On official visit to the United States - New York (UN) - San Diego - Los Angeles - Kansas - Cleveland

Katalin Novák paid a several-day official visit to the United States, where she addressed the UN General Assembly and met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the United States, several prominent heads of state, politicians, businessmen, representatives of international diplomacy, and with the leaders of various religious organizations and Hungarian American communities. 

Day 1 

Upon arrival, Katalin Novák attended the opening of the High-Level Political Week of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly. In her personal message published for the occasion, the head of state stressed the importance of peace. „As the head of the Hungarian delegation, I will do my best to bring us closer to peace. This is not only in Hungary’s best interest, but in the best interest of everyone".

The President of Hungary attended a meeting of women heads of state and government, organised by the former and current Presidents of the UN General Assembly, which focused on the need to achieve full gender equality in society, the ways to do so and its benefits for society. 

The Hungarian head of state pointed out that women are good at crisis management, gaining the relevant experience as mothers and are able to hold communities together. For this reason, she has supported giving women the opportunity to live a full life, rather than making them choose between motherhood and a career. To illustrate this point, Katalin Novák directed attention to the aspects and achievements of Hungarian family policy, as this policy provides more freedom and opportunities for women. 

Afterwards, Katalin Novák met with representatives of several international and American Jewish organisations and had a one-on-one meeting with the President of the Jewish World Congress (JWC), Ronald Lauder. 

Later, she held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Andorra, Xavier Espot Zamora, and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.

Day 2 

Katalin Novák addressed the UN General Assembly and met and held talks with its President, the Hungarian Csaba Kőrösi, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and attended a reception hosted by Joe Biden, President of the United States. 
In her speech at the plenary session of the 77th General Assembly, Katalin Novák recalled that the main purpose of the establishment of the UN was peace, as stated in Article I of the UN Charter. 

The President said that Hungarians have stood by the victims since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and noted that the largest humanitarian operation in the country's history is currently underway. She confirmed that Hungary strongly condemns the aggression against Ukraine. 

She stressed that war is evil and leads nowhere. War has only victims, and the greatest losses are suffered by families. She called for war crimes against innocent civilians to be investigated. „No crime committed may be left unpunished”.
"What do we want to achieve at the UN? To win the war?" asked the head of state, to which she replied that we must stand up for the restoration of peace. 

The President pointed out that various international organisations were originally created to serve peace. "It is by no means a matter of course that today, when war, energy and food crises are once again raging in Europe, the organisations created to avoid war and preserve peace focus on ideological indoctrination," she said in her speech. 

Katalin Novák quoted the late British Queen Elizabeth II, who in her speech to the UN General Assembly in 2010 expressed the idea that „ the waging of peace is the hardest form of leadership of all.” 

Day 3 

Katalin Novák visited the border wall on the California section of the US-Mexico border, where local agents of the US Customs and Border Protection shared their experiences about migration. One border guard noted that they have been facing increasing migratory pressure in recent years, especially in Texas, and that despite the wall, more and more people are attempting to enter California as well. The officer added that they are currently facing both resource and staffing shortages. 

In San Diego, the head of state visited the Hungarian-born writer, psychologist and Holocaust survivor Edit Éger, to whom she awarded the Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit. The 95-year-old therapist gained a reputation for her work in the treatment of post-traumatic stress syndrome. Edith Éger was driven to become a psychologist by her desire to alleviate the suffering caused by her own wartime trauma.

Her memoir, „The Choice”, published in 2017, featured on the „New York Times Best Sellers” and the „Sunday Times Best Sellers” lists. Edit Éger said that the "Hungarian heart and soul will always live, for a long time" and added that as long as she lives, she will be Hungarian. 

Day 4 

In Los Angeles, President of Hungary Katalin Novák met with representatives of the “Hungarian-American Scientists and Innovators in Silicon Valley” and of the “US West Coast Club of Hungarian Scientists”.

The meeting discussed talent management and collaboration in this area. The parties’ interests are mutual, Hungary counts on and listens to researchers in the United States.

There were also suggestions, feedback and ideas that could contribute to Hungary's greater success in retaining talent, developing its innovation policy more effectively, and creating opportunities for researchers to grow professionally at home. 

Day 5

Speaking to the Hungarian community of San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, Katalin Novák mentioned the challenges of the current period, such as the coronavirus epidemic and the war and its effects, including the energy crisis that Hungary is also confronted with.

She also pointed to the ideological warfare that is currently pursued around us. The so-called woke-culture that is widespread in California, is already present in Hungary, too, and must be confronted. In the words of the President of Hungary, 'instead of the slavery of ideologies denying God, family and life, we need the freedom derived from affirming God, the family and life'. 

The head of state listed five areas she wishes to focus on as her priorities. "I will work for families, women, the underprivileged, talented people and a Hungary of more smiles" said Katalin Novák, who then attended a church service and the autumn family festival of the Hungarian Reformed Church. 

Day 6

In her lecture at Benedictine College Christian University in Kansas, among other topics, Katalin Novák spoke about protecting human life, supporting families and true freedom. 
The President of Hungary pointed out that "true freedom is when we do not have to align with the mainstream". True freedom is also achieved by defining ourselves as part of creation, as created beings, when we are aware of our limits and know our limitations – rather than thinking of ourselves as creator. 

True freedom also means knowing that we are not on our own, that we exist as part of a community. This indicates that the individual is not the goal, that we must respect the other members of the community, and that we acquire freedom through that respect"- the President said.

In her speech to the university's faculty and students, she quoted the provisions of Hungary’s Fundamental Law on families, which state that marriage is a bond between a man and a woman, and that the mother is a woman and the father a man.

In her presentation to a packed auditorium at Benedictine College, Katalin Novák stressed that she visited the university because young people are the hope of the future.
In response to students' questions about the Hungarian Child Protection Act, she said that the essence of the Act is that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing of their children and, as she put it, "we must show respect for our children". 

At the end of the visit, she received the Benedictine College Award named after Pope John Paul II from Stephen D. Minnis, the University’s President.

Day 7

“Don't allow yourselves to be intimidated when you have to make a decision," Katalin Novák told students at the Catholic Franciscan University in Ohio, quoting Pope John Paul II, adding, "Be not afraid!" In the discussion following her lecture, the President of Hungary reiterated that Hungary's position is crystal clear in condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and standing up for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

At a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Lajos Kossuth in Cleveland, she quoted an excerpt from a speech on democracy delivered by the former statesman in 1852 in the Ohio legislature: 'Everything for the people and by the people. Nothing of the people without the people". The President pointed out: Hungary is still fighting for these ideals and values, and for democracy, for ensuring that people be allowed to decide about how they wish to live. 

Katalin Novák took part in a meeting of the Arthur Görgey scout troop, a part of the community of St Imre Catholic Church in Cleveland, and then gave a speech at the church's ceremony. She appealed to the Hungarian-American community to never relinquish the importance, beauty and opportunities of physical togetherness, as this is how they can help young people and make sure that the door to Hungary never closes.