Hungary supports the peace initiative
Text: honvedelem.hu/MTI | Photo: MTI | 16:15 September 22, 2023“Hungary supports and is open to take part in any peace initiative that creates a feasible environment for a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine and creates a roadmap toward a sustainable and just peace”, stated President of Hungary Katalin Novák in her speech at the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, which is unprecedented on the part of Hungarian heads of state in decades.
The head of state reaffirmed that “Hungary welcomes the Ukrainian peace initiative and is open to join the process”. She emphasized that “the personal presence of Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky at this distinguished gathering before is also an indication that the moment has come to be serious about peace”.
The head of state also spoke up for the Hungarian community living in Ukraine, and stating that she also counts on “President Zelensky to take action and facilitate the restoration of the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, as he personally promised me during our last meeting in Kyiv, and also yesterday here in New York”, noted Katalin Novák in her speech delivered at the UN Security Council, where US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also made speeches on Wednesday.
Katalin Novák also emphasized that “as a direct neighbor we, Hungarians feel threatened” by the war in Ukraine, and ethnic Hungarians are dying on the battlefields. “The war in Ukraine directly threatens the security architecture of Europe” as well, noted Katalin Novák, Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
The head of state called for cooperation to promote peace and security in Ukraine. As she said, “We need organizations, countries and personalities who can invite the warring parties to peace negotiations”. She stated that the United Nations Organization and the UN Security Council are essential actors in this process. Speaking about the strong nations, by way of example she mentioned “the United States, China or Türkiye that are capable of or ready to set the table for a possible solution, are capable of or ready to talk with both sides, and have the potential to influence the continuation further”.
Speaking about the personalities, Katalin Novák said that she was convinced that “Pope Francis is someone who can facilitate peace” […] ”Our history gives us so many examples that a small group of people or even a single person can have an effect or turn the flow of history”, said Katalin Novák, whose speech delivered as President of Hungary in the UN Security Council is unprecedented in decades.
