appointments of generals

The President of Hungary promoted Brigadier General János Szaszák to the rank of Major-General and appointed Colonel Norbert Tajti as Brigadier-General at the proposal of Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. The new ranks are effective as of 15 March.

As proposed by Minister of the Interior Sándor Pintér, the Head of State promoted Brigadier-General Dr. Gyula Ruszkó to the rank of Police Major-General, Brigadier- General Krisztián Erdélyi to the rank of Major-General Firefighters, and appointed Colonel Imre Gyebnár Police Brigadier-General.
 

Katalin Novák: the Christian political alternative is a viable path for both Hungary and the State of Florida

The presentation held by the President of Hungary at Ave Maria University in South-West Florida on Wednesday focused on the role of Christians in politics, the participation of youth in public life and the significance of Hungary’s family policy.

Katalin Novák, speaking to students at a private Catholic university on the last leg of her visit to the US, said that politics inspired by the principles of Christianity is based on respect for one another.

Katalin Novák held talks with the Governor of Florida

President of Hungary Katalin Novák had a meeting with the Governor of the State of Florida, Ron DeSantis, on Tuesday in Tallahassee to discuss the protection of traditional values and families.

In the capital of Florida, Katalin Novák met with one of the most popular US Republican governors, whose policies, especially child protection, have been compared to those of the Hungarian government.

Katalin Novák: We often have the impression that those who did not venture to have children of their own would like to bring up ours

The only message I have for you today is that we cannot effectively support women unless we take into account that most of them (most of us) are mothers or will be mothers at some point," said President of Hungary Katalin Novák at the annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York on Monday.

The Head of State stressed that women have been given the privilege to give birth, which is why it must be made possible for girls and women all over the world to make their own decisions, instead of being forced to choose between motherhood and a professional career.

Statement by Katalin Novák at the 67th UN Commission on the Status of Women - New York

“A war always - always! - is the defeat of humanity. There are no just wars: they do not exist!”

These sentences are quotes from Pope Francis, who will soon be visiting us in Budapest. 

Dear President, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am Katalin Novák, President of Hungary. The first elected woman president in my country. In this capacity, I am addressing you for the first time, but I have been active participant of CSW for almost a decade.