Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a new memorial in Sátoraljaújhely, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took the opportunity to discuss the significance and heritage of the Treaty of Trianon.
“We have to reach high enough so that we can see the future from there,” PM Orbán said, explaining that Hungarians have thus far built up a thousand-year-long history from which they can now look around and see far ahead. “If we look with our hearts, not our eyes, we may even be able to see further,” he added.
Recalling the role of Christianity in Hungarian history, PM Orbán said that “we have opened our hearts to Christianity,” and “we have made it the foundation of our state.” It is thanks to Christianity, he continued, that “we did not become a German province, a Turkish eyalet or part of the Soviet Union.”
During the last millennium, PM Orbán said, “many have volunteered to bury Hungary, but we are stubborn folk; we won’t attend our own funeral.” However, after World War I, “the West violated the borders and history of Central Europe and turned our country into a death row.” Hungary will never forget this, Orbán said.
“But we will survive, because we are home. We are home, and this is why we will survive. Every new-born Hungarian baby is an additional outpost,” PM Orbán said, adding that “only states have borders; nations do not.” According to the prime minister, some understand this, while some don’t.
In his closing remarks, PM Orbán said that “it is our generation that can turn Hungary’s fate around, complete its mission and set the country up for victory.” The “final battle,” however, will have to be fought by the next generation. It is they who will need to take the final steps.