Dear Viktor,
I understand that there is an election campaign in your country, and that this time you are truly being challenged for power.
But we do not interfere in your election campaign, nor do we want to become part of it.
Sweden and the Swedish people have always been friends of Hungary and the Hungarian people, as you know. We were friends of Hungary before your government, during your government, and we will remain so after your government.
We remember when Hitler’s genocide of Jews struck Hungary, and how Sweden in 1944 sent diplomat Raoul Wallenberg on a special mission to Budapest, to save as many Hungarian lives as possible.
Tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews survived because we provided them with provisional protective passports and citizenship here in Sweden. When the Soviet Union later invaded Hungary, Raoul Wallenberg was forcibly taken to Moscow and disappeared.
The Swedish diplomat died, but tens of thousands of Hungarian lives were saved. We would do it again.
We also remember when the Soviet Union brutally crushed your Hungarian struggle for democracy and freedom in 1956, and when Prime Minister Imre Nagy was later executed for his efforts to democratize the country.
When Russian tanks crushed the Hungarian freedom struggle, the Hungarian people pleaded with the UN and all Western powers for help. Almost no one listened.
But one country that showed deep solidarity with you was Sweden.
We opened our arms to your freedom fighters and dissidents. We allowed you to build exile opposition against Soviet communism here, despite our non-alignment. It was not without risk for us. But we did it anyway—because it was the right thing to do.
Today, over 40,000 people of Hungarian descent live in Sweden, many of whom are descendants of the Hungarian refugees who came here in connection with the 1956 uprising. They are a well-integrated immigrant group in our Swedish society.
Democratic states help each other, then and now. And they stand up against countries that try to oppress others.
That is why, just as in 1944 and 1956, we support democratic countries that Russian tanks try to overrun. Back then, it was about Hungary; today, it is about Ukraine. And if we do not act, it could be about another country tomorrow.
This is also why we often express concern about the developments in Hungary in recent years. Hungary ultimately regained its freedom, but freedom must also be defended.
That is why we question when you go to have coffee with the leader of the same country that crushed your compatriots’ freedom struggle in 1956 and that today attacks your neighbour, Ukraine.
Hungary and the West are not strengthened by closing the door to their European friends or by attacking each other and the very things that distinguish us from barbarism — democracy and the rule of law.
Let me conclude with some wise words from yourself in 2007:
“As kind of a new generation of the West, our message to those younger than we is to stick to a Western type Hungary, not to let Hungary be derailed from its Western path, and to love that Hungary is a Western type country, which means that we believe in the free will of people and in the mutual responsibility towards each other that we take upon us, which are inseparable parts of Western culture.
The oil might come from the east, but freedom always comes from the west. And democracy cannot be directed from above, it can only grow from the hearts of people and in this way create a viable, Hungarian life.”
Finally, I wish to convey Sweden’s respect for the Hungarian people, and to wish your country a free, peaceful, and successful election.
Latest work from Ilonka just out today! A study of the role of mobility and pore spaces in bacterial colonisation of plant roots
https://t.co/ngRGdyo7Bb
Rhizosheet, germination paper with printed microfluidic paterns to sample root exudates. Simple, low cost and powerfull! Have a look at the paper for more info
https://t.co/lecVnX1jnb
Our paper "Spatial and temporal detection of root exudates with a paper-based microfluidic device" is out. It was a really inspiring research and i worked with wonderful people. Thank you! https://t.co/Adng7QzLA8
@uFluidicsEhu@Ferbelo78@LBasabeDesmonts@upvehu@TransparentSoil
Need another reason to come to microTAS in October? You will be able to experience the world-famous "fall foliage" by taking part in one of many social events while networking with colleagues from around the world.
Abstract deadline: 14 May
#microfluidics#labonachip
An excellent postdoc possibility in Bilbao. I can just recommend to work with Lionel! You can learn a lot not only as a scientist, but as a human too. And you will have the opportunity to experience the perfect working atmosphere among friends.
Is it possible to detect root exudates spatially and temporarily in a cost effective and easy way? Is it possible to reveal phenotypic differences using simple wax printed filter paper?😉
A very inspiring work @uFluidicsEhu with @TransparentSoil@Ferbelo78@LBasabeDesmonts
BREAKING NEWS
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2023 #NobelPrize in Physics to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.”
BREAKING NEWS
The 2023 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Join us in celebrating the National Day of #Hungary tomorrow! Boldog augusztus 20-át, Magyarország! 🇭🇺
💡 Did you know that Hungarian organisations have already signed 2⃣9⃣0⃣ #HorizonEU grants?
More info via the #HorizonDashboard
➡️ https://t.co/zoW2oE5Et6
After years of work our paper is out! An artificial soil system with tailored sensory function for the detection of chemical changes around a living plant root! It was really challenging, but inspiring to work on this system. Thank you all for this unique opportunity! 🌱
Aware of anyone circumventing EU sanctions on Russia or Belarus?
We have created an online tool for whistleblowers to contact us and report violations of EU sanctions.
Make an anonymous report 👉 https://t.co/0FC5xvaevp
It was a very inspiring conference. I enjoyed every moment of it. I met wonderful people and got very good feedback. The #RhizoSheet chip for spatial and temporal exudate detection attracted the interest of many people. 🌾 #SEBconference@SEBiology
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Best regards,
The SEB Team
Only one week left before the #SEBconference 🥳
All you need to know is here ⬇️
https://t.co/hKphXygA1c
Attendees, please visit the official centenary event website here ⬇️
https://t.co/BfKJOusGAF