Welcome speech by dr Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary on the occasion of the New Year reception of the Heads of Mission serving in Hungary

„Virtue, which mortals win only through great suffering,
is the most beautiful reward of life.”

Dear Excellencies!
Dear Ministers of State!
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

I would like to extend my warm and sincere welcome to all of you by quoting the  opening lines of the Hymn to Virtue by Aristotle, one of the most influential thinkers of antiquity.  

The beginning of a new year which carries the promise of a fresh start is always an important stage in life. It is the time to pause, escape from the daily routine and define the goals ahead of us. I think that before opening a new chapter in our lives, we must try and break out of our usual pattern of thinking, and examine the situation of our smaller and wider communities from a different perspective.

The best way to achieve this is to resort to our very own heritage. And together we can reach out to our wider joint cultural heritage. Ancient Greek civilization can be undoubtedly regarded as our precious common heritage, which gave the world the birth of democracy and classical education, and therefore it may provide us with useful theoretical guidance. Aristotle and the ancient Greek philosophers always approached the big questions of life from the point of view of the common good, the pursuit of the ultimate good, and how the happiness of human beings can be achieved.

Greek philosophers carried out a profound analysis of the functioning of society and the changes in the life of the city state, and held up the principles of morality and virtue as benchmarks. It is no coincidence that the words „ethics” and politics”  are also of ancient Greek origin.

Aristotle, who was a recognized authority in several fields of science, and whose Hymn to Virtue I quoted earlier, formulated the well-known principle of „golden mean”. Aristotle asserts that virtue or virtuous moral behaviour can be identified as the middle ground between two extremes: excess and deficiency.

However, this middle ground, far from being a pleasant and comfortable middle way, is the constructive synthesis of two clashing views. Without the tension between the opposing forces, the golden mean can easily be degraded into something worthless and distorted into its negative opposite. Regrettably, we have seen this happen quite often in the course of our turbulent history.  

For this reason, the application of the principle of golden mean is an eternal  treasure. We need to apply this principle not only if we want to make right and prudent decisions, but also, and especially, in our communication and judgments when dealing with international partners, who often and in many areas, hold opposing views.

I am convinced that in our globalized world, we desperately need to maintain a dynamic balance of values, standards and interests. We have to keep this balance in order to preserve our common sense, and must not let our visions become utopias. Together, we have to protect our shared values born out of joint effort, our centuries-old friendships and all ties binding us together. If follow the path of golden mean, it will never lead us into an abyss.

To follow this direction requires tremendous effort and commitment, but thousands of examples have proven that this principle works. Collectivism protects the cohesion of our communities, our nations from disintegration, and from the selfishness of individualism. The latter protects the interests of the individual and enforces its rights against those advocating the exclusiveness of the community. We must not choose the path leading to the extremes of collectivism or individualism, but exploit and benefit from the useful features of both.

I believe that the decline of community is a real threat today. The challenges of our century and the achievements of convenience culture are eroding human relationships. We desperately need sustaining, inspiring, and encouraging  communities in which individuals can fulfil their potential. The immense value and existence of families and nations cannot be contested. I believe that we take the wrong direction if we let the balance tilt towards individualism.  
Similarly, realism or idealism in itself can easily guide and lead us astray, down painful paths, or may even incite social tensions.

When we say, for example, that it is our moral duty to help all our fellow human beings at any price, that it is our duty to take in masses of illegal migrants, then, we make things even worse, by building sandcastles, instead of finding a viable solution. By contrast, if we make a realistic assessment of the capacity of our own society, and consider carefully how people in need and trouble can be helped in the most effective way, then we have taken a step forward to a solution in the spirit of a reasonable compromise between idealism and realism.

Aristotle’s guiding principle also warns of the possible dangers facing us when we attempt to find cooperating partners or build alliances. Neither creating blocs nor broad and open cooperation seems to offer a reasonable alternative. Those who can only think in terms of blocs, will regard all those outside the bloc as enemies, and become distrusting and aggressive, whereas those who aspire to cooperate with others at any cost, exhibit signs of naivety and weakness.

I believe that in today’s world a high degree of flexibility is required from all interested parties so that the delicate balance of international relations can be restored and stabilized. On the one hand each state has its own traditional allies with which it is connected by numerous common values and interests.  Obviously, for Hungary NATO and the European Union represent this natural alliance. On the other hand, by being flexible and adapting to changes, we can and must explore new opportunities for cooperation.

We must seek cooperation with those who share our views, but also with those who think in a different framework. Flexibility is particularly important these days, when the world is faced with many challenges, and when a devastating war has been raging in our neighbourhood for three years. Also, if we look further afield, sadly, we can see several bloody conflicts and violence causing great pain and distress. Such tragic events must never happen! We must put an end to senseless human suffering!

We are convinced that only together, through joint action and cooperation can we find correct and adequate answers to such pressing issues as the preservation of peace between nations, the health threats to global population, the undeniable consequences of climate change, the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the gradual demographic decline in welfare states.  

Dear Excellencies! Ladies and Gentlemen!

I have already mentioned that NATO and the European Union are the most important alliance systems for Hungary.

When talking about the European Union, we have to make it clear that there are certain matters which fall within the competences of the Union, as they can be handled better and more efficiently on community level. However, in other areas there is no such benefit, so common sense dictates that we should adhere to national sovereignty, which is also emphasized by the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in the Treaties of the European Union. In addition to our shared values, common achievements and successes, national sovereignty and respect for specific national values also add significant value to our community.

The history of my home country has been accompanied by alternating struggles for sovereignty, which makes us all the more adamant and determined when we have to stand up for our rights, our constitutional system and freedom, and when these values are challenged.  

In the previous six months Hungary held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I presume that by virtue of your position, you are well aware of the accomplishments of the Hungarian Presidency.  

We are very proud of the major achievements of the Hungarian Presidency, such as the Budapest Declaration aiming for improving the competitiveness of the European Union, the hosting of the summit of the European Political Community, the completion of the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Zone, and the progress in the enlargement of the European Union.  It is our common interest to build an economically strong Europe, which is capable of defending itself and is a determinant player in a balanced global world.

Hungary is a country which is not afraid to speak the truth, and is always ready to listen to the opinion of others. A country always true to itself, but open to innovation and development. A country proud of its past history, and committed to the future. I need to emphasize that we would like to build this future together with you, your countries, in the spirit of mutual respect, following Aristotle’s golden mean path. In this joint mission, I count on your cooperation and sincere partnership.  

Thank you for your work promoting and supporting building bridges between Hungary and your home countries!

I wish you a fruitful new year, in the hope that it will strengthen our relations and help us fulfil the tasks ahead of us with success.

Let me wish a Happy New Year to all of you.

Budapest, 16 January 2025