Hungary’s foreign minister has said the country is committed to protecting the Judeo-Christian heritage of Europe and is proud of the Jewish community living in the country.
Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, highlighted that one of the largest Catholic churches in Hungary stands quite close to the Dohány street Great Synagogue in Budapest, which illustrates the peaceful coexistence of Jews and Christians in Hungary.
Minister Szijjártó made the comments at the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, before an event commemorating Theodore Herzl, a 19th-century Austro-Hungarian writer also known as the father of the State of Israel.
The minister added that many in western Europe currently talk about a post-Christian and post-national period, yet if Europe forgets about its Judeo-Christian heritage and the fact that it is made up of nation states, it could lose so much.
He added that Hungary is proud of the Jewish community, which has greatly contributed to the development of the country, and the government has announced zero tolerance against anti-Semitism.
Hungary supports the well-balanced and fair assessment of Israel in international forums and the two countries have many ties, with both of them considering the security of their citizens a priority, he added.