Gergely Gulyás, Head of the Prime Minister's Office, said Hungary-Bavaria “historic” relations rise above any day-to-day differences of opinion.
Attending the 100th death anniversary of Lajos (Louis) III, the last Bavarian ruler, in Munich, Gulyás said ties have lasted for a millennium, he said, noting the marriage of King St. Stephen and Gizella. Hungarian and Bavarian industries, he said, are strongly bound together. “The greater the success of Bavarian industry and economy, the more successful the Hungarian industry and the Hungarian economy,” he said.
Gulyás noted that a settlement had been reached concerning the Wittelsbach treasures contained within the walls of Sárvár Castle, hidden at the end of the second world war before being discovered and nationalised in 1952. Based on an agreement with the family, some of the treasures will be exhibited in the Ferenc Nádasdy Museum in Sárvár, he added.
“We Hungarians are very proud of this relationship … and we intend to continue working with Bavaria and the Wittelsbach family on new plans for the future,” he said. Gulyás said in his speech that the question of what kind of Europe was needed amid the challenges of today was a matter of constant concern. Quoting Theodor Heuss, Germany’s first post-WW2 federal president, he said Europe should be created on the bedrock of Greek philosophy, Roman law and Christianity. Hungary, he added, was committed to these values. “While we accept that other countries make different choices, we insist on our right to represent the very values, opinions and standpoints that, a few decades ago, were expressed by those who now like to criticise us,” he said.
Photo credit: MTI