Rasi to Participate in Event to Mark 70th Anniversary of Hungarian Revolution

Bratislava/Budapest, 22 October (TASR) - House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) will attend an event in Budapest on Friday (23 October) marking the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and the fight for freedom in 1956, the Parliament Office's communications department has informed TASR. Rasi will pay a visit to Budapest at the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart Agnes Forsthoffer. The visit will provide an opportunity to commemorate one of the significant events in the modern history of Central Europe, while also reaffirming a commitment to fostering good neighbourly relations between Slovakia and Hungary. "The events of October 1956 hold an important place in the history of both Hungary and Europe as a whole. They remind us of a time when the people of Hungary rose up against a totalitarian regime, seeking freedom, independence and democratic change in society. By attending this commemorative event, we want to pay tribute to the victims of the struggle for freedom and recall the historical legacy of these events, which remains an important part of our shared European past," said Rasi ahead of his visit. According to the communications department, the main commemorative events will take place in the old building of the Hungarian Parliament on Friday afternoon. The formal ceremony will be followed by a reception for the heads of delegations within the Hungarian Parliament, which Rasi will also attend. The Parliament Office noted that Rasi's visit to Budapest is taking place during Slovakia’s presidency of the Visegrad Group (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland). Slovakia and Hungary cooperate within several regional and European frameworks, with contacts between the national parliaments also playing an important role in developing bilateral relations. "Slovakia and Hungary are linked by good neighbourly relations, shared interests and membership of the European Union and NATO. I view it important to maintain open and constructive communication and to develop cooperation at the parliamentary level as well," said Rasi. He believes that the upcoming summit of V4 House chairs in Bratislava will contribute to an exchange of views and help to identify common approaches to issues that are important to the countries concerned. ko/df