Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog visited Germany to participate in the unveiling of the Roma Holocaust memorial in Berlin, where German President Joachim Gauck was also present. They agreed that before the end of the year the Hungarian minister will visit Germany to meet President Gauck in his office.
Minister Balog stated that since the President fought against communism in Eastern Germany, he probably has a better understanding than most of Central and Eastern European problems, and shows a special interest in Roma affairs.
Berlin ‘understands and essentially supports the Hungarian government’s reform endeavours,’ said Mr. Balog, after meeting German Minister of State for Culture Bernd Neumann on Wednesday.
Mr. Balog said it had been an uplifting experience to attend the inauguration ceremony of the German national memorial to the at least 500,000 European Sinti and Roma killed in the Nazi era.
At the beginning of the ceremony, composer-guitarist Ferenc Snétberger performed excerpts from his piece ‘In Memory of My People’, and an address was delivered by Romani Rose, the president of the German Central Council of Sinti and Roma. Both of these prominent figures were presented with the Commander’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during his visit to Berlin on 11 October.
Mr. Balog also held talks on Hungary with MP Michael Roth, the Social Democrats’ parliamentary rapporteur. Mr. Roth appreciated the Hungarian government's efforts to gain approval for the EU's Roma strategy, and indicated his party's interest ‘in conducting an objective debate about Hungary in Germany.’
Mr. Balog also met Bundestag Vice-President Katrin Goering-Eckhardt.
(Prime Minister's Office, MTI)
