Kossuth Plaque in Paris

On June 6 1998 a bronze memorial plaque was unveiled to Lajos Kossuth. Location: "PlaceKossuth" (formerly Place Chateudun; renamed "Kossuth" in 1956; it is in the 2nd arrondissement,along the Rue Saint Roch). The plaque was at the initiative of Tibor Méray, noted author andpresident of the "League of Hungarian Human Rights" in France.

Méray speaking:

The League was founded in 1923 by Hungarian workers to aid those who could not speak French.First president: Mihály Károlyi.. Mr. Méray commented: "we were trying to find a way tocelebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Hungarian freedom revolution. Thus we decided on a plaqueto Lajos Kossuth."

The bronze plaque is the work of sculptor András Gál and was unveiled by Ferenc Fejt. After the unveiling the audience joined in the rendition of the the first verse of the "Kossuth Nóta"(traditional song).

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Kossuth plaque

At the unveiling a message from French Prime Minister Jacque Chirac was read, where he suggests that the 1848 revolt was heir to the French revolution of 1789. The week end of June 6and 7 became the symbol of friendship of the two nations. Béla Szombati, Hungary's ambassador,read a message from President Árpád Göncz in Hungarian as well as in French. In this he suggested the symbol of the June 6 event being a reminder of the revolts of 1848 as well as of 1956.Congratulates the Hungarian and French associations who made this event possible. Inscription: Fondateur de la Hongrie dèmocratique, chef de la lotte d'indèpendence de son pays (1848-1849) Inspiré par les idèaux de LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÈ FRATERNITÉ

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