Kover highlights international cooperation to address global problems

International cooperation is crucial for tackling global problems, Parliamentary Speaker Laszlo Kover told a celebration marking the 130th anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Hungary's IPU membership on Tuesday. IPU keeps the international community's old and recently emerging problems high on its agenda to contribute to the fight against poverty, nuclear disarmament, tackling migration, efforts against climate change, and combatting terrorism, he said. Kover warned, however, that "patriotism and international cooperation must complement each other" and said that "we cannot for a moment forget about preserving a national identity and national characteristics, about guaranteeing the rights to the mother tongue and the homeland". Respecting national characteristics at a time of globalisation is a fundamental requirement for any kind of international cooperation, Kover said.