Good Neighborhood and Understanding Award


The Good Neighborhood and Understanding Award is an award, which was established by Hungarian foreign minister Kinga Göncz and Slovak foreign minister Ján Kubiš on 15 December 2008. It is given for those Slovak and/or Hungarian individuals or organizations, who work the most for the co-operation of the two nations. The aim of the award is to deepen the good relationship of the two countries. It awards also a cash prize of €2,000 and a certification. The award is given in Budapest and Bratislava by turns. This award is important in those days, when there is a crisis between Slovakia and Hungary.

Nomination for the award

According to the paper, which was written by the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Hungary, more details about the award are:
  • People and/or organization could be nominated between the date 15 November and 15 December every year.
  • The nominations must present to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary and Slovakia. After the nomination both country must set up two nominees.
  • The final judgement must born until 15 February.
  • The award is given in Hungary and in Slovakia by turns.
  • The one who was awarded, could not nominated again within the next five years.

Award-winners

2009 – Slovak politician Rudolf Chmel and mayor of Hejce Géza Rohály2010 – Mountain rescuers of the High Tatras and SACR Slovak-Hungarian Peacekeeping Unit2011 – Hungarian author and professor Csaba Gy. Kiss and the Slovak K-9 Special Service.2012 – The Slovak association Občianske združenie pre obnovu ipeľských mostov and Hungarian Terra Recognita Foundation2013 – Civic activists Adriána Artimoviča and Jozef Kocka and Ildikó Koncz Keményné.

Not awarded nominees

2009 – Katalin Szvorák – ethnic-Hungarian Slovak singer2010 – Kalligram Publishing House – Hungarian-language publishing house in Dunajská Streda