| Foreign Minister Péter Balázs and his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcák presented the jointly-established yearly awards called “Good neighbourly relations and understanding” on March 2, 2010. The award given jointly by the two Foreign Ministers is to acknowledge the merits of a Hungarian and Slovak individual or organisation that has made a considerable contribution towards the development of Hungarian-Slovak relations, as well as to strengthen mutual understanding and respect between the two nations. This year the Foreign Ministers were in complete agreement over presenting the award to the Slovak Mountain Rescue Service and the UNFICYP Hungarian-Slovak joint military contingent, under the conviction that the award will be in good hands and will properly represent mutual understanding between the two nations.  The Slovak Mountain Rescue Service was set up in the interest of the most noble of causes. The Mountain Rescue Service in the High Tatras presents a piece of our common history, as its roots go back to 1873 when the Hungarian Carpathians Association was founded. The Service’s task is to protect the safety of tourists and sportsmen and to help people in trouble. In the interest of fulfilling this goal, the members of the Service’s staff patrol the mountains every day – even risking their own lives – and carry out their humanitarian duty to save lives. The Service has saved the lives of hundreds of Hungarian citizens in trouble over the past few years.
 The other organisation which received the award is the Hungarian-Slovak joint military contingent of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP). This military unit was set up under resolution No. 1964/186 of the UN Security Council with the aim of the settlement of the conflict in the Mediterranean island including prevention of renewed hostilities and keeping the ceasefire. This is one of the oldest peacekeeping activities which the Republic of Hungary has taken part in.
In 2001 Slovakia took over the lead nation role and command in the joint UNFICYP sector. A Memorandum of Understanding and a technical supplement regulate the implementation of tasks in the joint unit. Cooperation with the Slovak contingent is problem-free and exemplary, which contributes to peacekeeping and the hoped-for reunification of the island. One point of connection between the awardees is a deep, sincere and committed respect of human values – not without sacrifice – in order to protect peace and preserve human life. All these merits are worthy not only of acknowledgement but of recognition for providing a bond between our countries and citizens. (March 2, 2010) |