Pirc Musar praises efforts of Slovenian minority in Hungary

During the talks in Szentgotthard in western Hungarian region of Porabje, Pirc Musar noted the minority's efforts in preserving the Slovenian language and strengthening national identity and culture, the president's office said on Tuesday.

"I'm happy that you are making this effort and have the will to work for the language and community," said Pirc Musar, who noted that she would do everything in her power to represent the interests of the Slovenian minority in Hungary.

Representatives of the minority presented the challenges they face, saying that the greatest challenge was education, where the knowledge of Slovenian must be linked to the efforts to provide prospects to young Slovenians in Porabje.

The president agreed that teaching of the Slovenian language in Porabje must be improved and modernised and said she was aware that the Slovenian minority in Hungary remained vulnerable despite its many achievements.

"Number-wise, it is among the smallest ethnic communities in Hungary, so it still needs carefully planned support for its efforts," Pirc Musar said, adding that a "nation dies without language".

The president started her visit in Felsőszölnök by visiting the Slovenian Model Farm and an exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of the Between Mura and Raba collection, in which works of local authors are published.

She is also happy that the minority is becoming an increasingly important motor of economic development in its environment, and welcomed the increased support of both countries to the economic development of Hungary's Porabje and Slovenia's Pomurje.