Fitz Jenő (szerk.): The Celts in Central Europe - István Király Múzeum közelményei. A. sorozat 20. A Pannon konferenciák aktái 2. (Székesfehérvár, 1975)

Tartalom

Mr. Chairman!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

On behalf of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO, it is indeed a great pleasure and also honour for me to greet all the participants of this Symposium.

The idea of this meeting cropped up at least five years ago during one of my conversations with Mr. Olof G. Tandberg, the then Secretary General of the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO. It was then we decided that with UNESCO’s moral and financial assistance we should organize here in Hungary an international symposium of the Celts in Eastern Europe.

But there was also another reason and I may call it the real one. As you know, during the past few years such finds were excavated in this country which clearly showed that time was ripe for an international exchange of views and experiences on the Celts who have become fascinatingly popular again in this and also other parts of the world.

You, Ladies, and Gentlemen, will be staying for a

while at such places where the Eastern Celts used to live, work and die. You will see an exhibition which has been the result of real international co-operation, the objects of which are coming from ten different countries.

What I expect from your meeting is twofold. First, an international clarification of so far unsolved problems and opening up new questions to be answered; second, an encouragement for further Celtic studies in Hungary which have had some commendable results in the past but now need a broader and more vigorous approach to meet the challange of the most recent finds, on the basis of which a new scientific synthesis seems to be realistic and also necessary.

In conclusion, may I wish to all of you successful deliberations, useful and revealing excursions and a very pleasant stay in this country, where you are most welcome.

Thank you.

H. N. C. for Unesco S. Mailer