'No Alternative to Peace', President Novák Tells UN
Photo by MTI/Sándor Palace
"There is no alternative to peace," President Katalin Novak said on Tuesday, addressing the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
"This war also directly affects us Hungarians. It is not just in our neighborhood. Hungarian fathers and sons living in Ukraine are also giving their lives in the trenches," Novák said. "Thus we want peace. In our country, in Ukraine, in Europe, in the world. Peace and the security that comes with it," she added.
"We know that peace is only realistically attainable when at least one side sees the time for negotiations as having come," Novák said. "We cannot decide for Ukrainians about how much they are prepared to sacrifice, but we have a duty to represent our own nation's desire for peace," she added.
Novák stressed that Hungary "clearly and unequivocally" condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and acknowledged the "immense suffering and destruction" it had caused.
"We are for the victims and against further escalation," she said, pointing to Hungary's provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to war refugees.
"Hungary stands for the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. We understand Ukraine's desire to be part of the community of European countries, thus we expect it to uphold the values that characterize our community," Novák said.
Touching on the issue of depopulation, Novák warned that demographic decline would have an "immeasurable impact" on economies, societies, and security in the near future if not addressed.
She said Hungary was a protector of parental freedom. "We strongly believe that the right to raise children does not belong to the state, nor to NGOs, nor to the media or the knowledge industry, but to parents," she added.
"We recognise that family is the key to security. A strong, united and healthy family is a guarantee of security," Novák said.
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