Mr Orbán recalled that when Andor Grósz had become the President of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities, they had concluded three agreements. One of these has already been fulfilled with the refurbishment of the charity hospital, but the two other will also be honoured during the period ahead, including the refurbishment of the Budapest University of Jewish Studies.
We are in the process of a complex health care refurbishment project, he stressed, recalling that they have to date refurbished 91 hospitals, 54 surgeries and 107 ambulance stations, while there have been developments in 13 hospitals in Budapest.
“The Jewish hospital is especially close to my heart because my experience is that wherever patients are taken care of in institutions operated by churches, some special quality comes into being,” the Prime Minister said. He recalled that in Budapest the Catholic Church, the Reformed Church and the Jewish community now had hospitals providing care to high standards.
In the context of the story of the Budapest Jewish hospitals of old times, Mr Orbán recalled that two of them had been nationalised, one had been razed to the ground by the Arrow Cross, and so the Zugló Charity Hospital was the only one that had been restored to the Jewish community. The primary reason for the destruction was the war, and all things bad that a war brings out of people, he observed.
He highlighted that it was very important that in the present times we remind ourselves: war is a bad thing, while peace is a good thing. And it is best if there is peaceful life, rather than wars, in the vicinity of Hungary as well, he laid down.
In answer to a question from a member of the press, the Prime Minister said Hungarian foreign policy must make every effort that it has the strength for in the interest of peace as well. This is not insignificant, but at the same time, there is no point in deluding ourselves into believing that we are able to settle war conflicts between countries much larger than ourselves, he pointed out, adding, however, that we will do everything we can.
He also said regarding the issue of peace that he has much easier business with the United States and Russia than with “our true home,” meaning within the community of the European Union. The percentages are different on the corridor than in the negotiating room, but we must convince – there is no doubt – a large majority which is today still pro-war to change over to the side of peace, he stated in summary.
He further said that he relies on the Jewish community also organised on a European level in his work in Brussels as well.
In answer to another question, Mr Orbán pointed out that there were reasons of Polish internal politics behind Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s cancelled visit to Budapest.
Regarding the status and situation of the Visegrád Four (V4), he said he very much looks forward to the oathtaking of Andrej Babis as prime minister in the Czech Republic; as soon as that happens, he will convene a meeting for the prime ministers of the V4. He recalled that at present Hungary held the presidency of the V4, but today this organisation was paralysed because so far opinions on strategic issues had been split 2:2. If a change occurs in the Czech Republic also in a public law sense, then the V4 will revive at the level of the prime ministers, “and then I sincerely hope that we will also have the opportunity to meet with the Polish president,” he pointed out.
In his speech, President of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities Andor Grósz said the comprehensive reconstruction of the Charity Hospital was implemented with a grant from the government worth HUF 8.5 billion. The institution serves not only members of the Jewish community, but the whole of Hungarian society, he indicated.
This hospital plays a prominent role not only in chronic care, but also in hospice care as this institution has the country’s largest hospice ward, he stressed, adding that they also established a ward for active patient care – funding for which is fully available – while they are also broadening specialist care and clinic care.
In addition to the Hungarian government, Mr Grósz also thanked Jewish and non-Jewish communities for their support as well as the workers of the hospital.
