Budapest, Monday, December 18, 2023 (MTI) - The Hungarian-Turkish cultural season began on Monday with a gala evening. The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey Katalin Novák and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
In his opening speech, Government Commissioner Péter Hoppál emphasized that our friendship has its roots in the times before our conquest of Hungary.
"A wealth of linguistic, archaeological, folk music and ethnographic evidence confirms the friendly, kinship between Hungarian and Turkish culture", stressed the Government Commissioner responsible for the cultural year. He added that Hungarian heroes of freedom, including Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II and Governor Lajos Kossuth, had emigrated to Turkey.
Péter Hoppál recalled that 100 years ago a new chapter in the history of cooperation between Hungarians and Turks was opened.
He said that during the year-long cultural season in Hungary will showcase the full range of Turkish culture, while the Hungarian cultural year in Turkey will run concurrently.
Hungarian and Turkish soloists, the orchestra and dance troupe of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the Orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera House and the Ankara State Modern Dance Company of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism performed at the opening gala.
The opening gala of the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year was broadcast live on Hungarian and Turkish public media.
The Hungarian-Turkish cultural season has begun. Source: Dr. Péter Hoppál Facebook