Debrecen4U October 9, 2024

Paderborn and Debrecen celebrate 30 years of twinning

Paderborn and Debrecen have been actively linked in education, culture and tourism since 1994. The 30th anniversary of the cooperation was celebrated on Saturday at Kölcsey Centre. 

The event was attended by city officials, the President of the German-Hungarian Friendship Society of Paderborn Margit Keikutt, representatives of the German-Hungarian Friendship Society Ilone Klose and Maria Hoffmeister, and representatives of the Spee Gymnasium in Paderborn.

In his welcome speech, Mayor László Papp stressed that “today’s event celebrates the alliance, friendship, and common values of our towns. We all know that friendships, whether between countries, cities, or communities, are essential for a peaceful and harmonious future. In today’s world, where challenges are becoming increasingly complex, it is essential that we engage in dialogue. Cooperation enriches us and creates new opportunities through joint programmes to learn about each other’s cultures, traditions and values,” the Mayor emphasised.

The Mayor thanked Michael Dreier and Margit Keikutt for three decades of cooperation and friendship.

László Papp said: “It is a real value and opportunity for the city of Debrecen that, in addition to the Paderborn exchange programmes of Árpád Vezér Street Primary School and Ladislas Grammar School, which have been running for several years, the exchange programme of Csokonai Grammar School was launched last year, and this year Ady Endre Grammar School will also join the programme”.

“Twinning builds bridges, transmits values and contributes significantly to understanding and communication between peoples. Urban partnerships such as Debrecen and Paderborn strengthen the European community,” Mayor of Paderborn Michael Dreier said.

President of the German-Hungarian Friendship Society of Paderborn Margit Keikutt congratulated the 30th anniversary and recalled the diversity of this relationship.

At the ceremony, the town leaders also signed a memorandum of understanding on future cooperation.

The Paderborn and Hajdú folk dance ensembles also performed on stage. At the end of the event, the students of the Csokonai Vitéz Mihály Grammar School sang a surprise performance of the Paderborn song, joined by the Mayor of Paderborn, Michael Dreier, and the Mayor of Debrecen László Papp.

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Debrecen has had twinning relations with 19 cities so far. According to the decision of the General Assembly in August 2024, in the last few weeks, it has also launched two new twinning relationships, with Tianjin and Ningde.

Source:debrecen.hu