“Poles love Hungarians and hate Putin, who is a war criminal and nothing more, while states make their own diplomatic choices. For me, as president, Putin is a threat to the European idea, to NATO’s eastern flank, and to the EU, but as in any friendship – there are things we can agree on, and things we do not have to agree on,” said the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, during a joint conference with the President of Hungary.
Today, the presidents of Poland and Hungary met in the morning in Przemyśl to jointly celebrate the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day.
During the press conference, President Karol Nawrocki pointed out that Polish-Hungarian friendship “defies geopolitical and diplomatic logic because it has been built on centuries of friendship,” he said.
“We recalled Polish and Hungarian kings – Louis I of Hungary, Władysław III of Poland – we could talk at length about centuries of history bringing our nations closer together. We share national heroes – Józef Bem. There is much we could say about history, but I especially want to speak about the 20th century, because it also gives context to current events. Whenever Poles were in existential need, such as in 1919 – 1920, when the Soviet onslaught was advancing on Europe, Hungarians stood with Poles. When in 1939 our alliances looked different and Poland was being devastated by Germany and the Soviets, Hungarians did not hesitate to take in Polish soldiers. Even in 1944, when we found ourselves on opposite sides of the barricade, in existential moments Hungarians did not want to shoot at Polish insurgents. I say this because my mission, and that of the president, is to ensure that this friendship between our nations does not become an object of short-term political fluctuations, which cannot destroy what is most important to us Poles and Hungarians. Friendship between nations endures and will endure, and this day is proof of that,” declared Karol Nawrocki.
He recalled that the celebration of the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day was an initiative of the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński in 2007 and his Hungarian counterpart. The parliaments of both countries also adopted resolutions on the holiday by acclamation.
“Concern for the EU does not mean lack of criticism,” he stressed.
“Politics and geopolitics are not only history, although it is their foundation. We share much with Hungary as part of the European family, and we support Poland and Hungary being in the EU. However, concern does not mean lack of criticism. When discussions take place in the Polish or Hungarian parliament about the constitutional shape of our states, they are not meant to undermine parliament, but to ensure good legislation. We take a similar stance in the EU. What the European Commission is doing – bureaucratization, attempts at centralization going beyond the treaties – obliges us, out of concern for the European family and community, to raise our doubts, and that is what we are doing,” the Polish president pointed out.
He added that he is “accountable only to the Polish people.”
“If the Mercosur agreement is unfavorable for Polish farmers, then the Polish president clearly states that it is not in Poland’s interest to sign an agreement with Mercosur countries. If attempts to centralize the EU undermine the Polish Constitution, which I am the guardian of, then I say ‘stop,’ and I can count on the understanding of the Hungarian president, because we did not join the EU to undermine the Polish Constitution. When I look at EU climate solutions – ETS and ETS2 – and when in two years Poles, as a result of the EU’s ideological climate policy and the European Commission, will have to pay more for transport and heating, I say that this policy is unfavorable for Poland, and this also unites us with Hungary today. When, out of concern for young people, women, and families, I raise the issue of migration and the European Commission’s policy in this area and say ‘stop illegal migration,’ I do not agree with certain bureaucratic solutions of the Commission, acting in the interest of Polish citizens, and in this context Poland can also count on Hungary,” listed Karol Nawrocki.
“We love Hungarians, we hate Putin,” he emphasized.
“As in any friendship, we must be aware that we do not agree on everything, and there are matters where we agree to disagree. For Poland, Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation are an existential threat, just as the Bolsheviks were in 1920. Poles love Hungarians and hate Putin, who is a war criminal and nothing more, while states make their own diplomatic choices. For me, as president, Putin is a threat to the European idea, to NATO’s eastern flank, and to the EU, but as in any friendship – there are things we can agree on, and things we do not have to agree on. Poland’s position here is clear. There are far more things we agree on. For short-term political issues and tensions, we do not forget that Poles and Hungarians are like brothers, and that our nations stand together today,” added President Karol Nawrocki.
The President of Hungary, Tamás Sulyok, thanked the President of Poland and the residents of Przemyśl for their welcome.
“Friendship between our nations is an inseparable part of our national identity and culture. It is not something dependent on politics, but a deeply rooted bond shaped over the course of history. Polish-Hungarian friendship is a value and a unique phenomenon that we have a duty to nurture and strengthen. I believe a very important element is that since the founding of our states, our countries have been united by shared Christian values. The foundation of this friendship was a common Christian value system. The continuous renewal of this friendship, alongside ongoing political dialogue, supports our relations,” said Tamás Sulyok.