Head of State Dr. Tamás Sulyok visited Szentgotthárd and Lendva with Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar

Dr. Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary, and Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia, paid a visit to minority communities in the border region in Szentgotthárd and Lendva.

Following the bilateral meeting held in Szentgotthárd, Dr. Tamás Sulyok stated in an interview with the public media that both the Slovenian national community in Hungary and the Hungarian national community in Slovenia are of great value. As a lawyer, he added that he particularly appreciates the fact that the two communities enjoy equal rights and are endowed with significant legal powers on both sides of the border.

The Hungarian Head of State described this nationality policy, which applies to Slovenians living in Hungary and Hungarians living in Slovenia, as exemplary. He noted that it is particularly commendable that both states contribute a significant amount each year to a joint fund, which is allocated in a well-organised, project-based manner. President Sulyok emphasised that this arrangement could serve as a model for other states.

The President of Hungary recalled that, together with the Slovenian Head of State, they had achieved significant results, which is why they have good reason to jointly celebrate the 30th anniversary of the National Slovenian Self-Government in Hungary and the 35th anniversary of the Hungarian Self-Governing National Community in the Mura Region.

Tamás Sulyok pointed out that relations between the two countries are stable and characterised by good neighbourliness, and that dialogue with the President of Slovenia continues in this spirit.

At the ceremony held in honour of the 30th anniversary of the National Slovenian Self-Government in Hungary, the Hungarian President said that in Szentgotthárd we are celebrating the friendship and mutual respect between the Hungarian and Slovenian peoples, and above all the fact that we consider the Slovenian community in Hungary to be a valuable asset. In his view, minority culture goes beyond beautiful folk songs and traditions; the mother tongue and a cohesive community also shape character and become deeply ingrained in people's souls.

In Lendva, the two Heads of State held trilateral talks with representatives of the Hungarian community in Slovenia, then attended a gala programme organised in honour of the 35th anniversary of the Hungarian Self-Governing National Community in the Mura Region. In his ceremonial speech in Lendva, the Hungarian Head of State said that we owe Slovenia our gratitude for recognising Hungarians as an indigenous national community in its constitution and granting them extensive cultural, linguistic and self-determination rights.