Balazs Hanko: Without Peace, There Will Be No Europe

The series of programs entitled '1100 Years in Europe, 20 Years in the EU' comes to an end.

Hungary's Culture and Innovation Minister Balazs Hanko (MTI/Lajos Soos)

Without peace, there will be no Europe

The minister applauded the focus on the issue of European economic competitiveness and underlined that the Hungarian government has always been committed to the cause of European peace.

"Europe will not develop and cannot maintain its values if war rages on its territory," he said.

 If we want Europe, then we have to want peace,

he said, adding that if there is no peace, there will be no Europe either.

Speaking about the coming year, Balazs Hanko said that it could be a turning point in the history of Europe. "If we can put the war behind us, if the economy can strengthen, if our relations with the United States, Asia and other continents can be fruitful again, then Europe can once again be the Europe capable of shaping the world," he said.

 If we safeguard a Europe of strong nations proud of their heritage, then Europe will safeguard us.

Unique Hungarian cultural heritage

In his welcome speech, Peter Ertl, managing director of the National Dance Theatre in Budapest, said that the series of programs was not only a celebration of the rich history and traditions of Hungarian culture, but also an opportunity to showcase the globally unique Hungarian cultural heritage. For the National Dance Theatre, it was an opportunity to showcase the unique Hungarian dance heritage in a choreography entitled Karoltve (together).

The result was a production where respect for differences and a spirit of cooperation represented the true strength,

he added.

"Over the past six months, Karoltve has symbolically connected the venues of the program series, as well as serving as a bridge between Hungary and the European Union and between creators and dance lovers, while showcasing the liberating experience of dance, the unity of our nation and the infinite potential of dance," Peter Ertl explained.

Cover photo: Hungary's Culture and Innovation Minister Balazs Hanko (MTI/Lajos Soos)