Presidents Katalin Novák and Borut Pahor of Slovenia attended the opening of the new headquarters of the Prekmurje Hungarian local government ethnic community (MMÖNK) in Lendava (Lendva) on Friday.
At the event wrapping up her two-day official visit to Slovenia, President Novák welcomed that Prekmurje Hungarians are represented in the Slovenian parliament and their rights to their language, education and cultural self-determination are guaranteed. She said that by contributing to the building’s refurbishment the Hungarian government also aimed to help Lendava prosper.
Pahor said “this is a fortunate phase of history for both Slovenians and Hungarians because they live in a sovereign state, with ethnic Hungarians in Slovenia and ethnic Slovenians in Hungary binding together the two nations”. “We, Slovenians and Hungarians are proud of our national identity which we must nurture in Europe, our great common home,” he said. Ferenc Horváth, the president of MMONK, said that “an old dream of the [Hungarian] community has come true”, adding that the new headquarters will help them keep together and preserve their heritage.
Photo credit: MTI