„Türk Ve Macar Kardestir” – Turkish and Hungarian Are Brothers

Gábor Szarka emphasized that “Turkey preserves that part of our common history which it was entrusted with". We in Hungary do the same", he said, referring to Gul Baba’s tomb in Buda, the minaret of Eger, the mosque of Pécs and the memorial to Pasha Abdurrahman.

In his speech, Turkish Ambassador Hasan Kemal Gür stressed that “the most important thing is that we have learned to respect and even love each other".

Answering our question, Col. Dr. Vilmos Kovács, the commandant of the MoD Military History Institute and Museum told us that the Turkish day fits well into the series of initiatives started by the institute – which is working to expand the system of relations between the Hungarian Defence Forces and the society – in the spirit of knowing and understanding other nations, since we are cooperating as NATO allies in the present too.

Ömer Almak, the President of the Dialogue Platform Association, a supporter of the MoD MHIM’s initiative told us that their association – which was founded by dedicated Hungarian and Turkish intellectuals in 2005 – serves the noble cause of intercultural communication, mutual knowledge and enrichment.

The October 13 Turkish day was made complete with the valiant Gölbasi re-enactors, a display by the Orchidea bilingual school, culinary tasting, musical, dance, fine arts and martial arts as well as costume and poster shows, weapons exhibition, saber fencing for children, making of pearl chokers, porcelain and marble painting, Turkish language proficiency level tests and countless other colorful programs.

Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky