(L-R) Katalin Szili, György Reményi, Árpád János Potápi at the presentation of the Order of Merit, Photo: Facebook Árpád János Potápi

The Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary was awarded to György Reményi, President of the National Association of Hungarians in France (Framosz), by the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Katalin Szili and Árpád János Potápi, State Secretary for National Policy, in Paris.

Katalin Szili told MTI by telephone that the award was awarded to the professor, who has been living in France since 1981, by President Katalin Novák at the suggestion of Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén.

The 74-year-old physicist György Reményi is a researcher emeritus at the Université Grenoble Alpes in France, president of the National Association of Hungarians in France, member of the board of the National Association of Hungarian Organisations in Western Europe, member of the Friends of Hungary Foundation and participant of the Hungarian Diaspora Council in France. He was honored for his work in preserving the national identity and traditions of Hungarians living in France, particularly in the Lyon and Grenoble areas, said the Prime Minister’s adviser.

Árpád János Potápi, Minister of State for National Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office, told MTI that in addition to the presentation of the award, the other reason for their visit was the upcoming celebration of the Day of National Unity on June 4, the anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon.

Hungarians living in the diaspora are an integral part of the Hungarian nation, and we cannot give up a single Hungarian, wherever they live in the world,” he said.

We warmly congratulate the laureate and thank him for his dedicated work in the service of the Hungarian people!

Featured photo via Facebook/Potápi Árpád János