Dear Friends, Dear Friends of Hungary,

The history of our community began in 2008, when we discussed the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century with Viktor Orbán and former Foreign Minister János Martonyi. In connection with this, the idea arose to create a community of interests of Hungarians living in the diaspora, successful in the fields of science, culture, economy and public life, as well as those who love and recognize our people and, as opinion makers, can improve the often false image of our country. All three of us agreed that the successful Hungarians living in the world, who represent almost the same values ​​as us, were neglected by the left-wing governments.

The birthday of the Friends of Hungary Foundation can be considered June 6, 2011, when our community of values ​​created with my co-founders, who are world leaders, was officially registered.

13 years after the birth of our Foundation, with innumerable success behind us and a sea of ​​tasks ahead, I decided to carry on our values, idealism and philosophy, which are based on solid foundations, and to continue our journey. My successor is my excellent friend, friend of Hungary, Dr. István Stumpf, lawyer, political scientist, sociologist, university professor, deputy prime minister in the first Orbán government, minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office, former constitutional judge, who is currently a member of the Prime Minister's Strategic Advisory Board.

I am happy to say that we are successfully fulfilling our mission, Hungary has many friends, we are committed to creating a positive image of our country in the world, and we are fighting to tell the truth about Hungarians and the truth to Hungarians! However, our foundation could not have gained its authority without the consistent and persistent ideals, public and economic patronage and support of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the members of his successive governments. Thank you Prime Minister!

I would like to thank the successive Presidents of the Republic of Hungary for regularly receiving and receiving the returning members of the Friends of Hungary. Mr. Pál Schmitt, Mr. László Kövér (he was also twice acting president of Hungary, and as a Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary), Mr. János Áder, Ms. Katalin Novák. From March 2024 the President of the Republic Tamás Sulyok will help our community to create an authentic, fair image of our country that is faithful to our results, relying on the opinion-forming power of the members. world.

I would like to thank our Founders for creating our community and continuously helping us achieve our mission. Their personal reputation authenticates our activities to this day. The spirit of all those who can no longer be with us is with us forever.

I thank all past and present members of our Supervisory Board and Board of Trustees for their selfless, dedicated and persistent work. My recognition and thanks to the successive, excellent managing directors, Ms. Orsolya Karlócai, Mr. Miklós Verseghi-Nagy and Ms. Katalin Bényei, as well as to all past and present colleagues, editors and chief editors, Ms. Zsófia Nagy-Vargha, Mr. Miklós Halász-Szabó. I thank Dr. Dániel Deme, the current editor-in-chief of Hungary Today and Ungarn Heute, that considering journalism as a service, our portals can play a specific, unique and market-leading role in the range of domestic foreign-language media.

 I would like to express my gratitude to Sámuel Ágoston Mrácz, the head of the Nézőpont Institute, for his professional support from the beginning.

I thank our partners, supporters, and sponsors for the many years of valuable cooperation. All values, regardless of interests, require and should receive support. This is also true for our Foundation!

I left the most important thing at the end, our membership, the Hungarians living in the world, the Friends of Hungary! Thank you for always being able to count on their help! I learned from them that patriotism does not depend on where you live, that you don't have to change your heart to change countries!

As citizens of Europe, we must realize that if we form an opinion, we participate in public life. It is our duty to serve the bonum commune, the common good. In our thoughts and actions, we must simultaneously express the national and the international, the tradition and the new. This is our task, the task of the Friends of Hungary. Thank you for the joint work, which I will continue as a member of the Board of Trustees in the future.

I would like to ask you to continue to bring the good news of our country so that as many as possible become Friends of Hungary!

Sylvester E. Vizi