Addressing the inauguration of a school in Petrinja Croatia damaged in a devastating earthquake and rebuilt with 8.7 billion forints (EUR 22.5m) of Hungarian government support, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said it is natural for Hungary to provide help to a neighboring country when it is in trouble. The earthquake hit Croatia on Dec 28-29 2020, killing seven people and leaving another 28 injured. “We laid the cornerstone of the school 18 months ago and pupils could return to the 5,500sqm facility with 20 classrooms last month,” Minister Szijjártó said, adding that the school “provides high-level education to 350 children”. He called the fully rebuilt school “proof of the friendship between Hungary and Croatia and their people”. The minister noted that the Hungarian government had also supported the refurbishment of a school in Topolovac with 60 million forints and the rebuilding of a church in Sisak with 750 million forints.
FM: Natural for Hungary to provide help to a neighboring country
Feb 13, 2024
The foreign minister said Hungary's efforts to rebuild schools in Croatia is “proof of the friendship between Hungary and Croatia and their people”.