The Hungarian refugees of ’56 were for decades denied and kept in silence. The fate of Hungarian communities around the world changed in 2010: since then the members of Hungarian communities – wherever they may live around the world – have been equally important, Árpád János Potápi, State Secretary for Nation Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office said at the wreath laying ceremony held at the ’56 memorial plaque in Rome.
In his speech Mr Potápi spoke about the concept of the Hungarian nation, stressing that beyond the common culture, traditions and history, being a Hungarian also means a common mentality, as well as the common commemoration of our national holidays and the passing on of these to the generations to come.
He added: he commemorated the sixtieth anniversary of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight in several cities around Europe together with members of the Hungarian communities living there, and in each location young people and children attended the ceremonies in very large numbers. They represent the third generation of Hungarians living abroad who „cannot even define what it means, but it is nonetheless evident that they should declare themselves to be Hungarian”, the State Secretary for Nation Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office said.
He highlighted that the ’56 Hungarians who left Hungary on account of their involvement in the revolution or because they saw no chance to stay were for decades denied and not talked about. A decisive change occurred in 2010 as for the Hungarian Government in office at present each and every member of the Hungarian community is equally important, „there is no difference”, whether they live in the Carpathian Basin or in scattered communities in other parts of the world, Mr Potápi stated.
At the wreath laying ceremony held at the memorial plaque of the one-time college of Hungarian refugee students in the centre of Rome the State Secretary reiterated that Italy took in thousands of ’56 Hungarian refugees. He cited Sándor Márai in whose words Italy is „perhaps the only place in Europe where Hungarians are not only respected, but also loved with genuine familial sincerity”.
Hungarian Ambassador to Rome Péter Paczolay, who also delivered a speech, added that from among the ’56 Hungarian refugees four hundred settled down here, and many of them became university professors, physicians and esteemed members of Italian society. According to their recollections, the Italians never made them feel like strangers in Italy.