President Katalin Novák has received members of the Hungarian rescue teams that took part in search operations in Turkey and Syria following last week's devastating earthquake.
At a ceremony held at the presidential palace, President Novák called her guests heroes and thanked them for “being there and helping after the tragedy, saving lives day and night”. President Novák noted that Hungary had been among the first countries to volunteer when Turkey asked the international community for help, thanks to the readiness of its rescue teams. “It is good to say that Hungary and its people can be relied on in trouble; we can be proud that Hungarians started the fight the minute after the tragedy to save lives,” she said. “It is good to know that at such times divisions are not in the focus; all of us pray and keep our fingers crossed together for the rescue teams to return unharmed.”
Gülsen Karanis Eksioglu, Turkey’s ambassador to Hungary, thanked the teams and said February 6, the day of the earthquake, would be “a very important day in the history of Turkish-Hungarian brotherhood”. He noted that 167 Hungarian volunteers had gone to Turkey and saved 35 lives, “giving back hope and a miracle for 35 families”. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the rescue teams of Hungary’s disaster management, the Reformed and Baptist charities, Pest County, Budapest, and the Életjel team.