„Let Us Strengthen Our Friendship and Show an Example to the World!”

Dr. István Simicskó, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence delivered a speech at a commemorative ceremony held in memory of the some 22,000 victims of the Katyn massacre. He pointed out that there are no two other nations in the world with ties of such a legendary friendship. This deep friendship is rooted in the common characteristics of the Hungarian and the Polish people: we have preserved our identity through many hardships, becoming often the victims of international politics, but our faith and valor did not abandon us even in the most difficult times, and the hardships we suffered have hardened us, making us more steadfast.

The Parliamentary State Secretary recalled that the Katyn massacre had some Hungarian victims among the many thousands slain Poles. “Even 72 years after the events, we are shocked in remembering the victims’ fate, being at a loss to see the extent of this evil and cruelty" – he said.

Jan Stanislaw Ciechanowski, the Head of the Polish Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression delivered a speech in Hungarian, pointing out that this ceremony was another proof of the Hungarians’ commitment to keeping the memory of this horrible tragedy alive. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, István Simicskó and Col. Dr. Vilmos Kovács, the commandant of the MoD Military History Institute and Museum laid wreaths by the memorial of the victims.