The fifth debate on Szeklerland's success "Successful Szeklerland"
The conference’s title was (was entitled) Culture-Region-Development and had leaders of cultural institutions, development specialists, local government officials and politicians amongst its speakers. The possibilities of using Szeklerland’s cultural values for its development goals were analyzed.
Csaba Borboly, president of the Harghita County Council said in his opening speech of the conference that Mures, Harghita and Covasna counties are capable of showing solidarity and its results have already become visible. Sándor Tamás, president of the Covasna County Council stated that the Szekler counties still set aside funds for cultural events even in these hard times because their common goal is to „rebuild” Szeklerland on a cultural and educational as well as on an infrastructural level.
- Szeklerland has a unique culture, the local values can be differentiated clearly for other regions thus it is its culture that can provide the regions future – emphasized MEP Csaba Sógor. In his remarks he stated that culture can be the link between Hungarians living in Szeklerland, Hungary and the Diaspora. This goal can be achieved if politicians, specialists and local intellectuals show solidarity and start thinking together – said the MEP.
„We must strive to establish a community based on common values, not common interest here in Szeklerland, it is important to open up to Europe, not isolate ourselves solely into ourselves in our local values, this is how we can take steps towards developing Szeklerland” – said Csaba Sógor.
The opening remarks were followed by Dr. Zsolt Czene’s presentation entitled “The role of culture and cultural heritage in regional development” where he made a detailed presentation of the funding opportunities provided by the European Union. The presentation was followed by five scientific sessions open to the public with MEP Csaba Sógor taking part in the professional debate about architectural and tangible heritage heritage.
