Subotica/Novi Sad, 27th November – President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán were in Subotica today awarded the prizes named after the late President of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, István Pásztor. The “István Pásztor” Foundation awarded the prizes.
At the ceremony held in the City Hall in Subotica, and attended by President of the Assembly of AP Vojvodina Bálint Juhász and President of the Provincial Government Maja Gojković, as well, it was emphasized that this year’s awards represented an expression of respect for the historically significant joint work that Mr Vučić and Mr Orbán had begun with Mr Pásztor, thanks to which Serbian–Hungarian relations had grown into a strong strategic partnership and an example worthy of being followed throughout Europe.
The “István Pásztor” Foundation noted in its explanation that President Vučić received the award for his key role in building trust, cooperation, and strategic partnership between the two nations, as well as for the fact that his name was associated with the historic decision made during his term as Prime Minister, on 30th October 2014, by which the principle of collective guilt of the Hungarian people was abolished from the legal system.
It was also stated that Prime Minister Orbán received the award for his indelible and decisive merits in the historic reconciliation between the Hungarian and Serbian nations, for deepening good-neighbourly relations, and for building and strengthening the strategic partnership.
The “István Pásztor” Foundation was established on 12th June 2024, with the aim of preserving the spiritual and political legacy of István Pásztor with dignity, keeping his memory alive, and passing on his example to future generations. The mission of the Foundation is to provide support to ill children, talented youth, vulnerable individuals, or those affected by force majeure, not covered by existing assistance systems. One of the important Foundation’s goals is the annual awarding of the “István Pásztor” Prize, through which the Foundation’s Steering Committee recognises those who have earned indelible merits in developing Serbian–Hungarian relations, in deepening friendship, trust, and cooperation between the two peoples, as well as in preserving and nurturing the political and public legacy of István Pásztor.